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Boiler issues... please help

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esskaytee123
esskaytee123 Member Posts: 8
in Oil Heating
We just bought our house a month ago. For some reason it keeps short cycling. Like comes on and shuts off less than 10 seconds later and does it over and over and over. Wasting fuel oil I'm sure. And not very efficient at all. We just replaced the aquastat and it's still doing it and that was over 200 bucks. Funds are low, please help...

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  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,326
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    There could be any number of things causing that. Most of which, however, are associated with the burner controls -- not the aquastat. These really are the sorts of things that need a well-trained and qualified technician to troubleshoot, though. Not do it yourself territory.

    So... has the burner been maintained, cleaned, and properly set up with the correct instruments? If not, that would be the first thing to do.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 5,841
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    Why did you replace the aquastat?
    What brand boiler and burner?
    Can you post pics And list some more info?
    Do you have heat?
    Is the boiler up to temp?
    Circ(s) running?
  • Zman
    Zman Member Posts: 7,569
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    Is the temperature rising and falling with the cycle?
    My guess is it would be either a bad circulator or it is cutting out on a safety.
    "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough"
    Albert Einstein
    Gordy
  • esskaytee123
    esskaytee123 Member Posts: 8
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    My fiance noticed by the circulator wires it looked burned up so we replaced the aquastat (pic of new one attached), we do have heat but it takes forever to get to temp... idk the year but it's a utica boiler and looks like the burner says Beckett... It keeps kicking on then off 2 sec later then back on and back off over and nd over, sometimes doesn't even wait, just kicks back on then off.
  • esskaytee123
    esskaytee123 Member Posts: 8
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    The boiler was serviced in 2015, we haven't had the money to pay labor costs so we wanted to try to diagnose it and fix it ourselves first. We just bought the house beginning of November so we don't have a lot of money to work with right at the moment, especially since it's winter and we're burning through fuel oil.
  • Gordy
    Gordy Member Posts: 9,546
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    At least boiler has been maintained. I'm with @zman the circulator may not be moving the water in the system. So the boiler hits high limit quickly. You may be just heating by gravity circulation.

    Do you hear the circulator kick on when there is a call from the thermostat? They are very quiet so listen closely.

    Is the pipe before the circulator getting hot?



  • Paul48
    Paul48 Member Posts: 4,469
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    Shut the power off to the boiler and give those circulator wires a good tug. I'll bet the black wire pulls off.
  • Zman
    Zman Member Posts: 7,569
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    It sure sounds like the circulator locked up and shorted out the aquastat. You should be able to here the circ running or feel a temp difference between the supply and return.
    "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough"
    Albert Einstein
  • esskaytee123
    esskaytee123 Member Posts: 8
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    It's hot on both sides, it runs when the boiler fires... it operates as it's supposed to when the boilers firing
  • esskaytee123
    esskaytee123 Member Posts: 8
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    It runs for like 15 sec at a time
  • esskaytee123
    esskaytee123 Member Posts: 8
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    It has a new ignition primary too
  • esskaytee123
    esskaytee123 Member Posts: 8
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    Could there be air somewhere? We can't find where to bleed air out if so.
  • Gordy
    Gordy Member Posts: 9,546
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    After the new aquastat was installed, did everything work fine?

  • esskaytee123
    esskaytee123 Member Posts: 8
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    No. Still short cycling like crazy, on off on off over and over
  • DZoro
    DZoro Member Posts: 1,048
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    agree with the above posts, sounds like circulator is not moving the water, your burner is short cycling because no cold water is coming into the boiler for it to heat up. It is slow to heat the house because the home is probably just warming from the natural gravity of hot water.
  • Zman
    Zman Member Posts: 7,569
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    The circ should run for the entire call for heat regardless of the boiler firing.
    Try jumping out the t-stat and see if the boiler runs longer.
    "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough"
    Albert Einstein
    Mark EathertonGordyDZoroMilanD
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 5,841
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    The primary is different from the one in the pic? What did you replace it with?
    But the thing is, your in a new home, money is tight. Most of us have been there, but your heating system is probably the most important thing in your new home.
    Hire a pro to repair the issue and do the annual maintenance. Get a print out of combustion analysis.
    Good luck with your new digs and get warm.
  • newagedawn
    newagedawn Member Posts: 586
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    could be a bad t stat or shorted t stat wire
    "The bitter taste of a poor install lasts far longer than the JOY of the lowest price"
    MilanD
  • Ed N.Y.C.
    Ed N.Y.C. Member Posts: 73
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    what temp do u have aqua set at should b 180
  • unclejohn
    unclejohn Member Posts: 1,833
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    Neither of the wires on the line side of the control look tight. The screw on the #3 terminal also needs to be tight, Also The pump wiring should be reversed. White on C2 Black on C1.

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