Old Weil Mc Clain issues.

embraer145

Hello everyone.
I have oil boiler Weil Mc Clain blue color in my basement.
It's old since house was built in 1993.
Right know I am using to  only heat home, basbords.Hot water is disconnected , using electric heater.
Year ago got some smoke exiting from oil burner ( puff back) and small heating oil leak.
Than guy installed a delayed switch, Carlin Pro for about 1,000 dollars.
It semi help, still get leak and smoke coming back.
But main concern is I shut off boiler during a day when isn't cold outside and turn on at night to conserve oil , especially right know.
Sometimes start at first time, sometimes I need to press  reset button after 3rd trial to start again.
Yesterday I took 5 trials to start boiler.
Any ideas what is going wrong, bad?
I know Is old and will need sonner than later to be replaced.
Any thoughts, hints?
Thank you everyone.

bburd

That reset button should never be pressed more than once. The fact that it needs pressing is a sign that the burner needs to be serviced. At the very least, it needs to be cleaned and tuned by a qualified oil heat technician with combustion test instruments. Generally speaking, all oil burners need this done every year or two.  Nozzles and electrodes wear out, fuel filters clog, combustion suffers, and they need a tuneup.

If the operation is as you described, it has gotten into a dangerous condition and should be serviced as soon as possible. You are literally playing with fire and a possible explosion in your house!

embraer145

Hello.
Oil burner, boiler was serviced by the same guy from reputable company  exactly a year ago in Spring.
My point is what causes the boiler to start and stop should I service and again less than year later has te same problems nor replace boiler.
Thank you.

bburd

You might want to try a different service company. Have they checked the draft and ensured that the chimney or exhaust vent is clear and there is plenty of combustion air?

embraer145

Could be not enough draft?
Clean chimney first?
I forgot to mention, I installed a cap.
Wasn't when we moved in.
Could be that?

mattmia2

30 years isn't really all that old for a cast iron boiler.

Sounds like none of the techs that worked on it new what they were doing. like others said you need a good oil burner tech to clean and adjust it.

embraer145

I use 3 different company.
Probably I need use some one else.
When do you recommend to do service, after heating season or before heating season ?
Thanks 

bburd

Either is fine, though after the heating season is probably a bit better because it will get any corrosive deposits out of the fire side of the boiler before the summer shut down.

HVACNUT

embraer145 said:

Hello.
Oil burner, boiler was serviced by the same guy from reputable company  exactly a year ago in Spring.
My point is what causes the boiler to start and stop should I service and again less than year later has te same problems nor replace boiler.
Thank you.

That is an excellent question so be sure  to post back and tell us what the answer is after the tech finds and repairs the problem(s). No sense in speculation at this point. That doesn't fix anything unless you're into hedge funds. 
Maybe we can put together a quick pool.

And please leave out any pricing when you post back.

And please stop hitting the reset button. 

Jamie Hall

The problem isn't the boiler. No need to replace that. The problem is the tech. tuning the burner, and you need to get someone out there who actually knows what he or she is doing. Now he or she may also recommend doing something to the chimney -- the cap may well be restricting the draught too much -- but that is easy to determine.

As has been said, stop pushing the reset button. If it doesn't light on the first try, that's it. One and done.

embraer145

Since delayed valve was installed last Spring I only press twice Reset Button, after 3 times trial to light up, start working.
Definitely I will go with someone else to service boiler, but instead press reset button should I turn off and than on after no fire 3 times attempt)?
Thanks

mattmia2

you should not reset it more than once. If it doesn't fire off after the first reset, don't reset it a second time, call a competent oil tech. Every time it fails to ignite it pumps oil in to the combustion chamber. If you do that a few times the chamber gets full of oil which can explode or start a fire when it finally does light off or when a tech fixes the burner and it lights off. You should never have to press the reset button and having to press it even once frequently indicates a serious and potentially deadly condition.

EBEBRATT-Ed

@embraer145

Chances are the burner needs to be worked on by a good technician. And make sure they clean the boiler and that the flue pipe and chimney are clean. It will probably last many more years.

What good is a new boiler if you don't have someone who can tune the burner?