Cycling Riello BF5 on a Buderus boiler

jenny2022

I have new house so many details not known. Furnace not used for some time 2015? Installed 2007-ish. I have: cleaned boiler inside, replaced filter from outside tank. Burner repeatedly cycles on/off. Presume ran just fine at some time. Outside, exhaust runs clean (when firing) then smokes. Service not available for 6 weeks. Any thoughts?

Jamie Hall

Something is likely well and truly misadjusted in the burner. Unhappily this really isn't something that a homeowner should try to troubleshoot on their own...

MikeAmann

Bad time of year for this to happen, but smoke is BAD.
Do not continue to run it this way.

Where are you located?
Did you try the "find a contractor" link at the top of the page?

jenny2022

Thanks for the comments. I live in downeast Maine and all the contractors nearby are flat out. But I will try the link and see what it says.

heathead

Find a contractor link is still the best option. A 2nd best is who do you buy your oil from, they should know someone or better yet have their own service department.

Ironman

The settings and maintenance on that Riello are different than the more common Beckett burner. Make sure you get someone who’s qualified to work on it.
 It probably needs maintenance and a combustion analysis.

neilc

is this a boiler? hot water / steam ?
or a furnace? hot air?
if a boiler, is it steam?
is the smoke a white plume ?

Ironman

neilc said:

is this a boiler? hot water / steam ? or a furnace? hot air? if a boiler, is it steam? is the smoke a white plume ?

It’s hot water. Buderus doesn’t make steam boilers.

neilc

have not had all my coffee yet,
no reading comprehension

EdTheHeaterMan

heathead said:

Find a contractor link is still the best option. A 2nd best is who do you buy your oil from, they should know someone or better yet have their own service department.

My father and his brothers were in the oil business. If a customer's oil burner did not work... they sold less oil! The oil company will find a way to get the burner running!

MikeAmann

EdTheHeaterMan said:

My father and his brothers were in the oil business. If a customer's oil burner did not work... they sold less oil! The oil company will find a way to get the burner running!

And adjusted to use LOTS of oil.

Big Ed_4

White or black smoke ?

STEVEusaPA

MikeAmann said:

...And adjusted to use LOTS of oil.

And exactly how would one do that?

EdTheHeaterMan

Big Ed_4 said:

White or black smoke ?

Black smoke = no Pope
White smoke = New Pope

But what does this have to do with the Riello Burner?

EdTheHeaterMan

STEVEusaPA said:

MikeAmann said:

...And adjusted to use LOTS of oil.

And exactly how would one do that?

I'm sure there were some that do this practice, The F.P. Young Co. was not one of those. When I was in training, we were taught how to make the oil burner operate as clean and efficient as possible. Customers were paying big bucks to convert to natural gas back then. If that happened, no one would ever sell that customer a drop of oil ever again.

At less than 1/2 the cost of a new gas boiler, The company could "Modernize" your old heater with a new combustion chamber, barometric draft control, modern Honeywell round thermostat, accurate limit and safety controls, and a high efficiency Flame Retention oil burner. Your oil usage could drop from 10% to 50% or more.

The customers with new modern oil burners were still burning oil. Less oil is better than No oil. Customers were happy with the results and stayed customers for 10+ more years.

Based on @MikeAmann statement, I think if he were operating an oil company, I might purchase my oil elsewhere.

MikeAmann

BINGO. Thanks Ed.