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aurora22
aurora22 Member Posts: 32
in Oil Heating
peerless oil boiler. This is also water heater. Honeywell thermostat . Upon calling for heat. Nothing happens. There appears to show operating digital. Boiler will ignite for water though. How do we overide
pecmsg

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  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 7,873
    edited January 9
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    Are you saying the boiler is hot for Domestic Hot Water, but the heat will not circulate thru the radiators? Then we know the oil burner part is working.

    There could be several reasons for that type of failure. The most common one is Air in the Radiators. It could also be a defective circulator pump. If you have an electric meter to test for 120 VAC you can see it the circulator pump is getting power. There are several other things but lets start with those two.

    Can you post any pictures of your boiler from far enough back to see all the connecting pipes from floor to ceiling from at least 2 different sides.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 5,843
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    aurora22 said:
    peerless oil boiler. This is also water heater. Honeywell thermostat . Upon calling for heat. Nothing happens. There appears to show operating digital. Boiler will ignite for water though. How do we overide
    Can you post pictures?
  • aurora22
    aurora22 Member Posts: 32
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    It appears to not respond to the thermo. I call for heat but it does not fire.  If I run the water it will ignite for water. The boiler is not igniting so not heating up. But the circulator pump is on. 
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 5,704
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    What has changed? Are the batteries low in the thermostat? (assuming it has batteries)
    NJ Steam Homeowner. See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el
  • aurora22
    aurora22 Member Posts: 32
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  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 7,873
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    that sounds like there is air in the pipes that go to the radiators. What radiators do you have? Baseboard with the copper pipe and aluminum fin? Cast iron baseboard? Cast iron old fashion standing radiators, convectors in the wall? Depends on what type radiator you have to know how to get the air out.

    Also what does the boiler water temperature gauge and the boiler pressure gauge point to? (usually 2 pointers on the same gauge)

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

  • aurora22
    aurora22 Member Posts: 32
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  • aurora22
    aurora22 Member Posts: 32
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    Copper pipe. Alum fin 
  • aurora22
    aurora22 Member Posts: 32
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    The circulator pump is on
  • Alan (California Radiant) Forbes
    Alan (California Radiant) Forbes Member Posts: 4,013
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    Bad pump?
    8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour

    Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab
  • aurora22
    aurora22 Member Posts: 32
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    Bad pump? Circulator?  Prevent boiler from starting?
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 9,679
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    Is the coupling intact in the circulator?

    If the circulator isn't moving water the boiler will heat up to the high limit on the aquastat then shut off because the circulator isn't moving water out of the boiler to take the heat away. If it is air bound the same thing will happen.
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 9,679
    edited January 10
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    On a side note it looks like that desperately needs to be cleaned and adjusted by an oil burner tech.
    SuperTech
  • aurora22
    aurora22 Member Posts: 32
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    Yes the circulator coupler is intact. The boiler has not ignited. Ice cold. Will only fire for water
  • aurora22
    aurora22 Member Posts: 32
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    Is there any way to start boiler bypass relays. Absolutely no heat at this time
  • aurora22
    aurora22 Member Posts: 32
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    Batteries in thermo changed out. No diff
  • aurora22
    aurora22 Member Posts: 32
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    To all that gave great advise. Thank you. Yes the answer: air in pipes. Bleed at circulator pump,… BAM. Instant start. Thank u all
    Alan (California Radiant) ForbesGGross
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 5,843
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    aurora22 said:
    Bad pump? Circulator?  Prevent boiler from starting?
    No reason for the boiler to start if it's already up to temperature. If the circulator isn't moving water, then the boiler temperature can't drop.
    Boiler temperature only drops  with hot water use...
    Or, if the boiler is going cold like the tridicator says (110° and Lo set to 150°), and the circulator is definitely running, then it's a bad aquastat. And they make better ones than the L8124A.
    mattmia2
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 9,679
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    The tridicator might be in an air pocket in the boiler so it isn't seeing the actual boiler temp.

    It looks like there is a flow check on the outlet so if the circulator is air bound and not pumping any water no heat is leaving the boiler.

    If you have a steel compression tank you need to manage that occasionally too.

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