Help with fuel oil boiler!

klanders

So one day my fuel oil boiler safety switch was tripped and I could not get it to light. Called out a tech and he advised the ignitor went out. He installed a new one, along with new electrodes and a new nozzle. Ran fine for a couple days then same issues again. Thermostat would kick on the motor, boiler wouldn’t light, safety switch kicks on. Called the tech back out and he checked the pressure and the electrode placement and got it running again. Two more days, same issue. Same tech came back out and stated the pump is going out. He installed a new pump and fuel line. Less than 12 hours later, same issues.

Typically when the boiler doesn’t light the first time, it will light the second time after pressing the reset. I have owned the house for only 3 years and it is a very old boiler, but it has always ran flawlessly up until this point.

So now I have this motor with almost all the main components brand new and it’s still having the same issues. Anybody have any suggestions?

Thanks!

EdTheHeaterMan

Stop payment on the check. Call the credit card company and have the charge reversed. Never pay in cash.

That said, you probably already paid for the service calls that did not fix the problem. now you need to call the boss . The service manager or the general manager or the oil company owner if it is a smaller oil dealer. Now you have to tell them that you are not going to pay for another service call unless you guarantee that the repair WILL fix the problem. You want the money already spent on repairs and parts that did not solve the problem to be applied to your oil account for future deliveries and you want someone that is better qualified to come and fix the burner. What ever happened to customer service???

After you get that off your chest. Then apologize and ask them what can do for me. I need the heat to be reliable. And you need the burner to keep burning fuel, or you won't make anymore money on me.

Has the repair man looked closely at the burner coupling?

EBEBRATT-Ed

Could possibly be a dead spot in the burner motor IF they have checked everything else.

Why did he replace the oil line?

Do you have a problem with plugged oil filters or sludge in the tank?

Did the tech use combustion test equipment?

klanders

EdTheHeaterMan - The company who delivers my fuel oil is different than who I called to service my boiler. I watched the tech most of the time he was out working. After watching a video where the coupling is located, I can say no, he never checked the coupling.

Ebebratt-Ed - Sorry I should have been more specific. He replaced what they call in their world the “gun line”. Which is the small line that runs from the pump to the ignitor assembly. No issues with plugged filters or sludge. No combustion test equipment was used.

EBEBRATT-Ed

They should have done a combustion test.

Without it they are guessing.

klanders

Thanks for your guys help. I looked up the manual for my exact Beckett motor and gave it a close read. Ended up finding that the tech set my air dial too high. Turned it back where it’s suppose to be and my boiler has been lighting quickly every time.

Grallert

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1843804#Comment_1843804

This is exactly why we use combustion test equipment on a service call.

EdTheHeaterMan

@klanders said: Ended up finding that the tech set my air dial too high. Turned it back where it’s suppose to be and my boiler has been lighting quickly every time.

And without a combustion test to verify that you didn't "turned it back" too far you may be making soot that will be a mess to clean up next time someone does maintenance. The Technician just guessed and you just guessed differently. Call your fuel dealer for a recommendation on a better burner service technician. They want happy oil heat customers that have oil burners that work efficiently. If the burner fails to operate, then it doesn't burn fuel and the oil dealer does not get to sell more fuel to you. If you are unhappy with Oil Heat and you switch to an alternative fuel, then the oil dealer looses you as a customer forever. If your oil dealer is smart, they have a good service technician that can keep you happy with clean burning oil heat.