Is there something wrong with our oil fueled boiler?

[future_jack]

Hi,
Our house is cold and always has been and we have never got to the bottom of it but I am back on the case again now trying to figure out what could be wrong with it.

We have the temperature on the thermostat set to 90 on the boiler but still the radiators are not that hot at all.

I've just gone out and measured the temperature of the pipe where the water is coming out of the boiler and it's only about 37 degrees celcius and 30 degrees coming back. Should the water not be 90 degrees when the thermostat is set to that?

Help!

 

[madkayaker]

Is the thermostat on the central heating or the hot water circuit?

 

[future_jack]

Is the thermostat on the central heating or the hot water circuit?

The thermostat is connected directly into the front of the boiler.

 

[Hitch]

Not sure how many plumbers/heating engineers there are here, probaly a few.
Still, if you dont get it solved here, it might be worth joinging here

 

[madkayaker]

The thermostat is connected directly into the front of the boiler.

Does it control the central heating temp or the hot water? Have you checked the odvios such as flame out, timer off room stat low etc.

 

[runnach]

I had an oil burner for years, can't recall ever having a problem like the one you have explained, however, it does sound like a fundamental problem, as oil burners are really not too complicated.

More info on make of boiler, gas oil or kero burner and, has this been a problem for a while, or just happened recently? Oh, when was the last service done???

Cheers........

 

[future_jack]

Does it control the central heating temp or the hot water?

I don't actually know that. Just trying to find that out on google now! It's a Firebird popular 90.

Have you checked the odvios such as flame out, timer off room stat low etc.

Not sure what you are referring to when you say flame out....We definitely don't have any other thermostat in the system except one in the hot press that feeds the radiators when the hot water tank gets to a certain temp.

 

[snowcat]

If the boilers fireing up OK, (no light on the control box) then there cant be too much wrong with the boiler side, unless the stats faulty, (which you could bypass to try the deference), is it fully pumped or gravity fed on the hot side, if its fully pumped then there must be a motorized valve some ware, common for these to give issues...

 

[M4RKE]

Is the heating system new or old? fully pumped ? gravity domestic and pumped heating?any moterised valves fitted? and have you flushed it through ?

 

[Psymon]

My rads dont come on unless you switch the hot water off. There is a white box that clicks all the time until you do that. When the hot water is off the rads come on. Like a motorised valve thats not switching over. Its not an issue, just a pain for me to turn off. Could yours be that? Also bleed the rads as air in them makes them half hot and half cold. Probably not your problem though. One of my rads was filled with dirt - bought a new one to solve that problem (bigger too). Oh my system is mains gas so its probably not quite the same as an oil system.

 

[scarecrow]

Like Psymon said you might have to switch to radiators on some boilers there could also be a circulation pump with a thermostat control which might be set wrong for not working or the pump is not working if the bottom half of the radiators gets warm and the top have doesn't then you have air in the radiators and need to bleed them if it's a gas boiler it's illegal to even take the front cover of get a professional and make sure he is qualified not sure what the standard is in England make sure he's not a cowboy
very hard know what to look for without knowing the system most boiler units will have a thermostatic radiator valve motorised valves and zones valves you do need know what you are doing

 

[runnach]

if its fully pumped then there must be a motorized valve some ware, common for these to give issues...

Good shout Snowie, forgot aboot M/valves, normally two, one for heating side, other for hot water cylinder. Normally there is a small sliding thingy that slides along when system is switched on, if it don't slide, tis goosed.

Not too expensive to repair tho if this is the prob??

 

[M4RKE]

Good shout Snowie, forgot aboot M/valves, normally two, one for heating side, other for hot water cylinder. Normally there is a small sliding thingy that slides along when system is switched on, if it don't slide, tis goosed.

Not too expensive to repair tho if this is the prob??

Not all fully pumped system have motrised valves it may well have a tapstat fitted the the hot water coil with no valves fitted. And also the valve you mention with the external lever get a signal normally from a roomstat and if that is not working then the valve will not open. So that lever not moving does not mean it goosed. The guy with the problem will stand no chance of fixing anything if he is given duff info.

 

[runnach]

You are correct M4RK, I should stick with what I know best fab/welding. Pay no heed to my duff info future_jack, tis duff, but my duff info was based on my previous oil burner setup..............

hope you get it sorted soon.

 

[jaykay]

jaykay

give this site a go.www.diynot.com. i get most of my answers there.

 

[piman]

Hello Jack,

broadly speaking boilers (be they gas, oil or whatever) satisfy the demand for hot water first, usually there is a three way valve which diverts the boiler flow either to the hot water cylinder or the radiators. If you set your hot water cylinder to 90 degrees then it will take some time to achieve that especially if you are also drawing off the cylinder. Cylinders are usually set to 60 degrees.
I'm assuming a circulating pump and there is normally a bleed screw in the centre, check that also as well as your radiator bleeds. I'm also assuming your room thermostat is set to a sensible temperature?

You cannot set the output temperature of the boiler, it's temperature depends on the water temperature coming in and the amount of water flowing, i.e. the load on it.

Good luck.

Alec

 

[scarecrow]

some system have an expansion tank they usually fill automatically but not always the case. might be worth taking a look in the attic this type of system has two tanks A big one and a small one. the small one is the expansion tank if it is empty it could have serious consequences for your boiler

 

[Weldingartisan]

Sounds like the boiler stat to me. Not uncommon for them to go down, had to replace 2 at our last place. If you are electrically competent put a temporary link across the boiler stat and see if the temperature rises. This is only for a test do not leave the link in under any circumstances! W/A.

 

[snowcat]

. The guy with the problem will stand no chance of fixing anything if he is given duff info.

easy pal, we were only general comments, we could soon chastise most DIY welders who try and give advice right or wrong, with that ethos....

 

[runnach]

My thoughts too Snowie, I hope his welding skills are better than his tactile skills