When maintained properly, heating oil boilers are extremely reliable and a great way to heat your home. It’s always good to make yourself familiar with your heating system, the user instructions for your boiler, heating controls such as your timer and thermostat, and your fuel storage tank.
As we head into the winter months, we’re all relying more on our oil-fired central heating, but as with anything, boilers can stop working. There can be various reasons for this, and if your boiler isn’t firing up and has locked out, you may see a green or red flashing light or an error or fault code on the display panel.
In this blog, we’re going to take a look at some of the common problems and provide some handy troubleshooting steps.
Run out of fuel?
It might seem obvious, but we can all get caught out and run out of home heating oil.
The first thing to do if your boiler stops working is to check to see if you’ve run out of fuel. When there’s no oil left in your heating oil tank, or the level has got too low in order for the fuel to be fed through to your boiler, it will automatically shut off - there will be a safety system in place that disables the boiler when there’s no fuel supply.
Whilst the good news is that running out of fuel won’t cause serious damage to your boiler, when your heating oil runs dry, air can enter the fuel line, creating airlocks or pockets of air in the system. These would need addressing before restarting the boiler, so that components are not strained, and in order to avoid potentially costly repairs.
There is also the possibility that when your domestic heating oil level gets very low, any sludge or dirt that may be sitting at the bottom of your tank can get sucked through into your boiler, blocking filters and fuel lines. Of course, prevention is better than cure and to avoid this problem, consider upgrading to Premium Heating oil which is cleaner burning, helps to minimize the formation of sulphur-related deposits and reduces the amount of sludge that can build up in your tank over time.
If you have run out of fuel, and the simplest way to check, if you do not have a gauge, is to use a clean, dry stick that’s long enough to reach the bottom of your tank such as a clean garden cane, contact your fuel supplier straight away to organise a delivery as soon as possible.
Restarting your boiler after you’ve run out may be as simple as pressing a button, and it might kick into action straight away. Read our blog to learn how to fix a boiler lockout.
If, after a couple of attempts your boiler fails to restart, it may be that your system needs bleeding. An OFTEC-registered oil heating engineer will quickly get you up and running again.
How to avoid your tank running dry
It’s always best to put in some preventative measures. Regularly check your heating oil level to ensure you don’t run out, and why not set a specific day to check your tank? – more frequently in winter months, and less often in the summer when your usage will be lower.
It’s also a good idea to know how much oil you use to heat your home so you can plan ahead, although with all things considered this can change from year to year with changing weather conditions. We would always recommend you order your oil in plenty of time and avoid busy times when demand is at its peak such as Christmas or in extreme weather conditions.
A really good way to avoid an empty tank is to join an automatic refilling scheme. Being super convenient, it will take away the need to check your tank as your supplier will automatically top you up to avoid you running out.
The Northern Energy automatic refilling service comes with our Premium Package, and also provides emergency boiler breakdown cover and other valuable benefits. Call our friendly and experienced customer service team on 01423 770 666 to find our more.
Another way to keep an eye on your domestic heating oil levels is with a tank gauge such as our Oil Fox Monitor, which is an easy and reliable way to monitor your oil level. It’s simple to install and, using a transmitter called FoxRadar, it sends readings and alerts if you're getting low to a simple-to-use app on your smartphone.
Faulty parts
There are many working parts in an oil fired central heating boiler that can fail, leading to your boiler stopping working. A fault in the ignition system can prevent the boiler from igniting and it may be that a component such as the ignition transformer or the electrodes need replacing. Or it could be that the thermostat isn’t working correctly. Check that your thermostat is turned up - it may simply be that it's got turned down too low or even switched off so your heating hasn't come on. Turn the thermostat up to its highest level and see if your heating comes on.
Also worth checking is your electrical supply to make sure it’s functioning – if you have a digital display on your programmer/timer and the display is blank, this suggests that there is no supply of electricity. Blown fuses, tripped circuit breakers, or damaged wires could be the problem.
And then there’s the fuel pump which can seize as a result of poor maintenance and if contaminated with debris and/or water.
Whilst there are some things you can do if your boiler has suddenly locked out, it’s best to leave issues such as these to the experts. Your OFTEC registered oil heating engineer will be the person to call on to find the cause and get you back up and running.
Blockages
Over time, air filters can become blocked by dirt and dust and nozzles can become dirty and clogged, restricting the flow of oil to your boiler. Fuel nozzles regulate how much heating oil is passed through to your boiler, and if your nozzle has become clogged, your boiler may still run, but may not be providing you with heat. Nozzles do wear over time, and if not replaced may cause ‘sooting up’ of the heat exchanger. Filters should be cleaned or replaced, and nozzles changed as part of your annual boiler service.
Frozen pipes
With winter just round the corner, colder weather can lead to concerns about frozen oil pipes. When the temperature drops below the freezing point, the oil inside your pipes can become sludgy which makes it difficult for it to flow through to your boiler, leading to potential blockages, boiler lockout due to restricted flow to the appliance, and possibly even damage to your heating system. Freezing weather can also cause pipes to contract and expand, leading to a risk of cracks or leaks in the pipes and potential damage to the environment. Insulating your oil pipes will protect them from freezing temperatures and help prevent blockages.
Good maintenance is key to ensuring your boiler is kept in good condition and operating efficiently, and keeping you warm and cozy throughout the winter months. A cold house can be bad for your health - and an annual boiler service will help prevent potential breakdowns or long-term damage that can occur if your appliance is not regularly serviced.
As part of your annual boiler service, your OFTEC registered oil heating engineer will inspect and clean your boiler, replace fuel nozzles and fuel lines as and when required, and clean the air filters, as well as check for tell-tale signs that components may be wearing and need replacing. Then of course there’s the all-important check for carbon monoxide emissions, protecting you from what’s often known as the silent killer, and keeping you and your family safe.
We hope you find this information helpful, and remember we're always here on hand to offer help and advise. Call us on 01423 770 666 or you can email us on helpoil@northernenergy.co.uk