Heating oil fumes

themaccas

Our house has oil fired central heating and has been regularly serviced. We have lived here since spring this year and before that always had gas. We have often noticed a smell of oil in the kichen when the boiler is on, sometimes it is stronger than others. I have no idea if this is normal or whether it is a serious problem, I have tried to call the heating engineer to ask him to come out and service the boiler again and get some advice but as yet I haven't heard back from him. I am tempted to turn off the heating and hot water and just use the immersion until I find out but it is sooo cold.

Has anyone else had experience of this? One time it was so strong the whole house smelt, then it was fine (no smell for weeks) now it has started smelling again when the boiler is on but odours are present only in the kitchen.

Debt_Free_Chick

If you're not used to oil then, yes, there is generally a "kerosene" smell and often throughout the house. It took me about three years to adjust to it!

I would have thought that you have little to worry about if the boiler is being regularly serviced but - as you have done - call the engineer to be sure.

owned_by_2_Siamese

Hi!
Is the smell 'oil' (i.e does it smell of unburnt heating oil) or is it a smell of burnt oil (both are unpleasant!)
Its strange it only happens occasionally - but a liitle bit of heating oil makes a whole lot of smell. Do you have a 'tiger loop' - a sort of plastic domed 'thing' in the pipeline? (it deareates the oil) our neighbours had been installed on the inside of the house (it should be outside) and periodically it released the air from the oil (and of course the smell). Other wise can you see the pipework in the boiler ? is there any 'weeping' - sometimes its hard to tell you have to rub the pipe with your finger and then smell your finger! it may be a weeping joint (get engineer to tighten I wouldnt diy - go the wrong way and you will get a lot of oil everywhere!)You dont say of oits a balanced flue (i.e draws air in and fumes out through the wall) or open flued - straight up a chimney) If its open flue a downdraft will blow fumes (and any unburnt oil back into the room) This happens especially in the winter when doors window/ventilation are closed. Make sure any vents/airbricks are clear - this will help (and get a CO detector in the room the boiler is in if it isnt a blanced flue!)
I'd be inclined to say that if you have any concern you should get the engineer out (and needless to say switch everything off. Remember to turn the stop valve on your tank in case it is a leak. I have to say that oil heating does smell

themaccas

Thanks so much for your replies!! We are complete novices to heating oil. I guess if I had to describe it, it probably smells of 'oil' rather than 'burnt oil'. Sometimes it is just a faint odour, other times stronger. Having had gas where you know that ANY faintest odour of gas is dangerous, I was wondering if this was the same or normal. I feel reassured that some odour can be normal but will still get it checked out and will make sure I speak to the heating engineer tomorrow.

I am not sure about a 'tiger loop' or 'weeping' or whether we have a balanced flue I can't see anything obvious but again I shall ask these questions to the engineer. Thanks for all your help!

themaccas

Just to update, the engineer came round yesterday and found the coiled pipe that sends the fumes out of the house had come loose and so was circulating round the house instead! He did a Carbon monoxide test and that was ok fortunately! £33 well spent.