Oil Boilers - servicing & repair

lazer

I have been meaning to get my oil burner serviced for about 6 months now (Having only learnt that I was meant to do it - never had central heating so didn't realise)


Anyway - never got round it and it broke down last week, and supposedly it was quite dangerous, and now I need a new pump and something else.


So I have learnt the hard way - get your boiler serviced annually.


Still don't know how much the repair has cost - but I'm sure its more than a service would be!!

GlynD

A service wouldn't prevent a pump going though. All a service does is clean the boiler plates out and keep the jet right.

So don't beat yourself up.

lazer

GlynD wrote: »

A service wouldn't prevent a pump going though. All a service does is clean the boiler plates out and keep the jet right.

So don't beat yourself up.

Good to know - thanks!


The service guy said that I must have been using a lot of oil as it was so inefficient!

GlynD

lazer wrote: »

Good to know - thanks!


The service guy said that I must have been using a lot of oil as it was so inefficient!

That kind of sounds like the burner pump. There isn't that much to an oil boiler. Just the burner and boiler assembly. It might cost a few bob to get that pump replaced but I bet you it makes your boiler a bit less thirsty.

lazer

Hopefully - I have been moaning for 2 years how much oil an use!!

GlynD

lazer wrote: »

Hopefully - I have been moaning for 2 years how much oil an use!!

If this doesn't cure it maybe you could see about getting a condensing boiler? Not exactly miserly but having changed from a 28 year old boiler to a new condenser we've got the heating bill down to £100 per month. No, let me put that another way - we pay the oil man £100 a month and he delivers when we want it. So it's an average of £100 a month.

Does that sound terribly Irish?

lazer

GlynD wrote: »

If this doesn't cure it maybe you could see about getting a condensing boiler? Not exactly miserly but having changed from a 28 year old boiler to a new condenser we've got the heating bill down to £100 per month. No, let me put that another way - we pay the oil man £100 a month and he delivers when we want it. So it's an average of £100 a month.

Does that sound terribly Irish?

I know nothing about boilers - for all I know maybe I have a condensing boiler - the house is only 10 years old.


This home owning malarkey is harder than its made to out to be - all this maintenance stuff is stuff I never even thought about it!

GlynD

lazer wrote: »

I know nothing about boilers - for all I know maybe I have a condensing boiler - the house is only 10 years old.


This home owning malarkey is harder than its made to out to be - all this maintenance stuff is stuff I never even thought about it!

Ah if your house is that new maybe you do have a condensing boiler. You'll know by looking at the flu. If it's only steam coming out of it then it's a condenser.

At 10 years you should be getting used to the expenses by now. lol Our house is 40 years old and we've had to refurbish the entire property since moving in because the decor was very dated. We did buy a new house at one point some years ago and it was a much simpler prospect but I've yet to buy one where I didn't have to do some work. As things stand here I've still quite a bit to do on the outside but inside is finished. £25,000 later.

Just set your mind at rest knowing your investment will build up eventually.

Old_Git

lazer wrote: »

I know nothing about boilers - for all I know maybe I have a condensing boiler - the house is only 10 years old.


This home owning malarkey is harder than its made to out to be - all this maintenance stuff is stuff I never even thought about it!

you may not have a condensing boiler as it wasnt standard 10 years ago. Unfortunately for you if your boiler is 15 years old you can get a grant for a new boiler otherwise a new boiler is around £1500.

Ticked

Old_Git wrote: »

you may not have a condensing boiler as it wasnt standard 10 years ago. Unfortunately for you if your boiler is 15 years old you can get a grant for a new boiler otherwise a new boiler is around £1500.

Unlikely to be condensing at 10 years old, but it should still be fairly efficient if clean, baffles in place and a decent make of burner. Think the boiler grant scheme is now ended.

GlynD

Ticked wrote: »

Unlikely to be condensing at 10 years old, but it should still be fairly efficient if clean, baffles in place and a decent make of burner. Think the boiler grant scheme is now ended.

I think it ended some years ago to tell you the truth. We put in for it and were told that but the the Army Benevolent Fund stepped in and arranged payment for ours.