Oil Boiler Newbie - help required please

firesidemaid

Hi.

Just moved into house with oil boiler - manual not clear (to me) re. using options.

It's a Firebird Combi with separate options for water & heating. Timers for each also.

The options we have are: Constant, Off & Timer.

I am trying to work out which will work best for us.

Does 'Constant' mean it will keep heating up water until you need it etc?

Does 'Off' mean the Timer is off or the Boiler is off?

I can prob understand how the Timer on bit works!

So (as I am used to gas) -which, if any, provides an on-demand option? Obv, trying to use the most economical option really.

Also have a control insdie the house to switch on heating.

Many thanks in advance

rich_jtg

I don't have your particular boiler, but I would have thought:

Constant - Hot water/heating on all the time. Heating will switch off when the room thermostat (if you have one) reaches temperature. Hot water will probably come on occasionally to keep the boiler's small reserve tank topped up, and kick in fully when demanded (eg when you have a shower).

Off - Hot water/heating off, though if there's a reserve tank, hot water will be available from this.

Timer - Combination of both... 'constant' when on, 'off' when not.

firesidemaid

Thanks Rich.


Been without t'internet for the last week!


Water was/is not hot at taps at all - friendly plumber been out & discussed with Firebird - part ordered, hopefully will be fixed tomorrow.

Silent_Dancer

You should have a programmer connect to boiler and it should be set to timed.

firesidemaid

Hi SD.


Yes, we did try it on timer too but it made no difference.


Funny thing is, we have been here for over a week now and it's been like this from the start. Then after yet another cold shower yest morn, a second shower was bearable & the bath water is now significantly hotter. Very strange....

macman

The programmer will work exactly the same as it would on a mains gas boiler. Timed is the normal mode to run a CH programmer on.
What is the part that has been ordered-it doesn't sound as if the fault is with the programmer, but with the boiler-possibly the diverter valve?

firesidemaid

macman - our engineer thought it could be one of three things including the divertor, but chiefly the heat exchange.


he spoke to the techs at firebird and they decided to try the heat exchanger first - just waiting for an associated part to arrive - will keep you updated.


I am aware that this might not fix the problem, but we shall see.

firesidemaid

just to say, the heat exchanger was replaced and has fixed the fault