Question on Heating Oil!

greatcrested

sujsuj said:

greatcrested said:

The pipework may need bleeding as well.

You need a boiler service guy.

As suggested, it's also an ideal time to get the tank de-sludged.

I would

a) ring round local OFTEC engineers, explain the issue and choose one who can sort out the tank as well as the boiler. As suggested, he should be able to bring drums to i) remove sludge and ii) put in enough oil to get started

b) delay your delivery till you've got the boiler going again

https://www.oftec.org/consumers/find-a-technician

b) delay your delivery till you've got the boiler going again
I can understand sludge removal before oil filled in. But if I didn't fill before boiler service how can I be sure its going to work when oil is filled..??

a) ring round local OFTEC engineers, explain the issue and choose one who can sort out the tank as well as the boiler. As suggested, he should be able to bring drums to i) remove sludge and ii) put in enough oil to get started

MysteryMe

We can all make the rights decisions in hindsight. Don't beat yourself up about it. Take the advice greatcrested and others have given about getting the boiler and tank looked at and then you'll know you are all good for the winter.

sujsuj

greatcrested said:

sujsuj said:

greatcrested said:

The pipework may need bleeding as well.

You need a boiler service guy.

As suggested, it's also an ideal time to get the tank de-sludged.

I would

a) ring round local OFTEC engineers, explain the issue and choose one who can sort out the tank as well as the boiler. As suggested, he should be able to bring drums to i) remove sludge and ii) put in enough oil to get started

b) delay your delivery till you've got the boiler going again

https://www.oftec.org/consumers/find-a-technician

b) delay your delivery till you've got the boiler going again
I can understand sludge removal before oil filled in. But if I didn't fill before boiler service how can I be sure its going to work when oil is filled..??

a) ring round local OFTEC engineers, explain the issue and choose one who can sort out the tank as well as the boiler. As suggested, he should be able to bring drums to i) remove sludge and ii) put in enough oil to get started

oops my mistake, it was clear in your reply.

Davesnave

I think it's possibly a good thing if you have the tank de-sludged and the boiler serviced/checked before investing in a big delivery and the really cold weather comes. It's quite likely the previous owners neglected servicing the system if they were planning on moving.

sujsuj

I did cane test, looks like I am hitting bottom of tank & its completely empty. No slush seen in the stick (assume its sticky substance)

sujsuj

Is there a better way to check slush @ tank bottom using cane..? Any tweaks that could help..?

Davesnave

Not really. if your cane is reaching the base and it's clean, that's good, but I would have expected some wetness at the bottom because the outlet is always a little way up from there.

I don't like to boast, but my stick is about 8' long so it easily reaches and there's no danger of it falling in either.

greatcrested

Davesnave said:

Not really. if your cane is reaching the base and it's clean, that's good, but I would have expected some wetness at the bottom because the outlet is always a little way up from there.

I don't like to boast, but my stick is about 8' long so it easily reaches and there's no danger of it falling in either.

Your cane is a bit longer than mine Dave, but I find a good girth is of benefit.

OP - as Dave says, the outlet is never exacly level with the base of the tank; it is always an inch or two above, precisely to avoid the danger of water or sludge being drawn into the boiler.

sujsuj

Looks like Cane length is kind of standard, one I got also 8 F length. 
I am slightly confused with my Cane test now. Looks like Cane stuck 3/4 down initially, I thought that's Tank bottom. Now realised if I move sideways it goes down further. I am just drying Cane to retest to see how far it goes etc again and check sludge.
Not sure earlier it hit pipe to Boiler..?? if so why it need to be extending inside Tank ? Let me check again

sujsuj

I gone back and done a second test  what I can see are as below..
Tank is 4X6X4  (H X W X D) feet.
I can see Oil level in 3 ways..
Wet oil mark  on Tank 6 inches , On Gauge Tube  3 inches,  Using Cane  8 inches .
Not sure which is more accurate. 
See photos.
I can see connection to Boiler at the bottom from photo and wet marking above that. So likely some blockages..?? I also found another valve at top of the Tank which can't be opened not sure what's that for..???

I found in the middle of Tank a flat metal beam across for strengthen the structure where I stuck in initial Cane test.