My heating oil boiler stopped but tank got 33cm oil still?

sujsuj

Guys, my oil boiler stopped suddenly though after checks I can see still got 33 cm oil (by stick dip test). Since we are in a heatwave now its OK for not having this now. But I am wondering what could be wrong here to stop boiler? what checks I should try before calling the service engineer...?

Since dip test shows 33 cm, is that could be 33 cm sludge in the tank? I am not aware when last cleaning of tank happened. Is this an opportunity for me to get somebody for clearing that sludge..? How can i check its really sludge in the tank as dip test doesn't give me any clue. I I have n't got a small wired camera either..

I know this expert area only done by qualified people so not planning to do anything stupid!!

But DIY checks I could do here to get right engineer. If there is sludge then people to empty tank first, then oil order. If not sludge then order oil first then service engineer to check.

Any suggestion..?

Money_Grabber13579

Have you tried dipping the tank manually? It’s not impossible for the levels on those gauges to be incorrect, if something has got trapped in the pipe.

Also, what is the position of the outlet pipe in the tank, compared to the base? And also, the height of the tank compared to the boiler? If the 33cm mark is close to or above the outlet pipe and/or the level of the boiler, there won’t be enough pressure for the oil to flow into the boiler.

If it’s not any of those things, I suspect you have a fault in the boiler, unrelated to the oil supply situation.

Bendy_House

By 'stick dip test', do mean literally with a stick, or just looking at the vertical gauge in your pic? Did you pull/press the plunger to reset that level (I think there is one?) If so, the level move at all when you did this?

That eyesight gauge could possibly be blocked, so not working, but this would be unusual; usually any blockage would be partial only, so holding the plunger should still see the level change, if it has.

There are plenty other reasons why an oil boiler won't work, not that I know what they are. But I presume it could be the controls - timer etc. - or a 'lockout' (does it have a reset button?), or the fire valve has popped, or stuff like that.

Press/pull the gauge button* and hold it for 30 seconds to look for any slow change.

* If it has one...

dogshome

From the photo it looks to be a steel tank resting on a concrete pad at ground level - So is the boiler situated in a position that is higher than the bottom of the tank ?

If so as the oil is fed to the tank by gravity, once the oil level in the tank is at lower than the boiler it will stop flowing

Ideally the tank should be on a plinth so that the bottom of the tank is 2 to 3 feet above the bottom of the boiler

Le_Kirk

Any error codes on the boiler?

Rdwill

As dogshome said, but even if the boiler is below the level of the tank, as it is fed by gravity as the level drops so does the pressure the oil is forced through the line.

That combined with a dirty filter or some crud in the line could mean the flow stops / slows so much that the boiler won't run.

Section62

sujsuj said:

Since dip test shows 33 cm, is that could be 33 cm sludge in the tank?

No, unless someone has deliberately been putting something in the tank it won't have built up that much sludge - and if it had, then you'd have had problems with blockages long before now.

The suggestions already given almost certainly include the answer.  There's a blockage, or the oil level is too low for the boiler, or the boiler has a fault.

Make your next step getting a qualified oil boiler service technician to give the boiler a service and check what's wrong.

Don't order more oil unless you are absolutely sure the level is too low - as the tank is rather old and you may be needing a new one sooner rather than later.  Having a near-empty tank replaced is easier than a full one. I don't think you'll find anyone who will desludge/clean the inside of the tank... due to age there's a risk of making it leak and I doubt you'd find anyone likely to want to take that risk.

tetrarch

I recently cut up and threw away a 50-year-old steel tank. I was astonished how clean and sludge free the tank was after all those years. The outlet valve was well clear of the floor of the tank so I doubt that "tank sludge" is the problem

I agree with the previous poster that a qualified pro to have a look and give you some advice.

Regards

Tet

sujsuj

Money_Grabber13579 said:

Have you tried dipping the tank manually? It’s not impossible for the levels on those gauges to be incorrect, if something has got trapped in the pipe.

Also, what is the position of the outlet pipe in the tank, compared to the base? And also, the height of the tank compared to the boiler? If the 33cm mark is close to or above the outlet pipe and/or the level of the boiler, there won’t be enough pressure for the oil to flow into the boiler.

If it’s not any of those things, I suspect you have a fault in the boiler, unrelated to the oil supply situation.

Wet mark level using 'stick test' shows 33 cm oil and oil tap from tank is at the very bottom. So as far as I know there is some sort of liquid inside tank. if its not flowing then it can be sludge only..?

Un known factor is whether lower oil pressure when tank nearing empty cause oil to stop flowing to boiler..?? Boiler is around 5m away from tank and bottom of bank is still 0.5 m above boiler bottom. Thanks

sujsuj

Bendy_House said:

By 'stick dip test', do mean literally with a stick, or just looking at the vertical gauge in your pic? Did you pull/press the plunger to reset that level (I think there is one?) If so, the level move at all when you did this?

That eyesight gauge could possibly be blocked, so not working, but this would be unusual; usually any blockage would be partial only, so holding the plunger should still see the level change, if it has.

There are plenty other reasons why an oil boiler won't work, not that I know what they are. But I presume it could be the controls - timer etc. - or a 'lockout' (does it have a reset button?), or the fire valve has popped, or stuff like that.

Press/pull the gauge button* and hold it for 30 seconds to look for any slow change.

* If it has one...

Yes, i plunger lever and also removed cap at the top of oil gauge, no change on level by this. Yes I dipped stick into tank and that level was nearly same as whats shown in the gauge.

I know qualified engineer needed, but for sludge removal this could be the best time and if I can detect the sludge then order of whom I need to get will be changing as well. thanks

sujsuj

dogshome said:

From the photo it looks to be a steel tank resting on a concrete pad at ground level - So is the boiler situated in a position that is higher than the bottom of the tank ?

If so as the oil is fed to the tank by gravity, once the oil level in the tank is at lower than the boiler it will stop flowing

Ideally the tank should be on a plinth so that the bottom of the tank is 2 to 3 feet above the bottom of the boiler

I already bought Green paint to do that job, its stable and bottom of tank is 0.5m above bottom of boiler though boiler is 5m away from tank. Tank is kept on a metal frame it's not on ground level.

I think tank is already enough above the boiler. but its a good point that pressure could be lowered when tank nearing empty and which could stop oil from flowing to boiler...