Oil boiler not receiving oil

[Colinc500]

Its a plastic tank about 3 years old, the pipe is copper with plastic sheath underground.

I haven't got a compressor, are there any sort of hand pumps? etc or CO2 types.

 

[slapper]

How long is the run of pipe?

 

[Colinc500]

15 to 20 m

 

[slapper]

Catch 22, all depends if you want heating etc for the weekend and how capable you are.

You could go to a Plumbers merchants and buy 25m of I presume 10mm plastic oil pipe and connect both ends to the filter and firevalve as a temp fix till you get the other sorted.

You could then in time bury the plastic, as this is not suitable above ground cos of ultra violet.

 

[Colinc500]

Not in a rush for heating, we have immersion tanks for hot water.

Whats the best way to clear the blockage?

 

[slapper]

Compressed air, or you could flush thru with high pressured water, but air is best. Good Luck I,m off to play Golf......oh yes

 

[oilhead]

You need to unblock the pipe opposite to the way it has blocked, so disconnect at the fire valve as before, Disconnect at the filter outlet. Pour a little oil into the pipe at the valve end, and attach your pump. The oil in the pipe will act as a pusher. without it, as soon as there is a little hole, air will pas through without moving the obstruction. If you can get a suction pump, then this attached to the tank end with the valve end in a reservoir of oil will be much more effective.

 

[andytw]

I have about 20m of 15mm plastic covered copper pipe buried under the garden. I was able to release both ends and then pass down a length of galvanised wire, something about the thickness of a pencil lead, or a bit thinner. Once through, I bent over one end into a loop and secured this over a small piece of cloth to make a cleaning plug. (Plug must not be a tight fit for fear of losing it). Then pull through briskly from far end and that was it.
Even after cleaning, I could not get oil to pass of it's own accord, I had to use a pump to push it through and get all the air locks out, then it ran freely.

andytw

 

[Colinc500]

Thank you all! managed to get a neighbours compressor and clear the blockage. Boiler working fine now.