oil fired central heating

[ivanm]

hi there i have a grant outdoor boiler which is run by a 1800 litre oil tank, the level is watched over by a watchmen,

the problem i have is that when the watchmen shows about 4 which still means the tank has a fair bit of oil in, it sometimes does not fire up and the only way i can get it to work is bleed the system, or buy another 1000 litres which then cures the problem until the tank gets low agin, i have tightened all the pipe work i can see but this still happens.
any ideas on how to cure would be very much appreciated
Ivanm

 

[gas4you]

Is the tank at a lower level than the boiler?

 

[bripl]

you can check the end of the watchman, has not fell off and giving false readings.

 

[ivanm]

Is the tank at a lower level than the boiler?

the tank is higher than the boiler

 

[ivanm]

you can check the end of the watchman, has not fell off and giving false readings.

have checked that as well and is ok, the only thing i can think of is the feed pipe in the tank is higher than the oil sometimes, but that does not make sense as i have been told that it is fixed to the bottom of the tank

 

[Softus]

...when the watchmen shows about 4 which still means the tank has a fair bit of oil in, it sometimes does not fire up...
.
.
.
any ideas on how to cure would be very much appreciated

Raise the tank by 4.

 

[ivanm]

...when the watchmen shows about 4 which still means the tank has a fair bit of oil in, it sometimes does not fire up...
.
.
.
any ideas on how to cure would be very much appreciated

Raise the tank by 4.

how do you do that it is 1800 litres and must weigh a ton

 

[outinthestix]

have the filters in the oil line been cleaned/replaced recently or ever ?

 

[Softus]

how do you do that it is 1800 litres and must weigh a ton

The same way that Hitler invaded Europe - slowly.

Seriously - can't it be raised once it's empty? Summer being an ideal time to do that?

 

[ivanm]

have the filters in the oil line been cleaned/replaced recently or ever ?

the house is only a year old,but i think it might have run low on oil sometime, so will check the filters, just in case

 

[ivanm]

how do you do that it is 1800 litres and must weigh a ton

The same way that Hitler invaded Europe - slowly.

Seriously - can't it be raised once it's empty? Summer being an ideal time to do that?

i think i will look into this as well although your thoughts on the invasion of europe made me smile

 

[MANDATE]

I experienced a similar problem a few years back although my tank is at a lower level than the boiler oil pump. Worked ok with full tank but had lots of lockouts when tank 1/4 to 1/2 full.
A check on oil pump pressure conformed it was well worn and could not pull the oil up from a near empty tank.
So I'm thinking maybe you have similar fault.
You could try rigging up a small tank (like I did) at a higher level to prove it.
This also came in handy when I changed from steel tank to plastic, but you'll need a couple of oil drums.

 

[Agile]

If I remember correctly the generator tank at Churchill's Paddock was at high level and only about 10 galls but was topped up as required by pumping from a large low level tank.

http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/sites/d/dollis_hill/

Tony

 

[ivanm]

If I remember correctly the generator tank at Churchill's Paddock was at high level and only about 10 galls but was topped up as required by pumping from a large low level tank.

http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/sites/d/dollis_hill/

Tony

thanks every one will try all suggestions
Ivan

 

[wilhelm]

change the oil pump.

or put a nrv at tank outlet.