Comments on: Top Five Oil Burner Troubleshooting Tips

By: Floyd P

Floyd P — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:03:38 +0000

I would first look at the Stack Relay. If you don’t have a Stack Relay then you have a Electronic Control Unit. The Stack Relay will be located on the flue that carries the burnt fuel gases out of the firebox and up the chimney (exhaust stack). Both of these unit (you will only have one installed) tell the unit that it senses heat, which closes the HOT CONTACTS and sends a message back to the fuel pump to KEEP OPEN AND RUNNING. There is little else, other than a faulty thermostats that can be the problem. Good luck.

By: Lori

Lori — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:08:26 +0000

My oil burner will only run until it hits 60 then it shuts down even if i have the thermostat set to 70 or higher. It will turn back on after the temperature goes below 60. We have changed the nozzle, filter and electrodes. If anyone could help it would be greatly appreciated.

By: Chelle

Chelle — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:47:56 +0000

We have a Dunkirk Empire II boiler and a Carlin Burner. We have no idea where the oil filter goes and I’m sure it needs to be changed by now. We have water leaking on the floor and I’m not sure where it’s coming from. The first floor of the house is super hot despite the thermostat being set low and the upstairs is much cooler than usual. The furnace keeps coming on too. Please help if you can. Any info would help before we call the HVAC guys. Thanks in advance.

By: Jeffrey neal

Jeffrey neal — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:55:21 +0000

I had frequent shut downs and hard starts with lots of noise and smoke. Replaced the electrodes (cracked casing) and it ran fine for awhile before occasional shut downs started again. It was running hard with lots of vibration and uneven firing. Replaced the ignitor and it ran great, with smooth ,effortless quiet starts. Oil co waited to long to fill tank and it was very low. The night of the delivery had to reset again.Changed the filter (sludge filled) and cleaned out the filter container. Bled a little oil from the line at the pump (replaced last year,was leaking)and didn’t see or hear any air. flow was smooth. Only bled about a half cup. Oil filter is at tank with about 15′ of line to the burner. Now back to regular shut downs. Mostly at nite when temp is set low and calls for heat don’t come for at least 4 hours.(this is a beckett AF2-150 three years old). New filter gasket at bleeder on housing is very hard and after several tightenings still getting miniscule amt of oil seepage.Cleaned cad cell and ran cad cell test.ok. I will replace the nozzel today and try to stop the oozing of oil from the beeder gasket. Should I bleed the entire line? I am hoping a clogged nozzel is the problem.Hard to believe it was running so beautifully before I changed the sludge covered filter.One last note. Since this burner was new it cycles on its own on occasion, when heat is not being called for. I looked into the burn chamber when it was on and there is NO flame.runs for about a minute. I have been told by every tech that has been here (many)that it is not supposed to.No one knows why it does this. I don,t know if it is pumping oil when this happens.What part of the elec system controls this function. Help.Suggestions?

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:41:31 +0000

I had the same problem and it was the motor. I opened up the old motor and contacts were burned. The motor served me 15 years.

By: Jay

Jay — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:51:15 +0000

ELOISE, I’m glad to hear your furnace is running again. Although, while I generally have a very good call rating even the best service technicians I’ve met overlook the smallest of things. Also, I’m not sure where you live or what kind of service company told you the problem and then allowed you to fix it yourself. That generally would give me the idea that the individual you have dealt with is either not a professional contractor or isn’t qualified.

By: Jay

Jay — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:40:59 +0000

The motor has a flat spot and should be replaced.

By: ELOISE

ELOISE — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:54:09 +0000

HELLO, HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY BECKETT BURNER / FURNACE SHUTTING DOWN. HERE GOES.. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE PRIMARY IGNITION, I REPLACED THAT ALONG WITH THE CAD CELL (PHOTO CELL).STILL IT WAS SHUTTING DOWN – CHECKED OIL FILTER AT TANK WHICH WAS CHANGED AT THE FILL UP THIS FALL. FILTER WAS GUMMED UP BLACK SLUDGE FROM THE TANK. CHANGED OUT & BLED LINE. FURNACE FIRED GOOD FOR 4 TO 5 CYCLES & SHUT DOWN. HAD ANOTHER TECH OUT (HEATING) WAS TOLD TRANSFORMER WAS WEAK WHEN YOU WOULD LIFT IT UP & HIT THE RESET BUTTON LAY IT BACK DOWN ON THE CONTACTS IT WOULD FIRE/ FURNACE WOULD WORK FOR AWHILE THEN SHUT DOWN AGAIN. HE READJUSTED THE PRIMARY AIR & SECOUNDARY AIR GOT ME GOING AGAIN FOR A LITTLE BIT. I BOUGHT A TRANSFORMER CHEAPER ONLINE PUT IT ON …. STILL THE SAME PROBLEM FURNACE SHUTTING DOWN. CALLED SERVICE COMPANY BACK THEY SENT A DIFFERENT TECH OUT HE CHECKED THE FURNACE OUT READJUSTED SETTINGS BUT UPON PUTTING THE BURNER BACK IN AFTER SETTING ELECTRODES HE BLED THE LINE FROM THE FUEL PUMP THAT ATTACHES TO THE BURNER. THE LINE HAD CONDENSATE/ WATER IN IT ABOUT A 2 LITER BOTTLES WORTH.!!! NOW AFTER 8 DAYS OF PULLING MY HAIR AND DEALING WITH SERVICE CALLS , AND TECH’S ITS FIXED. ONLY PAID FOR 1 SERVICE CALL. FROM EACH HVAC BUSINESS… BLEED YOUR LINES CHECK FUEL,, BEFORE REPLACING THE PARTS AS I DID I LEARNED A BIG LESSON. SOME TECHS DID NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING/ ONLY 1 DID HIS JOB!! HOPE THIS HELPS SOME ONE.

By: jody

jody — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 19:08:01 +0000

Thank you! The link were more detailed, the manual didn’t give much.

By: Johnny

Johnny — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 13:50:17 +0000

Hi Jody,
I take it that you have gotten oil delivered…
When you push the reset does the burner come on then go off again in about half a minute to a minute?
If so this link may help you. http://wetheadmedia.com/how-to-bleed-an-oil-burner/