No Running/Ignition on Oil Burner

AlohaLights

Hi all,

Have a Riello 40 Oil Burner in the house we're leasing, was working fine up until about 4 weeks ago and then stopped (thankfully we had warm weather so didn't worry too much about it).

Have since tried to have a look and see if I could figure out what was going on. Oil burner itself looks fairly old/rusted, only in the house 3 months so not sure when it was last serviced.

I have bled it multiple times, no issue there, also loads of oil in the tank.

On advise cleaned the photocell and then it came to life for about 30 minutes, and died again.

The next morning I switched it on at the wall and it worked again for about 20-30 minutes before going out.

No light showing up on the burner to show that it is igniting or running.

Have left it with the landlord but with delays with Covid it'll be a few weeks and i'd rather sort it myself.

If anyone has any ideas what it could be, i'd greatly appreciate it.

The Red Ace

You may have a circulation pump that is not running ,had a similar issue a few weeks ago same symptoms so check the pump for running

AlohaLights

The Red Ace wrote: »

You may have a circulation pump that is not running ,had a similar issue a few weeks ago same symptoms so check the pump for running

How would you check that may I ask? Would you need a professional to do the work?

AlohaLights

The Red Ace wrote: »

You may have a circulation pump that is not running ,had a similar issue a few weeks ago same symptoms so check the pump for running

Just blew the pump there for water and moved around the parts inside the circulation pump in the oil tank and no go.

I feel like it's an electrical issue- circuit possibly the fact it's working sprodically for 20 mins and then turning off

The Red Ace

The circulation pump more than likely is in the boiler house, if the pump isn’t running the water temp will run too high causing cut out, circulation pumps can be prone to capacitor failure or seized bearings, if you can’t diagnose the problem obviously you will need professional help

Scudges Da

Check the high limit Stat as well, normally a grey or orange box with a dial on one side and a covered reset switch on the other

AlohaLights

The Red Ace wrote: »

The circulation pump more than likely is in the boiler house, if the pump isn’t running the water temp will run too high causing cut out, circulation pumps can be prone to capacitor failure or seized bearings, if you can’t diagnose the problem obviously you will need professional help

Gave this a go didn't seem to do anything unfortunately

AlohaLights

Scudges Da wrote: »

Check the high limit Stat as well, normally a grey or orange box with a dial on one side and a covered reset switch on the other

Thanks for this. Have tried this and no luck unfortunately

Outkast_IRE

You are leasing the house , why are you worrying about it . Ring the landlord ask him to sort it out.

CoBo55

Are you confident enough to remove the grey control unit? If you are, remove the control unit and then slide the photocell off the circuit board. Put the control unit back on and try to start up. If it fires up and runs for a few seconds and then locks out lighting the lock out lamp the photocell is faulty. https://heatingpartsdirect.ie/products/riello-r40-burner-photocell-3002280-20132573 This should get you sorted.

AlohaLights

CoBo55 wrote: »

Are you confident enough to remove the grey control unit? If you are, remove the control unit and then slide the photocell off the circuit board. Put the control unit back on and try to start up. If it fires up and runs for a few seconds and then locks out lighting the lock out lamp the photocell is faulty. https://heatingpartsdirect.ie/products/riello-r40-burner-photocell-3002280-20132573 This should get you sorted.

Hi there, yeah gave this a go. No joy

CoBo55

Can you explain exactly what’s happening from when you turn it on.

AlohaLights

CoBo55 wrote: »

Can you explain exactly what’s happening from when you turn it on.

Hi yeah sure- there's pretty much nothing happening at all. There is no fans running, no oil running, no ignition etc. Even the light that generally is on the button on the inside of the oiltank that you press to ignite manually is not lighting up.

I removed the photocell a few weeks ago, as instructed and cleaned that off. I put this back in and the oil ran and worked for about 30 minutes before turning off again. This happened twice in total but has not happened for weeks now.

Basically the oil tank makes no noise/motor doesn't run.

CoBo55

AlohaLights wrote: »

Hi yeah sure- there's pretty much nothing happening at all. There is no fans running, no oil running, no ignition etc. Even the light that generally is on the button on the inside of the oiltank that you press to ignite manually is not lighting up.

I removed the photocell a few weeks ago, as instructed and cleaned that off. I put this back in and the oil ran and worked for about 30 minutes before turning off again. This happened twice in total but has not happened for weeks now.

Basically the oil tank makes no noise/motor doesn't run.

Is there power at the timer/ clock? Does it light up? Using a phase tester is there power at the burner control unit?

AlohaLights

CoBo55 wrote: »

Is there power at the timer/ clock? Does it light up? Using a phase tester is there power at the burner control unit?

There is power at the timer and clock yes.

I don't personally have a phase tester to test power at the burner control unit but think this is probably where the issue is to be honest

CoBo55

AlohaLights wrote: »

There is power at the timer and clock yes.

I don't personally have a phase tester to test power at the burner control unit but think this is probably where the issue is to be honest

Where is the circulation pump? Is it beside the boiler, is it running?

AlohaLights

CoBo55 wrote: »

Where is the circulation pump? Is it beside the boiler, is it running?

Yes it's running. I opened it up and drained water but it actually didn't stop flowing it kept coming gradually so I just soaked up as much as possible and then closed it up