Common Oil Burner Problems and Solutions
- No heat or insufficient heat
- Intermittent heat
- High fuel consumption
- Burner system noisy
- Diesel fuel odor from burner system
- Electrical insulation odor from burner system
No heat or insufficient heat
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| No fuel | Check fuel tank gauge and have tank refilled if necessary |
| No power to circuit | Replace fuse or reset circuit breaker |
| Relay or stack heat sensor tripped | Press the reset button no more than twice. If the system doesn’t start, call for service |
| Oil leaking at pump fittings | Tighten fittings If no improvement, have the pump replaced |
| Electrodes faulty | Call for service |
| Nozzle faulty | Replace nozzle |
| Photocell dirty or faulty | Clean photocell or replace if necessary |
| Stack heat sensor dirty | Clean soot buildup out of stack heat sensor |
| Coupling broken | Call for service |
| Pump seized | Test pump pressure Call for service |
| Motor seized or overloaded | Press reset button. If motor is silent or hums but does not turn, call for service |
| Pump pressure too low | Test pump pressure Call for service |
| Oil filter dirty | Replace oil filter |
| Oil strainer dirty | Clean strainer or replace it if necessary |
Intermittent heat
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Fuel supply low | Check fuel tank gauge and have tank refilled if necessary |
| Oil filter dirty | Replace oil filter |
| Oil strainer dirty | Clean strainer and replace if necessary |
| Pump pressure too high | Test pump pressure Call for service |
| Motor overloaded | Press reset button. If motor is silent or hums but Does not run, call for service |
| Pump seized | Test pump pressure Call for service |
| Nozzle faulty | Replace nozzle |
| Photocell dirty or faulty | Clean photocell or replace if necessary |
| Stack heat sensor dirty | Clean soot buildup out of stack heat sensor |
High fuel consumption
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Nozzle faulty | Replace nozzle |
| Pump pressure too low or too high | Test pump pressure Call for service |
Burner system noisy
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Motor bearings dry | Lubricate motor |
| Coupling misaligned, loose, or broken | Call for service |
| Pump worn out | Test pump pressure Call for service |
| Draft regulator misadjusted | Turn counterweight screw on draft regulator to allow more or less air flow |
| Incorrect oil/air mix causing flame roar | Call for service |
Diesel fuel odor from burner system
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Draft regulator wide open | Adjust counterweight on draft regulator |
| Stack or heat exchanger blocked with soot | Call for service to have stack or heat exchanger cleaned |
| Pump leaking | Call for service |
| Nozzle faulty | Replace nozzle |
| Electrodes faulty | Call for service |
| Stack damaged | Call for service |
Electrical insulation odor from burner system
| Possible Cause | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Ignition transformer or motor overheating | Call for service |
