Why would a boiler fueled by fuel oil(diesel gas basically) shut off?

Question

I admit I am not an expert on boilers, but we just put 200 gallons in last week so it can't be because it is starving for fuel. The cap is on the tank correctly. I keep having to push the red button to turn it back on. We are using it mainly for hot water at this time of year because our hot water heater is fueled by the oil. It doesn't happen non-stop, just at the strangest times (like overnight) so when someone needs a shower, you have to push the red button and let it heat back up before taking a shower. We are not even using it for hot water in the kitchen right now as our kitchen is being remodeled. My father-in-law knows all about boilers but is a bear to try to get anything out of him. He just wants to fix it himself. I just want to be able to do it on my own without bothering him and possibly look like I know how to do something without his help.

Answer 1

air lock .remove the fuel line where it enters the heater ,let it run into a container,till it runs clear of air,put it back on ,if it does it again check the sediment trap for an air leak ,clean the surfaces and replace the gasket...........tom

Answer 2

Did you clean/replace the filter(s) after filling? You may have broke loose some sediment and it is causing the filters to be clogged or an orfice blocked.

Answer 3

i'd bet my money on  answers 1 and 2.

when a tank is being filled it tends to stir up the sediment in the bottom of the tank and that sediment tends to clog the oil filters.    shut the oil valve off coming off the tank first.

change all oil filters second.  there is a small valve on the oil burner that needs to be opened. Turn the oil tank valve back to open, set thermostat to make the heater oil burner come back on,  because there is air in the lines (from changing the oil filters) that air must be bled out of that little fitting on the burner motor till the oil starts coming out of that small valve.

the valve is opened with a small wrench, when the oil starts coming out, close the small oil burner valve.

when you replace the filters also try to clean the filter containers when they're empty.

have had that happen to me several times.

i suggest you tell the gentleman that's delivering oil to you TO

SET THE FILLING OF THE TANK ON IT'S SLOWEST FILLING so it doesn't stir up the sediment again.

so what i'm saying is your burner IS STARVING FOR OIL.

if it's not that, i don't know what else it might be.

like i said happened to me twice.  you need to change those filters yearly if you don't want any trouble from the tank.

when was the last time yours were changed?

good luck to ya.

by the way, i also have oil fired hot water heater.

Answer 4

When you say red button could you be talking about the high temprature cut off?This will usually be tall slender gray box with a red button and a temprature dial if so your boiler is overheating and you should call a tech this can be a serious problem not necesarily an expensive one

Answer 5

You can cause more problems than you solve if you aren't trained to do this. Suck it up and call the daddy in law, it's better than starting a fire or freezing.