jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Twice in the past few months, the oil burner wouldn't turn on. Since I heat with wood, it wasn't a big deal, but I like having hot water. The oil burner is in its own little room in what used to be the garage. The former garage is now the TV/Computer room. I have a table set up next to the oil burner door, and on that table, I have two coffee makers, battery chargers, and other stuff. Getting into the boiler room is a big deal because it involves moving lots of things.

As you oil burner people know, there is a red button on the oil burner. If it doesn't start, you push that button, and it should start. That's what I did the last two times it wasn't working, but I had to move the table and everything on it. I've been thinking about an alternative method.

Since the button is oriented horizontally, it gets pressed straight down. A weight on a string could do that with me outside the room. Maybe a lever system consisting of a couple of sticks could push the button without me having to remove the table and everything on it. It's something to think about. First, I'll have to see how many pounds/ounces of force are required to press that button. That will be a starting point. Maybe I could use an electric solenoid. If only Rube Goldberg were still alive. He'd love a project like this.

If any of you would like to offer suggestions, I'd be glad to hear them.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I'd keep a clear path to the heater just in case it needs to be turned OFF for some reason in an emergency.

Ollieboy

Get it serviced by a professional.

alltoptom

Follow this guy on Youtube. Steven Lavimoniere Be careful you might get addicted to his videos. LOL🙄

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

Clean the cad cell. It may be getting all sooty.
If it can't see the light from the flame within a certain amount of time, it trips. That's so you don't fill the combustion chamber with raw oil.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If they come when it's not running, they just push the red button. Actually, if I were to call, they would tell me to push the button. If it didn't start, then they would come. Once it's running, there's no problem to find. They did come the last time just to check it over, but everything looked good - and it was running.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Thanks. I'll take a look. I'm already addicted to videos. All I watch now is YouTube.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Thanks. First, I'll find out what and where that is, then I'll clean it.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Related story. A couple of years ago, the oil boiler stopped working in the winter. Even though we have wood heat, I didn't want the water in the radiator pipes to free (below 10°). I called for service. The guy told me to push the red button. I had already done that. Then he told me to remove the cover from a box and press the button inside. It still didn't start, so he drove to the house. He went into the little boiler room and slid that button to the left, and it started. This second button is nothing like the big red one. It's very small and gray, like everything else inside the box, so there was no way I would know it should be slid. If he had told me to slide it to the left, he could have avoided the trip. Since I have maintenance insurance, it cost me nothing.

Mr. SONY Loc: LI, NY

Warning, warning, warning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do not push the reset button more than once maybe twice.
Every time the motor turns on misted oil is injected into the firebox.
If you inject to much unburnt oil into the firebox and then get lucky and it ignites all that unburnt oil will start to burn
and you will get a puffback.
Black smoke will be coming out of the boiler in place's you never knew existed.
If you do inject to much unburnt oil into the boiler, a rolled-up piece of paper set on fire and then pushed into the firebox
will burn off the excess oil, safely.
If you are mechanical, nozzles are easy to replace. Buy the right size and type.
Make sure you adjust the gap of the electrode too. Another easy job.
A plumbing supply store is preferable to Home Depot or a Lowe's store.
Changing an oil filter is easy also. Can be messy if you're not careful.

I learned to service all my oil burners myself.
I only got stumped once.

Stevemj49

Put wheels on the table. Easier to move..🙃

Ron 717 Loc: Pennsylvania

Spend some of your money and get the oil burner repaired, it obviously has an issue to be tripping the safety switch. Or you can keep resetting the safety and eventually you will be able to replace all of your office/photography equipment because it all was destroyed in the fire.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It's not that simple. The "legs" are a pair of wooden, two-drawer file cabinets. On top of that, I have a 3/4" sheet of plywood, covered with some kind of nice material.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I don't have to spend money because I have a service contract. If I call them today, they'll come and find that it's working fine.