How do you get your oil heat to turn back on once it runs out ?
I live in a older house that runs on oil heat. It ran out of heat and I had it filled back up. It wont turn on now. Is there anyway to get it started again without having to pay for a repair man.
I did already try restarting it with the button before and it will start and go off in about 3 mins after starting back up.
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Hi Momo,
Unfortunately, when the oil burner ran dry, it emptied the oil supply line. The little pump that suplies the burner is now "air-bound" (empty). The other thing that probably happened is that the sludge that has been accumulating in the bottom of the tank has most likely clogged the filter that you see sticking out of the bottom of the oil tank.
Here’s what you need to have done to re-start your burner the right way. First, change that filter. Then the air must be bled from the burner’s supply line. Finally, some of that junk will find it’s way to your burner’s tip. After it’s been run for a half hour or so, clean or replace that tip, and properly adjust the igniter arms.
Obviously, this stuff HAS to be done by someone who knows what they are doing. If your burner is serviced by a knucklehead, it can KILL everyone in your home.
CALL THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN FROM A LOCAL DEALER YOU TRUST……….
You will need to call a repair man. You have air in the fuel lines. Also if any sediment collected in your oil tank it was sucked into your fuel lines when you ran out. It isn’t a difficult procedure to purge your lines and bleed the air out, but you’ll need to know what you’re doing.
All in all, never let the oil tank run dry. Your furnace doesn’t like that at all.
If your unit has two fuel lines connected just push the reset button on the control mounted to the burner gun.
A two line system sends unused fuel from the pump back to the fuel tank so it is self bleeding if air enters from running out of fuel.
If this is a one line fuel system you will need to bleed it through a bleed valve on the fuel pump.
It must be bled of air that would have entered.
The reset button will not allow reset immediately after it locks out from no fire.You will have to wait a minute before resetting.
You will have to purge the line from the tank to the boiler. You may also have to replace the filter element if you did run the tank dry – all the sludge at the bottom of the tank will now be in the filter.
First, get a small container to catch any drips.
Then, turn off power to the burner.
The oil filter will be near the tank and should have a small valve ahead of it so you can shut off the line and service the filter.
There should be a small valve at the tank ahead of the filter – turn it off. There should be a wing-nut fitting at the bottom of the oil filter (glass bowl). Remove this and the glass bowl should come out with the filter element. Replace it. If you know what you are doing, you may obtain the element before doing this – if not, you will have to bring in the old element to match it.
Close everything up. Turn on the valve and look for any leaks. If clear move on – you should see oil running through the bowl right away.
Now, set the house thermostat to above ambient temperature, then switch on power to the burner – within a few moments it should fire up. You may have to reset the burner one or two times until the line purges.
if this does not work, or there is no filter, or there was no element in the filter, it is quite likely that your nozzle is clogged and you will need to call for service.
In my area anyway, you should of asked the person that filled it to relight your pilot light. Anyway, it is probably just air in the lines. Being very careful, stay there until you can smell the oil while lighting it. If it is a gravity feed, it may take a few minutes so be patient.
Different situation, but with my LP stove, I lit a candle and let the air/gas run until the stove lit. If you have the room to do that, it should light before you build up too much oil. Still be careful, you should already have a fire extinguisher close by already, if not get one. Oil is a safe fuel, but safety is always the best policy.
Did you try pushing the rest button on the furance. its normally red in color. You may have to hold in in for a couple seconds. try this a half a dozen times until you get the air out of the line. If it still doesnt start, you will have to prime the pump
If you are talking about an oil charged furnace, there are normaly instructions on the injector motor or control housing that give you brand specific instructions. If these have been removed, then the next best ting is to ask the fuel delivery driver to prime it for you. They are trained in many types of furnaces and could fix you up in no time. If you must do it your self, there is a "bleeder" that looks like a simple bolt, usualy a small one that when loosened, will allow fuel to leak out. In some applications, it may resemble an air inlet like on a tire valvestem and some have a tumbwheel that opens and closes the valve. Make sure you have a coffee can or something that can collect the drain off fuel. Locate the emergency shut-off valve so you know where its at. Most systems have two. one located far away from the furnace for safty, and one right at the furnace. Locate the control box. It is normaly located with in close proximity to the pump motor. (it will be the only box with wires going into it) On the control box, you should see a small "reset button" it may be labled "primer" Loosen the "bleeder" and press the reset button. (The pump will start, so be prepared. It may startle you!) Some require you to hold the reset down while others just need to be presses once. (you can test this to determine which one you have by simply pressing and depressing to see if it stays running) Now, while its running, keep an eye on the bleeder. You will see a little oil seeping out and a pop or two from air escaping, maybe even a few bubbles. (At this point, all you are trying to do is allow the oil in the tank to replace the air in the line. ) Now depending on the distance from the tank to the furnace will determoine how fast the oil fills the line. It may do it quickly (one reset cycle) or it may take a few minutes. If your line is say, 25 feet long, then the pump may shut off after 5 minutes. (a safty installed into the system so you don’t burn out the motor and pump impelers. The oil acts as a lubricant for the pump parts.) If you are still getting nothing or seeping with pops and bubbles, repress the reset again. (you may have to wait 5 minutes for the restet to work. another safty) Now, after the wait, reset and watch the oil drip. You want a steady hard stream of oil out of the bleeder. Now, another thing to watch, or listen for is that the reset, under normal use, starts the ignitor too. if there is substancial pressure at the injector, the furnace will start to burn. In this case, shut the bleeder, you are done. Stay there for a few minuts just incase it was a fluke. It may stop if there was a short burst of fuel, and air followed it. I am sure by now, you get the idea. If the furnace doesn’t start after three resets, call the repair man.
If this doesnt work it mean that your filter or nozzles are clogged with sediment from the bottom of the tank and needs to be replaced/cleaned by a proffessional.
Goood luck