Oil Boiler Maintenance Checklist

An annual boiler safety check and boiler service, carried out by a professional service engineer ensures that your boiler is functioning properly.

Regular servicing of your boiler is important as it ensures that the boiler is working to the specifications designed by the boiler manufacturer. This will help prolong the life of the boiler as well as reduce the risk of faults and expensive repairs down the line.

A detailed service will include inspection of the pipe work, ventilation, clearances etc. The system is then inspected, cleaned and reassembled. The operation of the boiler functions are then inspected for safe and correct operation.

Finally a combustion efficiency test will be carried out to ensure that the appliance is operating at its maximum performance levels.

Annual Service check list: Oil Boiler

All boilers should be serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Typically when performing an annual boiler service, the service engineer should carryout the following checklist:

• Visual Inspection:

  • Check for oil leaks from tank and above ground piping/fittings

  • Check for significant corrosion on the boiler’s outer sheet metal, its cast-iron sections, flue, electrical controls, nearby piping and components.

  • Open the boiler top or look through the inspection port to check for cracks in the firebox or on the target wall (the fire clay box or wall that the burner fires into or against)

  • Check the draft regulator for free movement

• Boiler Checks:
  
  

  • Replace fuel filter

  • Check operation of oil shut-off valve

  • Check air inlets to boiler room and burner for blockage/size

  • Check for cracks/damage to burner refractory

  • Clean/adjust spark electrodes

  • Clean burner diffuser and air tube

  • Check ignition transformer, HT cable and porcelain for cracking/deterioration

  • Check operation of draught stabilizer

  • Check/clean flame photocell

  • Clean boiler gas side heat transfer surfaces.

  • Check operation of high limit thermostat

  • Replace burner nozzle

  • Adjust burner pressure and diffuser plate to obtain correct flame shape/length

  • Check operation of flame failure device

In addition to the above checks, the service engineer should also carry out a combustion efficiency test on the appliance.This will ensue that the boiler is operating at its optimum efficiency.

Combustion Efficiency Tests

• Boiler combustion gas O2

• Boiler combustion gas CO

• Boiler combustion gas ºC

• Resultant boiler combustion efficiency (gross)

• Explanation for low efficiency:

System Checks

• Check setting and operation of time clock

• Check operation of zone values and thermostats