Blacky looking smoke from oil boiler exhaust / outlet

Discussion in 'Plumbers' Talk' started by Steve2017, Feb 8, 2019.

  1. Steve2017

    Steve2017 Member

    Got home tonight to find instead of whitey exhaust fumes coming from the boiler it was grey / blacky looking like a dodgy diesel car.

    Inside the house stunk and the co meters were reading 98ppm


    I took the cover off and took the red cover off the burner and fired it up and saw a puff of burning oil smoke eject from the Photo Cell when it fired up, does it sound like a blockage?


    What could be causing this?

    Its a Worcester Greenstar Camray 12 18


    Thanks
     
  2. Isitreally

    Isitreally Super Member

    Don't know about oil boilers, but the symptoms sound like an air intake blockage causing the burn to be rich.
     
  3. Heat

    Heat Screwfix Select

    Something is causing the flame to burn badly or increased oil amount.
    Sometimes a nozzle will go faulty, especially if it hasn’t been replaced for years.
    Or it could be blockage to air as above post.
    Or someone might have touched the oil pressure on oil pump if you ran out of oil.
    Only thing I can advise is you DO NOT use the boiler and get a service engineer in.
    Not only dangerous, but a badly sooted oil boiler will damage the baffles inside as the soot is an insulator
     
  4. Steve2017

    Steve2017 Member

    Its staying off until sorted. Probably needs a good service then. Is there anything to diy clean? Thanks
     
  5. Heat

    Heat Screwfix Select

    No. That boiler is fairly complex, plus it will need an industrial hoover and also the right cleaning brushes etc.
    The soot from an oil boiler that has been operating very badly is very lightweight and frankly you don’t want it over your home or in your lungs
     
  6. Steve2017

    Steve2017 Member

    Thanks is there a good website with a list of trusted worcester service engineers?

    Dont want to book any old one. Was reading one forum and the service engineer told the owner they needed a new boiler because he couldnt get the baffles out, the next engineer that arrived said they require a bit of effort and a few wacks to release them and said the boiler was fine...

    Thanks
     
  7. Heat

    Heat Screwfix Select

    You could contact Worcester Bosch for a list of their approved service engineers.
    It won’t guarantee you get a decent or knowledgeable person though.
    Or you could try Oftec for local oftec registered people.
    But that is a bigger joke and fairly meaningless.
    If you find a local plumber highly experienced in oil and honest, that is best bet
     
  8. Steve2017

    Steve2017 Member

    Just found a sticker from the previous home owners service it said next service due Aug 2015.....
     
    Heat likes this.
  9. Heat

    Heat Screwfix Select

    So 4 and 1/2 years since last service.
    Wouldn’t be surprised nozzle is gone
     
  10. JustPhil

    JustPhil Active Member

    Hopefully you have fully ventilated the property before going to bed. 98ppm CO is absolutely deadly.
     
  11. Steve2017

    Steve2017 Member

    I opened all the windows until the co reader said zero

    To be honest i thought the detectors would have went off unless it has to be at a level for a certain length of time?

    I have 3 fireangel digital monitors one outside bedroom, one in lounge with stove and one in kitchen with the boiler

    At first I was just wondering if it was the constant high winds blowing down the flue stopping it from burning properly

    I did run out of oil last week and re primed it by loosening the allen head unti oil ran out then tightened it but it was going fine after that. I have some kolor cut water checking paste will check the tank for water

    Will probably use the people the serviced it for them, they seem to have done it 4 times going by the stickers on top of each other. Im just always worried I end up with someone that does a half assed job eg I read after the nozzle is changed it needs re calibrated for the optimum burn etc

    Thanks
     
  12. JustPhil

    JustPhil Active Member

    Can have 100ppm for a wee while before it goes off- it’s within safe exposure levels for a few minutes at least.

    (From kidde)
    Carbon monoxide levels that will set off your alarm

    Carbon Monoxide Level Alarm Response Time
    40 PPM 10 hours
    50 PPM 8 hours
    70 PPM 1 to 4 hours
    150 PPM 10 to 50 minutes
    400 PPM 4 to 15 minutes
     
  13. Steve2017

    Steve2017 Member

    Thanks had it serviced today, packed full of soot but luckilly the baffles came out for him without too much hassle. No problems now :)
     
    Heat and KIAB like this.

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