Firebird Heatpac Boiler

Had a Firebird Heatpac Consenser Oil Boiler installed by polish plumber who is also a neighbour of mine. He installed it very badly and did other work very badly also, and became very intimidating when I confronted him about the work, so can't ask him back. Since then the bioler (new in August 08) has gone through two burners. The first burner stopped working because there was water in the oil tank. A plumber then installed a second burner, which was apparently the older model of the burner he removed. He said there were a lot of problems with the newer model burners, and the old model was better. However, this burner had to be removed about 2 months later as there was a soot build up in the boilder and it stopped working. Apparently in the old model burner the fan wasn't strong enough to blow the soot away. All this has cost a forutne. My question is is that possible that the old model burner didn't have a strong enough fan to blow away the soot, or is there another problem with the biolder. The latest burner which is the model designed specifically for my boiler was installed by a guy who is supposed to be an 'expert' on burners, but very wary of 'experts' now too. It is currenlty working fine, and he did a computerised test on it and showed me the results which he said were correct. However, now plumber who installed the old model burner said he wants to take a look at the boiler again, as he feels the soot build up could not be due to the older model of the burner being installed in my new boiler, and there could be a problem with the flue or the 'baffles'. Any advice from any 'plumbing' experts out there, really appreciated.

There should be no soot build up, "a stronger fan to blow the soot away" did your serviceman utter these words?

If the burner pressure and air intake are correct, you would not have soot.

I have worked on atleast two burners that had water in the oil, in the two cases, the burner would not burn so infact could not damage itself. Once oil was replaced, the burners where serviced and reset and work fine since. I assume this as my clients never meintioned it again.

I don't know where you are but it you were to post your location I am sure other posters in this area would be able to recommend someone that won't tell you stories.

Hi, sorry to hear of your plight.....

Firstly, the original burner that got damaged by 'water in the oil tank' would have only had pump and nozzel damage and could have easily been repaired (replace pump, replace nozzel and a bit of tlc)

As regards being replaced with the 'older model' sounds like the boiler came with a Riello RDB burner and he replaced it with a Riello G3B which wouldn't have the push in the fan to overcome the added air flow restriction in a condenser model boiler (as opposed to a conventional boiler) and the end result would be sooting of the boiler as the 'burn' doesn't get enough air for complete combustion.

The second guy who changed back to the RDB original burner was correct, and the fact he did a FGA (the readout he showed you) he will have set the air/oil ratio and checked the burn effieciency so I would be happy with him, you should always as for a printed copy of this readout for your records.

DO NOT LET THE OTHER GUY BACK AT YOU BOILER.
It sounds to me as if he is not used to condensing appliances, and in this day and age ALL servicemen gas & oil should have flue gas analysers, the day of have a look at the flame and a smell of the flue gases is a bygone era!

For any of your oil boiler requirements all seek a technician who is OFTEC qualified and registered (www.oftec.org) use the web address to find one near you. (he should also carry an OFTEC card for identification)

DGOBS, thanks for your advice. I got on to Firebird and they confirmed that the old type burner should never have been put on the new boiler, as the fan wasn't strong enough to blow out the soot. Now got it recommissioned and have computer print out of how it is working, and according to Firebird, it is working correctly. Thanks again.