Common heating oil system faults highlighted by expert

20 July 2012

The importance of having boilers serviced regularly has been highlighted by an expert who pointed out some common faults that can occur otherwise.

Amy Lyttle from the Institute of Life Sciences told Business 2 Community there are a number of things that commonly go wrong, particularly with older heating oil systems.

She cited faltering voltage and a faulty thermocouple as key culprits, alongside blocked oil nozzles and misaligned electrodes.

The latter can occur when the boiler has not been used for some time and the components shift slightly, for example, after the summer.

"These reasons may seem insignificant but they are essential for the proper working of a heating oil ignition system," Ms Lyttle commented.

Most of these issues will be outside the common knowledge of most Britons, so it is not a good idea to attempt to fix them.

Instead, make an appointment to have the boiler serviced every year with an Oftec-registered technician to avoid faults happening in the first place.

It will also help the boiler to run more efficiently and save money on heating oil bills.

Click here to arrange a boiler services appointment