Common Oil Boiler Problems & Troubleshooting

Date: October 1, 2020

Cubby Oil can help take care of your home’s oil boiler!

The time is drawing near here in greater Boston when we have to turn on the heat in our homes (if you haven’t for a chilly evening yet already!)

That means this is a good time to remind you that Cubby Oil offers outstanding maintenance and repairs of oil-fired boilers as well as sales and installation. And if you haven’t given your boiler its annual maintenance tune-up, contact us now to schedule it so it runs at peak efficiency this heating season.

You also should know how to troubleshoot your oil-fired boiler if it’s not working. We’ve put together interactive troubleshooting directions to walk you through the process. If you can get your boiler going again on your own, great! But if you can’t, we’re here for you with emergency repair service. Cubby Oil customers get 24/7 emergency no-heat service. You can always call us at 617-876-1885 if you need emergency service.

What To Do With Boiler Trouble

The most common problem you may face is your boiler not starting.

• First, check that your thermostat is set for at least 5 degrees above the current temperature inside your home, and that it is set to “heat.” Make any needed adjustments and see if the boiler kicks on.
• Then make sure your heating system’s power switch is set to “On.” If it isn’t, set it to “On” and see what happens.
• Nothing yet? Go check your heating oil tank gauge. If there’s less than 1/8th of a tank, contact us for an emergency heating oil delivery.
• Now, go check the circuit breaker box to see if your boiler’s circuits were tripped.
• If they’re fine, the next steps depend on whether you have a steam boiler or hot water boiler. If it’s a steam boiler, check that the water level in the gauge is at least half-full. If it is, press and hold the reset button on the burner for three seconds.
• If you have a hot water boiler, go straight to pressing the reset button for three seconds.

Whichever boiler type you have, DO NOT press the reset button more than once. That can cause heating oil to flood your system and you’ll be facing a pricey repair job for that.

If you want to take good care of your oil-fired boiler, become a Cubby Oil customer for our Bioheat Superplus™. It’s cleaner burning than natural gas, meaning less wear on your boiler’s parts!

Need service for your oil-fired boiler? Contact us today! We’re here for you. Our customer service team is always available

Replacing your old, inefficient boiler with a high-efficiency model doesn’t have to be an ordeal. At Cubby, we’ve got the process down to a science, so you will be enjoying the warmth—and the savings—in practically no time at all. Curious about what you’re missing? Contact Cubby Oil & Energy today for a free, no-obligation heating system evaluation.