Any Oil Aga experts ??

[Oscar]

Aga has suddenly dropped to idle heat having been on 3 weeks. I ve done the button tapping on the top of control box over the weekend[which has worked other times] but thats not fixed it . Checked filter at tank end and thats clean and fuel tank full.
So my guess is either there is a fuel blockage inside control box which the tapping can t move or my box has stopped working? Not sure whats inside or how it works but if its a easy fix I will look inside rather than get charged £100 probably for the same. Any ideas or help ?? Thanks O

 

[Adeptandy]

Take it your talking about a Vaporiser, if so, carbon in the well or bunny tube are favourites, also could be a little bit of crud in the metering stem which is part of the oil flow control ( Sounds like the bit your tapping, box on the wall, copper pipe in, pipe out )

 

[Happy hillbily]

When was it serviced last ? Carbon in the bottom of the burner would be my guess, vents/ chimney clean ? Failing that you could remove the lid on the oil control valve, and see if everything is looking ok, I have had once where the slit in the oil control valve got blocked, only cool and very hot, no medium heat.
Only know this as paid so called expert to sort it :| no better after he had been ! Took ages looking on the internet to find out what I needed to know (without paying for the privilege)

 

[onesiedale]

Turn oil off. Let it out. When cold take out the burner, clean out all of carbon with wire brush and-or old screw driver, replace wicks with new ones, couple of quid from hardware store, put back together and service done.
I've found that altering flow controls just makes things worse if the wicks aren't clean

 

[roscoe erf]

convert it to wood

 

[Boysground]

As above clear the carbon out of the burner. Take it all apart, mine bungs in the elbow below the burner, a small drill bit is quite good at removing this crud (by hand not attached to a drill). The cleaner fuel we are getting these days does seem to block agas more.

Mine is currently out of action as the crud at the bottom of the 40+ year old oil tank has finally blocked everything. I am waiting for a new tank. The house is getting cold quickly and Mrs BG is not happy

BG

 

[Boysground]

One of many

BG

 

[Adeptandy]

Turn oil off. Let it out. When cold take out the burner, clean out all of carbon with wire brush and-or old screw driver, replace wicks with new ones, couple of quid from hardware store, put back together and service done.
I've found that altering flow controls just makes things worse if the wicks aren't clean

You can alter the flow control on top of the oil control valve via the knob, main flow is dictated by the height of the OCV above the pot, you can get a rough setting by measuring oil depth in the pot and doing a flow test to the pot, but best set by eye on the flame picture to give the best clean burn.
But then, I might be classed as a so called expert

 

[Oscar]

You lot work quick !!!
Serviced last April about month before I let it out and done same since it was fitted 15 years ago so wicks etc are fine and can t believe its carboned up . Could be a blockage on the 90 degree bend maybe.
Got a dilema as it is still taking the edge of the cold in the kitchen and still combining this week so have nt got much time to mess about and if I let it out and run out of time then Mrs O will not be happy with no heat !!!
One more question, can I take the top of the control box with it running without oil pouring out or not. Never looked inside before. Thanks. Off to get ready for combining so will be evening before I m back.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

convert it to wood

convert it to scrap

 

[Boysground]

I think you will have to let it go out and clean it.

Bg

 

[Blod]

Don't go into the control box and start fiddling unless you know what you are doing! If it's been idle and you've done the usual checks, disconnect the pipe from the tank and put the compressor on it. Any crud comes out with a fine drifting most of kero so stand round the corner.

 

[Adeptandy]

You lot work quick !!!
Serviced last April about month before I let it out and done same since it was fitted 15 years ago so wicks etc are fine and can t believe its carboned up . Could be a blockage on the 90 degree bend maybe.
Got a dilema as it is still taking the edge of the cold in the kitchen and still combining this week so have nt got much time to mess about and if I let it out and run out of time then Mrs O will not be happy with no heat !!!
One more question, can I take the top of the control box with it running without oil pouring out or not. Never looked inside before. Thanks. Off to get ready for combining so will be evening before I m back.

Noooooooo, don't do that, inside there is a float valve, which controls the oil flow from the tank, take the top off without turning the oil isolator off and you'll soon have a wet kerosene puddle.

 

[marshbarn]

As above clear the carbon out of the burner. Take it all apart, mine bungs in the elbow below the burner, a small drill bit is quite good at removing this crud (by hand not attached to a drill). The cleaner fuel we are getting these days does seem to block agas more.

Mine is currently out of action as the crud at the bottom of the 40+ year old oil tank has finally blocked everything. I am waiting for a new tank. The house is getting cold quickly and Mrs BG is not happy

BG

This is most likely answer

 

[Exfarmer]

Do you have filter at tank end? Was it serviced. Had this give me grief once , of this nature
Other thing it has not been switched off has it, this will cause it to go into low mode

 

[Pasty]

Slightly off topic but how much does an oil aga cost to run these days? I grew up with one and had an oil Rayburn in my second house which cost a fortune to run. I suppose oil is cheaper nowadays.

 

[Adeptandy]

Slightly off topic but how much does an oil aga cost to run these days? I grew up with one and had an oil Rayburn in my second house which cost a fortune to run. I suppose oil is cheaper nowadays.

Still cost a fortune, the pressure jet Rayburn versions are cheaper to run, but still a luxury. I had one customer install solar pv and convert his oil fired Aga to electric, still cost a fortune to run he informs me.

 

[whiddy]

if its still going on low flame, it will probably be the electric control in the box, have you checked fuse, they are fairly easy to understand once you get the top off.

 

[multi power]

Slightly off topic but how much does an oil aga cost to run these days? I grew up with one and had an oil Rayburn in my second house which cost a fortune to run. I suppose oil is cheaper nowadays.

I have lived in a few houses with oil rayburn .some use more oil than others. There is a new one here that doesn't heat any water. It uses more oil than the old one at home that heats water too
I think dad worked out about a gallon a day

 

[Boysground]

If I was starting from scratch I wouldn't have one. A decent gas range is better for cooking and much cheaper to run and there are much better ways to heat a house. Unfortunately I am only the Tennant here.

Bg