Fuel Oil Furnace keeps shutting off

We recently bought a old big house that had 2 fuel oil furnaces and a fuel oil hot water heater (48yrs old). The furnace was replaced with lp, so now we just have the water heater with fuel oil. For some reason every day or so we need to go downstairs in the basement and hit the reset button to have hot water. As soon as we press it, it kicks right in, but pain in the butt to find out when you need the water that there is no hot water. Is there something wrong with our water heater itself, or maybe getting air somewhere now that just one thing vented out? Please help!!

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Reply to
labine07
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Entirely possibly that something in the oil lines was messed up when the oil furnaces were removed, however why don't you just replace the water heater with an LP one (cheap) and be done with it?

Reply to
Pete C.

A unit that old and without the modern super efficient burners really should be replaced and there are many reasons why. I removed and opened a 25 yr old tank that had 12" of stone scale in it, that scale was reducing efficency more every year, at 48 you have no idea what you have. Even when it was new with an old oil burner technology your unit might have been 50% efficent if you were lucky. A new propane unit will save you alot every month, and yours will just need more maintenance then leak.

Reply to
ransley

Although briefly mentioned here, be sure to check the oil filter at your tank. If not changed or cleaned in several years , it could be clogged and causing these problems. Give it a try while you try to decide if you want to make a long term change to another type of unit.

James

Reply to
James

It could be a lot of things. If the spark is not right it can time out, if the fuel filter is clogged, if a few more things happen, etc.

If it is 48 years old, you can probably save a bundle of money by replacing it. Modern units are much more efficient. You may even want to consider a different fuel. Check all the options. Rebates and no interest loans are available in many states too if you upgrade to Energy Star. .

Reply to
Ed Pawlowski

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