If you are concerned that your tank may need replaced, these are some of the warning signs to look out for;

• rust (if a metal tank)
• splits or cracks
• bulging
• subsidence on the base
• sudden unexplained increase in usage of fuel
• tanks overgrown with foliage
• a strong smell of fuel around the tank
• bleaching (where parts of the tank’s normal green colour has faded to a white colour)

Servicing your oil boiler isn’t just about making sure it’s running efficiently, reducing fuel bills and saving money on costly call out fees for unexpected breakdowns.  It’s also an important part of maintaining the safe running of your boiler.  Servicing your boiler annually may also be a stipulation of the warranty of your oil boiler and by keeping your boiler in good working order, an annual boiler service can help to extend the lifespan of your boiler.

Without regular boiler servicing, the efficiency and reliability of an oil fired boiler can be affected by the following:

• Excessive smoke and partially burnt fuel deposits can cause soot to form within the appliance heat exchanger. This restricts the amount of heat that can be transferred into the system. The cleaner the heat exchanger, the more efficient the appliance will be!
• Fuel nozzles regulate how much fuel passes through the burner. Fuel nozzles wear over time and lower boiler efficiency. If they are not replaced annually they can cause your boiler to pull too much oil into the burner.  You may notice that your oil top up isn’t lasting as long- if that’s the case, it’s time to get your boiler serviced!
• Fuel pumps contaminated with tank sludge/ water can cause pump failure.  Water can be present in your oil tank from condensation and/or cracks and sludge can be caused by bacterial growth and any sediment in oil.  When these settle at the bottom of your oil tank and build up over time they can be pulled into your oil line and once they reach the pump they cause damage and boiler breakdowns.
• Photocells are an important safety feature which detect whether the appliance has lit. Over time or with an inefficient boiler, soot will build up on the photocell, when dirty it may not be able to detect the burner flame correctly and could cause your boiler to shut off randomly. Boilers frequently switching on and off will be less efficient than those running for longer periods.
• Electrodes can wear and attract soot and deposits. Electrodes produce a spark to light the fuel, if they are worn or in poor condition the appliance may not light. Again, this causes inconvenience, inefficiency and increases fuel cost.