Boiler services
Plenty of rural homes around Neath, Swansea and the valleys still heat with heating oil. Oil boilers need the same care as gas ones, but the work falls under a different set of competence schemes.
Oil is stored in a tank outside and fed along a supply pipe to the boiler. A pump and nozzle spray a fine mist into the combustion chamber where it is lit by an electrode. Oil boilers can be combi, system or regular, and many sit outside in their own weatherproof casing.
Gas Safe registration covers gas appliances only. Oil work is covered by competent person schemes, the best known being OFTEC, which registers technicians for servicing and for installation. When you search for an oil boiler engineer, ask which scheme they belong to and what categories they hold.
Ask us about availability for oil boiler work when you get in touch. If it is not something we can take on for your home, we will say so honestly so you can find the right person.
Lockouts are often caused by a blocked nozzle, a dirty filter, air in the supply or a low tank. Water or sludge in the tank can also cause trouble. Check your tank level before calling, and never try to strip the burner yourself.
A new oil boiler is chosen on the same grounds as any other: heat demand, hot-water needs and where it will sit. Some homeowners also look at switching fuel at that point. Our main boiler installation page and new boiler cost guide explain how a replacement is planned and what drives the price. To ask about your home, use the new boiler quote page or call 07429 632804.
The tank is as important as the boiler. Check it now and then for cracks, bulges, rust or weeping joints, and keep vegetation away from it. Many older single-skin tanks have been replaced with bunded tanks, which hold any leak inside an outer skin. If a tank leaks, heating oil can pollute soil and water, so it should be dealt with quickly. Your insurer may also have conditions about tank condition. When you order oil, avoid letting the level run very low, as sediment at the bottom can be drawn into the supply line and block the filter.
Common questions
Clear answers before you arrange a visit.
The boiler type and output, whether it sits inside or outside, the flue, any tank work and the state of the heating system all play a part. A survey gives you a firm figure.
Once a year is the usual advice, because soot builds up in the combustion chamber and affects efficiency and reliability.
A technician registered with OFTEC, a competent person scheme for oil-fired heating. Their registration shows which kinds of oil work they can carry out.
Gas Safe registration alone does not cover oil. The engineer needs suitable oil competence, so it is worth asking before you book.
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