How to Prime an Oil Boiler | After you run out of fuel.

Рет қаралды 70,219

2 жыл бұрын

Today I'm going to show you how to prime an oil boiler after you run out of fuel. It's an easy job that anyone can do with a few simple tools. Most oil delivery companies are going to charge an extra fee for same day oil delivery and another fee to restart (prime) your boiler after you run out of oil. You can save money by adding five gallon of diesel fuel to your oil tank and restarting your boiler yourself. This five gallons of fuel should last at least a few days while you wait for your delivery. Most people will run out of fuel on occasion and this fix will save you money and return heat and hot water to your home with minimal effort. Let's get started.

Пікірлер: 103

@catherineadair9078 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this video! This was something my husband always did if we ran out of oil, but we are separated and I ran out of oil last night. I was able to do this myself because of your video. You not only saved me $100 but helped me to feel like I can do things on my own. Thank you!

@BackyardMaine 2 жыл бұрын

I love it when my videos help someone out. Great Job! Click the subscribe for more DIY content. Thanks for watching.

@4ntiMatteR 5 ай бұрын

Old post but just had to say respect Catherine, you’re an awesome lady. My man raised us alone and was awesome at just trying and doing stuff. Just like yourself🫵.😉

@CordCuttersLI 2 ай бұрын

Thank you so much bro! I had a "boiler guy" come to my house to do this the first time it happened like 10 years ago. He had it "fixed" so fast when my back was turned, I didn't see what he did, so I asked him for future reference. He told me to loosen the bolt on the bottom of the filter until oil came out & quickly tighten it back up. Needless to say, that didn't look right, so we've been very diligent about not running out of oil again ever since - Until this morning!! 🙄 Being a "KZfaqr" myself, I knew I'd find a better way, and I did when I found your video. Here's a few bucks as a token of my appreciation; and as a hint to all the other people who you've saved hundreds of dollars for. THANKS AGAIN!

@BackyardMaine 2 ай бұрын

So happy to help.. And thanks so much for helping support the channel. Much appreciated my friend.

@mikeuk72 Жыл бұрын

Hi there from the UK. Your video really helped me out to get my oil boiler going again, so thank you very much. My bleed valve was a little different to yours, but the same principle. It took 3 repeats of the process, but worked like a charm! Thanks again 👍

@BackyardMaine Жыл бұрын

Great to hear! Glad it helped you out.

@sunflowerscythe 5 ай бұрын

Just moved to Northern Maine, thank you!! I'm from Florida and never used a furnace before. This was very helpful!!

@BackyardMaine 5 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and stay warm..

@matthewaltomare7629 4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! As a hobby auto mechanic, once you showed where to look for the drain nipple was, then it all made sense. Had to hold the reset button for about 10 secs before pump would prime. Did it twice for water heater and once for boiler...all seems to be working now. Thanks!

@BackyardMaine 4 ай бұрын

Happy to help.

@optimistic5467 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this video, My mum was struggling after her boiler been filled, went round after only ever using gas, 1 hour later searched and found your vid and was up and running within 5 mins Much appreciated :) Take care

@BackyardMaine Жыл бұрын

That’s awesome. The whole point of the channel is to help people out with things I’ve learned over the years. I love reading comments like this.

@suzannebullett3047 2 жыл бұрын

This was so great and so interesting! To think I was thrilled to put air in my soft tire for the first time. I felt so accomplished. Now there is a video you could do too because I honestly had no idea how to do it.🤦‍♀️

@BackyardMaine 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! See that's the key to doing things yourself you feel a sense of accomplishment. What's next on your list?

@fullyloaded_1 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing - was able to restart my furnace today as a result. Winter in Canada so you know it meant a lot, lol.

@BackyardMaine 2 жыл бұрын

That is awesome! I'm glad I could help. Thanks for watching!

@DanielMcGeary 4 ай бұрын

Thanks man!!!! This video helped a lot. Saved me from having to call the oil company to send someone out.

@BackyardMaine 4 ай бұрын

My pleasure….Glad it helped.

@markthomas3858 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing your knowledge

@BackyardMaine 2 жыл бұрын

So happy I was able to help. Thanks for watching.

@tracase6 2 жыл бұрын

Good Video! I now feel like I can Prime my own Oil burner! Thank you!!

@BackyardMaine 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Tracey! I have some other DIY videos on my channel that you might enjoy. Thanks for watching.

@lawrenceforsley3411 Жыл бұрын

Okay…. Fellow Mainer here and this dude just saved me a couple of hundred dollars after I foolishly let my oil tank run dry. Worked first time just like in the video. Thank you! Now a subscriber and big fan.

@BackyardMaine Жыл бұрын

I love comments like this. I’m so glad I could help. Where in Maine are you from?

@lawrenceforsley3411 Жыл бұрын

@@BackyardMaine South Berwick… and you?

@BackyardMaine Жыл бұрын

@@lawrenceforsley3411 Buxton. I have a friend who lives in South Berwick.

@kencroke3863 Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much! Saved me time and money!

@BackyardMaine Жыл бұрын

You're welcome! So happy to help.

@owenclery2552 2 ай бұрын

Very helpful, thank you!

@BackyardMaine 2 ай бұрын

My pleasure.. Thanks for watching!

@diamondmobs6435 Жыл бұрын

Thank you!! Worked!

@BackyardMaine Жыл бұрын

You're welcome! Glad it helped..

@samtheseeker7129 4 ай бұрын

01 20 24 I was bleeding w furnace off for sooo many years. This is oh so easy now. Thank you.

@BackyardMaine 4 ай бұрын

Gald to help.

@yukikowilson9192 2 ай бұрын

Thanks man. Good info!

@BackyardMaine 2 ай бұрын

You bet! Thanks for watching.

@ethanvalentin6990 2 жыл бұрын

You saved me 175 dollars Thank you

@BackyardMaine 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome. Glad it helped. Subscribe for more DIY content.

@mcflurry7479 4 ай бұрын

thank you very much!

@BackyardMaine 4 ай бұрын

You're welcome!

@Quequechan 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing

@BackyardMaine 5 ай бұрын

My pleasure. Thanks for watching

@daniellewalker5681 2 жыл бұрын

you are a life saver 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

@BackyardMaine 2 жыл бұрын

Im glad I was able to help.. Thanks for watching.

@edwardbanta4114 Жыл бұрын

Thanks I understand 👍👍👍👍

@BackyardMaine Жыл бұрын

Happy to help

@parismariano2297 2 ай бұрын

thanks!!!

@BackyardMaine 2 ай бұрын

You're welcome! Happy to help.

@229jhiker 4 ай бұрын

$50 -$100 I wish. My wife just got a quote for$275. Thanks for your video!

@BackyardMaine 4 ай бұрын

I hope it helps.

@bigred8162 4 ай бұрын

Thank u

@BackyardMaine 4 ай бұрын

My pleasure.

@Stephen_Strange 7 ай бұрын

I watched this yesterday - it helped. I went to my pump and can't find the drip/exit 'tap'. Mine is also an R.B.L. manufacture.

@BackyardMaine 7 ай бұрын

It should be close to where the oil tube enters the burner. You may need to remove a cover or something to find it. Maybe you can google you burner and find it that way.

@Stephen_Strange 7 ай бұрын

I found the drip/exit/ tap back towards the petrol tank. I've fitted a hosepipe to it ready to get the air out. I have to switch the pump on right? So the air gets force out? I'll do it Sunday morning, when it's light again, dark out now.@@BackyardMaine

@pakofishing 2 ай бұрын

What do I do if I don't have that little brass pipe there? It's just the screw on... No hole. Can I use the little allen key valve (above the brass one on your video, to the left) on the side of the square metal part instead?

@BackyardMaine 2 ай бұрын

Without seeing what you have I don't know..

@jspinosa50 6 ай бұрын

Use a 3/8 box wrench when purging. Adjustable wrench has a tendency to slip.

@BackyardMaine 6 ай бұрын

So do I but I wanted to make it easy for someone with limited tools.

@user-su5mh5ei3y 6 ай бұрын

My boiler fired up after bleeding. However my radiators are hotter now than before. Have I tightened the bleeder valve too much?

@BackyardMaine 6 ай бұрын

No the bleeder valve should be snug with no drips. If your radiators are getting hotter that would be a temperature setting on the boiler. Not sure if somehow that got changed or possible reset to factory defaults if its electronic?

@user-su5mh5ei3y 6 ай бұрын

@BackyardMaine In your video what is the purpose of the black nut/bolt about your bleeder valve?

@samuelbaldwin4104 2 жыл бұрын

My mother's oil burner has stopped working today, plenty of oil in the tank but when we switch the heat on, nothing happens. It looks similar to your boiler and I was wondering is the red circular button in the thumbnail of this video a restart button?

@samuelbaldwin4104 2 жыл бұрын

The red button at 2:18

@BackyardMaine 2 жыл бұрын

@@samuelbaldwin4104 Yes that is the reset button. Just press that and the boiler should attempt to start.

@samuelbaldwin4104 2 жыл бұрын

@@BackyardMaine I tried that and still nothing, no lights or no sounds. Any other advice?

@BackyardMaine 2 жыл бұрын

@@samuelbaldwin4104 Does the boiler have power? Check to make sure the circuit feeding the boiler hasn't tripped. Also make sure someone didn't accidentally turn off the safety switch. These are a normal switch like a light switch usually at the top of the basement stairs or outside of a utility room and they should have a red cover. If you do have power and the reset does nothing then it could be many things. One of the safety like low water cut off could have opened. This protects the boiler from operating when it's low on water or one of you controls or the burner itself could have a problem like the motor. This type of burner has electronic ignition which could have failed.

@Kgarvin 6 ай бұрын

Does the heat need to be turned off when you do this (thermostat set to off)?

@BackyardMaine 6 ай бұрын

No the thermostat can remain on.

@Kgarvin 6 ай бұрын

Thank you so so much for your response!

@BackyardMaine 6 ай бұрын

My pleasure. @@Kgarvin

@ninvin21 7 ай бұрын

can I just turn up my thermostat to turn on my boiler? or do I need to push that button?

@BackyardMaine 7 ай бұрын

When you run out of fuel the burner will trip a safety and need to be reset to run again. After you have restored fuel you can push the reset and prime the burner like I show in the video.

@ninvin21 7 ай бұрын

@@BackyardMaine thank you for explaining that to me that makes perfect sense. For some reason, my burner still turns on from the thermostat but it just blows cold air, Thank you!

@joshenglehart4619 3 ай бұрын

I bled mine and when I push the reset button it shuts off in the middle of Me doing so after 20-30 seconds maybe. Any idea why ?

@BackyardMaine 3 ай бұрын

It will only try to prime for a short time and the controls will shut it off. Sometimes depending on the elevation change and the distance between the burner and the tank it may take several tries before you get a solid stream of fuel. I can usually do mine in one or two tries but I helped a buddy and it took about 10 tries.

@thegaming_panda7284 6 ай бұрын

What should I do if no oil comes out after I press the button?

@BackyardMaine 6 ай бұрын

Depending on the distance and elevation change between your burner and your oil take it may take a few tries to get it to prime.

@HagerVids Жыл бұрын

did it twice and reset button will not reset. i have thermostat up high also

@BackyardMaine Жыл бұрын

There is a time delay between resets.

@HagerVids Жыл бұрын

@@BackyardMaine thanks i found out it had a lock out and had to hold reaet button down 45 secs until it restarted. thanks for your help bro

@j.h.6215 9 ай бұрын

What happens if nothing happens when you push the button?

@BackyardMaine 9 ай бұрын

Then you have another issue other than just being out of oil.

@sweeney69728 Жыл бұрын

Iv no fuel coming out i just got my tank filled up but nothing is happening?

@BackyardMaine Жыл бұрын

Are you sure nothing is valves off. If not the pump should prime if you follow what I did in the video. Try it a few times. Depending on the location of your oil tank it may take a few attempts.

@sweeney69728 Жыл бұрын

@@BackyardMaine ill have to try a few more times today i just settled for a cold shower last night the house was -2🥶 ,anyway thanks very much for the reply 👍

@laravelisbullschitt3281 Жыл бұрын

I have same issue. EVERY time I run out of oil this happens, an engineer charges me £250 for a new fuel pump each time. Sooner I can get rid of the system the better, just took a loan to pay my oil but can’t afford the engineer to fix the fuel pump.

@BackyardMaine Жыл бұрын

@@laravelisbullschitt3281 The pump should not fail when you run out of oil but it will always need to be primed like i do in this video. If you pump is actually failing and the engineer isn't ripping you off, the only thing I can think of is it's running for a long time with no fuel running through it, which can over heat and fail the pump. The thing is burners have a device called a fire eye which shuts off the burner (and pump) if it doesn't see a flame after a short duration. Maybe 10-15 seconds. I'm not sure what's going on there.

@davidrattiner Жыл бұрын

I’ve literally hit this button a hundred times. No oil comes out after loosening.

@BackyardMaine Жыл бұрын

Do you have oil in the tank? If so you have another issue.

@truenewsglobal Жыл бұрын

Your hand was in the way of the flow lol

@BackyardMaine Жыл бұрын

Sorry. Tough thing to video with my phone.

@truenewsglobal Жыл бұрын

All good. Great video anyway. The top of my oil tank looked like it had caulking around the top fill where you loosened with the channel locks. I couldn’t get it off. It took me a LONG time to get the oil flowing without bubbles. It probably took about 15 tries where I thought it was flowing nicely. Also, the backing nut came off when I was unscrewing the bleeder. It was a sh*! show, for sure.

@BackyardMaine Жыл бұрын

@@truenewsglobal That's a bummer. I'm not sure how far away your boiler is from the tank but wow 15 times.. I usually get it on one or two tries. That's pipe sealant on the threads of your oil tank access. If that comes off hard you can go outside and pour it into your fill pipe.

@truenewsglobal Жыл бұрын

@@BackyardMaine and it happened again after it actually worked.

@truenewsglobal Жыл бұрын

@@BackyardMaine last night we noticed it was off again. Don’t know for how long. The tank was full. I bled it again and fired it up. It went a lot quicker this time, but I noticed this milky substance coming out with it.

@apb2887 Ай бұрын

You did not prime it long enough, normally you should let the thing run way more than a couple seconds. Hit the reset button two or three times at least

@BackyardMaine Ай бұрын

That all depends on the location and elevation of the fuel tank. Mine usually takes off on the first try or occasionally the second attempt. A friend of mine had a long distance between the tank and the boiler and it took about ten times to get it primed.

@apb2887 Ай бұрын

@@BackyardMaine That is true. Most digital pumps come with a prime setting that starts at 1 minute. But like you said if your tank is higher in elevation with a short length oil line it can go much quicker

@tvismyfriend8331 2 ай бұрын

Didn’t work

@BackyardMaine 2 ай бұрын

Sometimes it takes several tries depending on the distance and elevation change between your burner and the oil tank. Also after each try you need to wait about 15 seconds before you try again so the reset button will initiate another start.