How to fix an oil aga problem V2

[Bravheart]

You can get premium heating oils that are supposed to help or probably additives which will reduce carbon build up.
I suspect snake oil but might be worth a try.

Aga Range Cooker Fuel Extra + | Aga Heating Oil | Peak Oil

Special fuel for aga range cookers which reduces carbon deposits and build-up of sludge in your heating oil system, making your cooker more efficient.

www.peakoil.co.uk

So anyone using an additive and can report back?

Interested.

 

[Matrixx]

Mine runs for well over winter untill i switch it off with virtually no build up, I add this. when i first bought the house it did clog up regulary, it must have been from some oil in the tank, they say some lorries carry multiple fuels and the dregs of the previous deleivey are flushed out of the pipe into your tank.

 

[Barnyrj]

Good morning,
We have an oil fired Aga that’s giving us some issues.

Firstly, there is a distinct oily smell inside the kitchen. And more recently I have noticed what looks like Tar dribbling down the flue where it come out of the aga (please see photos) The flue goes into a twin wall liner, I’m thinking I need to remove the flue and sweep the chimney.

Any idea on how we solve the issue, aga has been serviced, and burner cleaned etc and the oil flow rate was checked and correct.

Has anyone had any luck using Windkat cowls? That’s the only thing I can think of is the downdraft? We live in a wooded area and have large trees and woodland within 25m of the house, could this be a cause?

Any help would be much appreciated,
Thanks in advane

 

[waddycall]

Did you get a pro in to service it? If so get them back. There’s a lack of flue gas flow which is causing the smell and the condensation in the flue. This could be due to a blocked flue, blocked air inlet, low heat output from the burner, flue reversal due to wind, extractor fans, other chimneys etc. Turn it off and get it checked out. The flue gas is rich in carbon monoxide and isn’t going up the flue properly.

 

[Barnyrj]

Did you get a pro in to service it? If so get them back. There’s a lack of flue gas flow which is causing the smell and the condensation in the flue. This could be due to a blocked flue, blocked air inlet, low heat output from the burner, flue reversal due to wind, extractor fans, other chimneys etc. Turn it off and get it checked out. The flue gas is rich in carbon monoxide and isn’t going up the flue properly.

Thanks Waddy, I carried out the service myself after our local aga man retired, I’ve cleaned all the oil burner parts, b pipes with drill bit etc and replaced wick, but this isn’t a problem that’s only formed recently - it has always seemed to have been a problem with the oily smell on this particular aga. We have had a couple of different professionals in, but none can find the issue with the actual aga per se. They’ve all tested the oil flow, the oil quality and the functioning/settings on aga. Which is what is leading me to try any other options I have left, namely the windkat cowl as the only thing I can think is the nearby trees are having an affect on it. Have you got any suggestions as to improving the flue gas flow? Thanks

 

[fizzy]

It must be a blocked flu. When we moved in there were those thick hard tar deposits in various places.
Aga had been religiously serviced.
Chimney was swept but didn't help. It turned out the metal pipe going from the aga to the chimney flu was coated in a heavy layer of black glaze. Almost like obsidian! Gentle tapping with a hammer caused it to break up and fall off the pipe. Could be the same up your flu. Steel balls on chains are sometimes used I think.
We also live in a heavy wooded area with weird wind patterns. Ours is fine now.

 

[fizzy]

And one top tip for aga or rayburn owners. Sometimes the cooker starts getting cooler and cooler even after a recent service. Adjusting the control knob does nothing.
If you feel around at the top of the oil control unit. Toby I think it's called. There is a small rocker with a short vertical push rod. Just waggle the push rod up and down a few times normal service will be resumed!

 

[waddycall]

Thanks Waddy, I carried out the service myself after our local aga man retired, I’ve cleaned all the oil burner parts, b pipes with drill bit etc and replaced wick, but this isn’t a problem that’s only formed recently - it has always seemed to have been a problem with the oily smell on this particular aga. We have had a couple of different professionals in, but none can find the issue with the actual aga per se. They’ve all tested the oil flow, the oil quality and the functioning/settings on aga. Which is what is leading me to try any other options I have left, namely the windkat cowl as the only thing I can think is the nearby trees are having an affect on it. Have you got any suggestions as to improving the flue gas flow? Thanks

Do you have any other chimneys or appliances with open flues in the house? I wouldn’t put too much hope in a cowl sorting it. They only work if there’s no build up of pressure around the terminal which is normally the cause of downdraught. Get a carbon monoxide alarm if you haven’t got one. Best bit of advice is turn it off. As it’s an Aga and not a Rayburn I guess it’s just doing hot water and maybe a bit of cooking and keeping the kitchen warm? Shame to risk your health/life if all you need to do is turn on the immersion heater until it’s sorted.

 

[not done it yet]

My brother had a gravity Aga for several,years. Required regular attention, but he could ‘fettle’ it. I know he changed the burner assembly once.

He bought a pressure version for not a lot of money a while back. It has since saved him a lot in fuel usage. He had a fair bit of modification to do, when fitting it in, but not much of a problem for him.

 

[Matrixx]

When I first bought my house the pipe from the Aga to the flue was full of black tar like substance had to chisel it out.

I have always had a kerosene smell around the float valve.
The critical thing is the height of the filling bowl, it has to be exactly right, even if the flow is correct, it will cause burning issues, and very little info around now.

 

[Barnyrj]

Good morning all.

Thanks for the help and suggestions - thought I’d update on my situation above.

It seems like the problem has been fixed and it was the cowl that was almost completely blocked at the top. I got up on the roof over the weekend and replaced the cowl with a new windkat one.

Attached is a photos of inside the old one. Not sure if it can be made out on them, but there are meant to be holes around the entire circumference of the cowl (at the end where the shiny-ish stainless steel piece is), and it looks like all but maybe 2 or 3 are completely blocked (90% of them blocked)

Hopefully the windkat will stand the test of time. There seem to be a lot more exhaust holes in it so the likelihood of them blocking will be less with a little luck!

So if all else has been checked and someone isn’t getting chimney draw, then the cowl is worth checking.

Thanks

 

[waddycall]

What were the holes blocked with??? What did the terminal/cowl look like?

 

[not done it yet]

What were the holes blocked with??? What did the terminal/cowl look like?

Yep, seems like ‘treating the symptoms and not the disease’.