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Banbeer

Banbeer Brewing
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Quick question to all that use oil for their central heating.

I have a gauge empty, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, full and was wondering how accurate they are, at the mo we are a couple of cm off the empty and supposed to have had a delivery today but now they can't make it until Monday so we've turned the CH off and using electric heaters in fear that we run out.
 
Quick question to all that use oil for their central heating.

I have a gauge empty, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, full and was wondering how accurate they are, at the mo we are a couple of cm off the empty and supposed to have had a delivery today but now they can't make it until Monday so we've turned the CH off and using electric heaters in fear that we run out.
Does it cause a problem, like mess up the system, if you run out? Otherwise, why not run it and switch to electricity if you do run out.
 
Does it cause a problem, like mess up the system, if you run out? Otherwise, why not run it and switch to electricity if you do run out.
yes it needs bleeding and we have switched to electric tonight, tomorrow I'm brewing so will have heat from the HLT and Brewster Beacon whilst the SWMBO visits family with heating.
 
Are you sure it would need bleeding? It might need resetting ( cover off boiler, usually an illuminated switch) when it hits air once refilled, but unless it's 2000 years old, I suspect it will be ok. You could also tilt the tank to get the last bit out by putting chocks in the opposite end of the outlet. Just remember to remove them before the delivery .Not that I've run out many times over the last 48 years or anything. :laugh8:
 
tipping the tank can cause you problems. your tank will have a load of (****) sediment at the bottom which you don't want getting into your pump.open the cap at see how far your above the outlet. your gauge might not be accurate
 
Take the lid off and have a look. The oil outlet is above the bottom of the tank, so the boiler would stop before the tank is empty. Measure the height of the pipe outside to see how many inches it is above the bottom of the tank. Then use a broom stick or wooden lath to dip the tank and see what depth of oil remains. I would run the tank until it is just above the outlet pipe. If you do run it to empty you will probably have some problems getting the boiler's oil pump to 'pick up' suction. If the pump runs dry it could be damaged. The gauges are not very accurate, especially as most tanks are plastic and an irregular shape. A rectangular, steel tank is easier to gauge. You should order as soon as it gets to 1/4 full. My supplier gives a better price when you order ten days in advance.
 
It sounds like the gauge I have Which is attached to a float. I find them useless as the gauge doesn't always move so I have to pull the float out.

Depending in your system but you should only use a tiny bit of oil so should be ok. If it runs dry then system will need bleeding and the filter may get filled with muck
 
A rectangular, steel tank is easier to gauge. You should order as soon as it gets to 1/4 full
Hi Martin, it's rectangular and we ordered the oil last Thursday but the supplier is too busy so delivery is Monday. Using electric heaters today and they are working fine, luckily it's warmer today.

Depending in your system but you should only use a tiny bit of oil so should be ok. If it runs dry then system will need bleeding and the filter may get filled with muck
Thanks @Leon103 but ran out at a previous address a few years ago(no gauge on that one) and the plumber had to bleed it then so not risking running out.
 
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tipping the tank can cause you problems. your tank will have a load of (s**t) sediment at the bottom which you don't want getting into your pump.open the cap at see how far your above the outlet. your gauge might not be accurate
Thanks @samale, won't be going down that route, unfortunately we could have had a delivery a couple of weeks ago while we were on annual leave in Canada but SWMBO didn't want a delivery while we were not there!!!
 
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