What an oil boiler service covers that a gas service does not

The engineering behind an oil boiler service

The engineer strips the burner to replace the nozzle and inspect or replace the electrodes, then checks pump pressure and the fuel filter. A smoke test and flue gas analysis confirm clean combustion, since a poorly set burner smokes and soots up the heat exchanger over time. The oil supply line, tank, and any Tigerloop or de-aerator device are also checked as part of the same visit.

Practical notes on an oil boiler service

• Nozzle replaced as a routine wear item at every service
• Fuel filter and line inspected for water or debris
• Smoke test and combustion analysis confirm burner setting
• Pump pressure checked and adjusted to specification
• Tank and supply pipework visually inspected

How this plays out across our coverage area

Rural properties around the Mendip villages often store oil outdoors year-round, so condensation and settled water in the tank base are checked at service time, since a fuel filter clogged with water-contaminated oil is a common cause of a burner that will not start on a cold morning.

Questions we get asked

Why does an oil boiler need a new nozzle every year?

The nozzle wears from constant fine spray under pressure, and a worn nozzle changes the spray pattern enough to affect combustion and soot production.

Is a smoke test the same as a flue gas reading?

They are related but different measurements — smoke testing checks unburnt carbon in the exhaust, while the analyser measures gas composition and efficiency.

Where we deal with this

• Whatley (BA11) · 8 mi
• Farmborough (BA2) · 5 mi
• Bishop Sutton (BS39) · 6 mi
• Stanton Wick (BS39) · 8 mi