Oil Burner & Oil Boiler Repair in Boston
Oil burner won't start, keeps locking out, or puffing smoke? Call (617) 691-5446 to be connected with an independent local heating company that works on oil burners and oil-fired boilers in Boston and Suffolk County.
Service overview
What oil burner repair involves
An oil burner sprays a fine mist of heating oil through a nozzle, lights it with an electric spark, and fires it into the boiler. When any part of that chain fails, the burner locks out and the house goes cold. Oil burner repair means finding which part failed: a clogged nozzle or oil filter, an air leak in the oil line, a failed fuel pump, worn ignition electrodes or transformer, a dirty CAD cell (the flame sensor), or a failed primary control, the box with the red reset button. Many Boston homes, from triple-deckers in Dorchester to older homes across the city, still heat with oil, often with Beckett, Riello or Carlin burners. Oil work in Massachusetts has to be done by a licensed oil burner technician. Call to be connected with a local company for boiler repair in Boston, and ask for their license.
! Common warning signs
Burner won't start or keeps locking out
A burner that keeps tripping the red reset button is protecting itself. Pressing reset over and over can pump unburned oil into the combustion chamber, which can cause a dangerous puffback when it finally lights. Press it once; if it locks out again, stop and call.
Smoke, soot or an oil smell
Soot around the burner, smoke from the chimney, or an oil smell in the basement usually means poor combustion: a worn nozzle, bad air setting or a venting problem. It wastes oil and can lead to a puffback that spreads soot through the house.
Ran out of oil or air in the line
If the tank ran dry, refilling it isn't always enough: air gets into the oil line and the pump has to be bled before the burner will run. Check the tank gauge first, then call if the burner still won't fire after a delivery.
Scope of work
What an oil burner service call usually includes
A typical oil burner repair visit covers a diagnosis, the repair, and a combustion test afterwards. Ask the company to price anything extra before they continue.
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01
Diagnosis at the burner
The technician checks the oil supply and filter, the pump pressure, the ignition spark, the CAD cell and the primary control to find why the burner won't fire or keeps locking out.
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02
Nozzle, filter and electrodes
Many oil burner problems come down to wear parts: a new nozzle, oil filter and ignition electrodes, set to the burner manufacturer's spec. These are also replaced during an annual tune-up.
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03
Bleeding the oil line
After running out of oil or replacing a filter, air in the line is bled out at the pump so the burner gets a steady oil supply.
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04
Combustion test and cleanup
Ask the technician to run a combustion test, which checks smoke, draft and efficiency, and to clean any soot from the combustion chamber and flue pipe before they leave.
Why not keep pressing reset
A lockout is the burner's safety control doing its job. Resetting it repeatedly can flood the chamber with oil. If it locks out twice, call.
Call nowTools an oil burner technician uses
Combustion analyzer and smoke tester
Measures smoke, draft, carbon monoxide and efficiency so the air and oil settings can be tuned for a clean, safe flame.
Pump pressure gauge
Checks that the fuel pump is delivering oil at the pressure the nozzle is rated for. Wrong pump pressure means a poor spray and a dirty flame.
Multimeter
Tests the ignition transformer, primary control and CAD cell to find an electrical fault instead of guessing at parts.
Nozzle wrench and vacuum
Used to change the nozzle and clean soot from the combustion chamber, heat exchanger and flue pipe.
Local service
Boston's housing stock includes many older homes still heated by oil-fired boilers, often in basements with an oil tank nearby. In a cold snap, demand for oil burner repair rises fast, and a lockout at night can leave a whole triple-decker without heat. Massachusetts licenses oil burner technicians through the Department of Fire Services, so ask the company you're connected with for theirs. If your oil boiler is old and keeps failing, compare a repair with replacing the boiler.
Oil burner repair in Boston
- • Downtown Boston
- • Dorchester
- • Jamaica Plain
- • South Boston
Example jobs
No heat from an oil burner
When the burner quits, call
An oil burner that won't stay running on a January night is urgent. Call (617) 691-5446 and you'll be connected with a local company that works on oil heat. Ask how soon they can come out, and check your tank gauge before you call: running out of oil is one of the most common causes.
How oil burner repair works
Call and describe
Tell the company whether the burner is locking out, smoking or not starting, when the tank was last filled, and the burner brand if you can see it.
On-site diagnosis
The technician checks the oil supply, filter, pump, ignition, CAD cell and primary control to find the fault.
Repair and combustion test
They quote the repair, replace the failed part, and run a combustion test. Ask for the quote in writing first.
What oil burner repair costs in Boston
Oil burner repair prices depend on the part, the burner and the time of the call. A nozzle, filter or electrode is usually a smaller job than a fuel pump or primary control, and after-hours calls often cost more. We don't set prices; the company you're connected with quotes the work.
The failed part
Wear parts such as a nozzle, filter and electrodes cost less than a fuel pump, transformer or primary control.
Soot cleanup
If the burner has been sooting or there was a puffback, cleaning the chamber and flue pipe adds time.
Time of the call
Night and weekend calls usually cost more than a scheduled weekday visit. Ask about rates before they come out.
Oil burner repair questions, answered
Why does my oil burner keep locking out?
Common causes include running low on oil, air in the oil line, a clogged nozzle or filter, a dirty CAD cell, or a failing pump or primary control. Press reset once; if it locks out again, call a technician rather than resetting it again.
Is it safe to keep pressing the reset button?
No. Each reset sends oil into the combustion chamber. Repeated resets can leave unburned oil that ignites all at once, causing a puffback. Press it once at most, then call.
Who can work on an oil burner in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts requires oil burner work to be done by a licensed oil burner technician, licensed through the Department of Fire Services. Ask the company you're connected with for their license.
How often should an oil burner be serviced?
Once a year, before the heating season. An annual tune-up replaces the nozzle and filter and checks combustion, which keeps the burner clean and efficient. See boiler tune-ups.