FAQs on Oil Burner Noises & Sounds

Q&A on diagnose & fix noises at the oil burner

Banging Oil Burner Noise FAQs

EOGB burner makes a loud Bang noise every time it fires up

My external EOGB burner is annoying neighbours due to a loud noise every time it fires up. It burns cleanly and doesn't smoke or make any soot.

Burns better now that I have changed over to kerosene from biodiesel but it's more noisy. I'm very reluctant to remove the burner and fit a smaller nozzle with the associated setup problems.

Is it possible to reduce the noise nuisance by the use of an external silencer or should I make an enclosure for it? On 2015-03-19 by Ron

Reply by mod

Black soot from an oil heating system and a loud bang or similar noise at oil burner start-up is not normal; the system needs service.

Often the cause is unburned oil in the combustion chamber from the end of the previous burner on-cycle when the oil burner does not shut down properly.

Watch out: And the situation is unsafe as there is a risk of a dangerous oil burner puffback.

Take a look at OIL BURNER SOOT & PUFFBACKS

Loud Boom coming from our boiler: flexing sheet metal?

We have an older boiler. Several times a day we hear a boom coming from the unit. It sounds like the metal casing around the boiler is flexing.

I compare the sound to a piece of sheet metal being popped back in place. We recently had a company come in to inspect and perform maintenance on the boiler.

When we told the technician about the issue, he said he wasn't concerned, but also didn't know what could be causing it.

The noise didn't happen while he was there working.

A couple side notes, in case they are important, one of the zone control valves is malfunctioning and we are planning on replacing it soon, and either the air vent or the pressure relief valve (not sure which one it is) leaks a little bit of water out of the top.

Thank you for any help/advice you can give. On 2019-02-13 by Mo

by (mod) - dangers of flexing boiler parts

Let's talk about flexing metal and damage risks associated with that after you first assure yourself that the booming sound is not an irregular ignition of gas or oil.

those would be dangerous conditions.

If there are large sections, perhaps 20" x 20" or larger, of thin, unsupported sheet metal it would be no surprise if that metal flexed and made a "boom" sound when the boiler first heats up its enclosure.

But such noises are more common on forced warm air heating furnaces that may have a supply air plenum than at hot water heating boilers.

Flexing boiler parts mean that there is some sort of thermal movement. In some cases it's harmless but still can be corrected by adding reinforcement or insulation.

Watch out: in other cases, depending on just what parts are expanding and moving, the heater could be damaged or even unsafe.

So I recommend that with the heat having been off for a few hours, stand at the boiler and watch and listen carefully to pin down what happens when the heat is turned on and up high to see if you can cause the noise while the boiler is being observed.

Daniel Friedman

Buzzing Oil Burner FAQs

My oil burner won't run, it just buzzes

My oil furnace cuts off several times a day. As it goes to cut back on, the thermostat will click, and there is a buzzing sound at the furnace.

After a few seconds of buzzing, the red button will trip. After I push the red button to reset, it will buzz again, but a light to moderate bump to the top of the igniter will cause the furnace to kick on. I've already replaced the igniter.

Any idea what could be the issue? Thanks (Feb 5, 2013) Brian

Reply:

When the oil burner trips off on safety reset DO NOT keep pushing the reset button.

Once is OK. More than once floods the combustion chamber and makes actual service and repair more costly, difficult, and dangerous.

Your heating system needs service and repair by a trained service technician. Some typical reasons for oil burner failure are in the article above.

We discuss buzzing electrical relays at HVAC NOISE group 1 - banging, bearings,

BUZZING RELAYS

More extensive buzzing noise diagnosis for heating equipment is

at HEATING SYSTEM BUZZING NOISE

My oil burner motor buzzes and has trouble starting

It is the motor which is not running, at least it was running intermittently but after I tried the multi-meter capacitor test I can't get it to run at all. I don't think that fuel is getting to the burner when it doesn't run.

A soon as I press the reset button I can tell if the burner is going to light because I can hear the motor running, or not.

Mostly there is just buzzing. After several attempts it will eventually kick in, at least that was the case before the capacitor test.

The test on the capacitor showed it to be open, assuming I did the test correctly

The needle on the analogue meter didn't move.

It was set to resistance and I tested that it was working by shorting the 2 probes to create a closed circuit so the needle went to the top.

Could I have performed this incorrectly? If not, it is looking like the problem is the capacitor, I am just confused by it previously being intermittent. On 2018-12-02 by Tel

by (mod) - check first for a bad electric motor start capacitor

If we can assume that you've waited long enough for any thermal or other reset switches to cool off and you have them reset the safety controls on an oil burner, then

If power is delivered to an electric motor in the motor doesn't run that's not an issue with a safety control that is monitoring the quality of the flame.

More likely it's a failing motor or motor capacitor, or a bad electrical connection.

If the motor hums but won't start that's either a seized motor (it's shot) or a bad start/run capacitor.

by Tel - replacement motor capacitor fixed the problem

The replacement capacitor arrived today and as soon as I had fitted it the motor immediately kicked in correctly.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Help with capacitors

• HOW a STARTING CAPACITOR WORKS
• HOW to WIRE up a START CAPACITOR
• HOW to TEST the MOTOR to ID TERMINALS

Chattering Oil Burner Noise FAQs

Chattering Noises from my Oil Burner Primary Control - shuts down

When I fire up my oil furnace it will run for a little while and then I hear like chattering and noises coming from the primary control on the burner and then it will eventually shut off.

It runs for a total of about 15 mins before it shuts off what can I do to fix that? On 2019-10-29 by Chris

by (mod) - suspect a failing control relay

Could be a bad relay; repirable, but service technicians typically replace the control. That is not something you can fix yourself.

So call your heating service company to get this fixed before you find yourself without heat on a cold night.

If I were the onsite service technician, I'd want to check to see if your oil burner is tripping off due to dirty flame, needing cleaning and adjustment.

Watch out: If that's happening, never keep pushing that reset button or you risk a puffback explosion.

See CAUSES of CONTACTOR / RELAY CHATTER

Also check the diagnostics at OIL BURNER CLANKING RATTLING NOISE 

Also see OIL BURNER BUZZING NOISES

Clicking Oil Burner Noise FAQs

Clicking Noises & Stumbling Burner Shuts Down

My furnace sounds like a dampener it opening and closing and clicks like a restart a couple of times and shuts off. This is a hot water furnace On 2019-03-24 by Cindy

C1 NU-WAY burner makes clicking noise and trips out

On cold Startup my C1 NU-WAY burner makes clicking noise and trips out. On restart it clicks much less for a few seconds and continues as normal.

If I manually switch it off when warm and switch it on again it fires up and runs smoothly.

It only trips out once when cold and runs normally once reset. On 2019-03-14 by Gene -

Reply by (mod) -

Cindy: I agree that it sounds as if your heating boiler (which is what we call hot water heating or "hydronic" heating systems) needs service.

Watch your oil burner when it's trying to start. If you hear the burner run you may see the barometric damper round door move and click a time or two then settle down - not a big worry.

But if you are hearing clicking or chattering or buzzing at an electrical control box then a relay could be failing and

if the burner is not able to start and run for 10 minutes or longer, you should not keep trying to start the system.

Watch out: Don't let this continue or you face loss of heat and potentially unsafe conditions too.

Details are at OIL BURNER SOOT & PUFFBACKS

Gene: your heater needs repair too, but if it runs for10 minutes or longer, you can continue to have heat while you wait for repair.

The fact that your burner has trouble starting only when cold suggests a failing electric motor or, of course, something else.

Oil Burner Engine or Motor Noise FAQs

Loud noise like a engine running coming from my oil heating boiler even when it's turned off

Loud noise like a engine running coming from my oil heating boiler even when it's turned off On 2015-11-24 by Catherine gRtland

by (mod)

Catherine:

If power is OFF to your boiler it should not keep making noise - the situation sounds unsafe: I'd call the heating service company you use and ask for an inspection by an experienced tech.

Meanwhile turn off power to the unit at the electrical panel or fuse panel.

Oil Burner Grinding Noise FAQs

Boiler heating system makes Grinding noise at startup

Our oil fired boiler system starts up makes a grinding noise and then shuts off.

I think it's a failed bearing in the oil burner motor.

Is it easy to change bearing ? - Jim 12/26/11

Reply:

Jim,

changing a motor bearing is usually not something that's easy to do without special tools - we have to press out the old and press in the new, as well as of course disassemble the motor.

It depends of course on what motor and what system you're discussing. For example I would not try to change the bearing in an oil burner fuel unit (oil pump) - I'd replace the whole unit.

About your heat shutting off, if you're hearing grinding from the driving electric motor or fuel unit, I'd replace the part and thus get heat up and running again. If the noise is traced to improper burner operation you need a service call

Oil Burner Groaning Noise FAQs

Groaning noise from Grant Module 50/70 Boiler

I have a grant module 50 / 70 boiler and on Saturday I had the heating and hot water switched on. I forgot I had them on until I heard a groaning noise from the boiler.

The noise continued for hours after I turned the heat and water off. I tested it earlier a d it fired up wen I turned the water on so it's working bt I can hear a buzzing noise inside the boiler. Something to worry about?On 2017-05-08 4 by catherine

by (mod) - Grant Euroflame boiler groaning noise

Catherine,

I cannot guess what's happening in the boiler from the information in your note, but it does sound as if it makes sense to call for service/repair. A buzzing can be a bad relay or control, a leak, or something else that affects the reliability or safety of the heating boiler.

When a noise continues long after the boiler is turned OFF I suspect that if it's related to heat at all it's a thermale expansion or contraction of materials.

Here is a copy of the manual for your Grant Euroflame boiler

https://inspectapedia.com/heat/Euroflame-Grant-50-70-Boiler-Manual.pdf

I am guessing you're asking about a Grant 50/70 Euroflame boiler. Information and manuals about this specific boiler can be obtained from

Grant Engineering (UK) Limited
Hopton House, Hopton Industrial Estate, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 2EU
Telephone: (0870) 7775553 Fax: (0870) 7775559
email: info@grantuk.com website: www.grantuk.com

Oil Burner Humming Noise FAQs

For detailed diagnostic advice about humming noises at an oil burner, see also our topic home page: OIL BURNER HUMMING NOISE

and also HUMMING NOISES from HVAC SYSTEMS

Williamson oil furnace short run cycle & motor humming sound traced to pinched thermocouple wire

I have a Williamson 02-691. It runs and burns fine for 3 minutes and shuts off.

A few minutes later it hums like a stuck motor that wont turn.

After a while it do it all over again.

Months ago it would flash and die. I found a pinched thermocouple wire that was shorting.

Fixed that and all worked until now. Thanks, John On 2018-12-12 by John

Reply by (mod) -

Great news, thank you for taking the time to follow up as it will help other readers.

What's the fix if only one of my 3 heating zones is getting hot and I hear loud humming sound?

I have a water boiler with three zones. All works well except when it is quite cold outside and only the lowest zone is activated I get a pretty loud humming sound with vibration during the end of the heating cycle.

I was able to replicate this to a HVAC tech and he was able to silence it by significantly closing the inlet gas valve. I feel this is not the true fix. Is a variable speed pump the answer? Please help. Ty. On 2023-11-07 by Jim

by InspectApedia Publisher

@Jim,

Before we can tackle this and find and fix the root cause of the buzzing noise that you describe we need to understand where the noise is coming from.

I can't tell from your question if the control is buzzing or if the buzzing noise is from vibrating pipes or from a burner or from something else.

Perhaps you could help by narrowing that down for me and then I can comment further.

by Jim - All boiler pipes have a vibration

@InspectApedia Publisher, yes thank you. All boiler pipes have a vibration to it. Definitely not a transformer. Only happens when lower zone is open by itself in cold weather ( 30 or below). Tech got rid of it by closing the gas valve off like 70 %. If other zones are open the sound never occurs.

by InspectApedia Publisher

@Jim,

Closing the gas valve down on your gas fired heating boiler would be expected to reduce the flame size and thus the rate at which the boiler is heated, giving a longer on-cycle; I'm not sure what it does to boiler efficiency. And I'm going to have to think and research to imagine why that fixed the humming noise in heating pipes.

Usually that's due to water velocity - more suggestions are at https://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Plumbing-Noise-Type-Checklist.php

or due to noise transmission from a motor or control into the piping by direct contact: pipes then can act as an amplifier as can flooring, framing, etc.

What did your tech say about why he or she closed down the gas valve? Did the tech say the noise was in the gas piping not the heater's hydronic (hot water) piping?

by Jim

@InspectApedia Publisher, He was just guessing. Anyway I read a thread where it mentioned if you have one zone that buzzes and closing the gas valve off a little silences it then you may need a differential pressure bypass valve installed.

It further goes on to mention that a variable speed pump would make the valve unnecessary. I have a taco 007 fixed speed pump and was going to swap it for a variable speed pump like the vr1816 taco. Does this make any sense??

by InspectApedia Publisher

@Jim,

If a variable speed pump that you can try a different speed settings is making a difference and indeed the noise is from water velocity or combination of water velocity and perhaps air in the system.

I would prefer to have some more diagnosis before throwing money at the problem.

by InspectApedia Publisher - installing a differential bypass valve to solve buzzing or vibration noise

@Jim,

About installing a differential bypass valve, yes that can solve a buzzing or vibration noise problem in hydronic heating pipes, BUT in my OPINION, that problem is unusual in residential heating systems since it's caused by excessive pressure or flow in some of the hydronic heat piping. I'd want to have a more reliable diagnosis of your system before we start spending much on adding devices.

We want to understand why on a residential system the problem that this valve solves is really what's occurring. For example if you have a tall building with lots of vertical piping there could indeed be a pressure difference between supply and return.

Below we illustrate a Nibco differential pressure by-pass valve. Here is how Nibco explains the valve:

The Webstone Differential Pressure By-Pass Valve eliminates the noise, inadequate boiler flow, and stress on system components caused by excess pressure in a zoned hydronic system with a fixed-speed primary circulator pump, or other system configurations where flow rates may widely vary. The valve opens in low-demand operating conditions, ensuring proper flow to the boiler and preventing over-pumping of zones.

Under partial loads, the DPBV opens to ensure quiet operation and appropriate pressures at the boiler circulator. With all zones active, the DPBV remains closed. It can be installed between the boiler supply and return lines or between zone legs in larger systems. It’s available in straight or angled body options, can be installed in any orientation, and does not require periodic maintenance.

- Nibco, 1516 Middlebury Street, Elkhart, IN 46516-4740 USA, web: www.nibco[dot]com retrieved 2023/11/08, original source: nibco [dot] com/brands/webstone/system-efficiency/DPBV/

by Jim

@InspectApedia Publisher, ok so no air in the system for sure. System runs great when two or three zones run. Also when top two zones run individually no problem. Only when lower zone runs by itself and must be very cold outside.

If lower zone runs by itself and its above 30 then also ok. Never a problem with the old boiler. What do you suggest as a next step? Ty

by InspectApedia Publisher - flow balancing valve may be needed on that zone

@Jim,

It does sound like possibly the problem is the pump is pushing water faster than it can return

there may be a valve partly closed somewhere or a flow balancing valve is needed on that zone.

by Jim

@InspectApedia Publisher, like the one above we talked about or is the flow balancing valve something different?

@InspectApedia Publisher, Thank you. So I feel that what is happening is that the lowest zone is also the shortest run. In cold temps when the boiler has a longer cycle when only that zone is open the pump at that time is oversized for that zone and then causes the noise / humming near the end of the cycle. Is that possible.

That’s why I thought the variable speed pump in that situation would slow down thereby not having the pump act oversized. The tech also mentioned that the gas valve is 3/4 inch then gets reduced to 1/2 inch to enter boiler but I think that would cause problems in other zones too. Thoughts?

by InspectApedia Publisher

@Jim,

On a multi-zone hot water heating system where the zone pipe lengths are significantly different , the installer usually includes a valve right at or near the zone drain. Each loop needs its own control valve. It may be recognizable as a valve that's turned by a screwdriver instead of the typical faucet handle.

Each zone is then adjusted so that when all of them are calling for heat at once they get the right proportion of the hot water circulating.

Otherwise you may have a zone that never gets warm and another one that's usually too hot.

How do I track down the humming buzzing sound to its source

I just had the honeywell relay box RA832A switched out and replaced with a resideo RA832A because there was an awful HUM/BUZZ coming from the relay box when it was performing (I have 3 zones in my home, and the other 2 relay boxes DO NOT hum when performing).

The change to the new resideo did not cure the hum/buzz.
What can I do? On 2021-12-21 by sue k Blan

by Inspectapedia Com Moderator -

@sue k blan,

We need to track down the humming buzzing sound precisely to its source. Try, with care not to get shocked near live electrical contacts, to use a mechanic's stethoscope to identify with certainty exactly what component is the source of the sound.

Above on this page

AND in more detail at

RELAY CONTROL SWITCHES - causes of chattering humming or buzzing relay controls

we list all of the known reasons that a heating system control relay might buzz or hum. In essence we have either a defect in the relay itself (it's having trouble opening (turning off) or closing (turning on), or there is a defect in the surrounding components such as a switch or electrical connection that is attempting to operate the relay.

An example of the second problem might be a failure at any control component in the heating system, like a zone valve end-switch that is failing or even simply a loose thermostat wire connection that is allowing arcing or vibrating.

My oil furnace hums but doesn't fire up - won't start

My oil furnace is not working properly. The reset button is pressed in and the furnace is humming but not firing.

Sometimes when I shut off the power switch and turn it back on it fires but doesn't stay on more for more than 2 mins.

The water pump is hot to the touch but the pipes are cold. I bled the water this morning it was black and there was a lot of air in it but it's still not heating up or even staying on for that matter.

What could be the problem? please help. - Tony 2/9/12

Reply: let's sort out oil burner no-start problems into fuel problems vs. air problems vs. normal operation of the systems

Tony, I'm not sure what "humming" means to you but some possibilities that occur to me include

The oil burner motor runs but you don't get ignition - which can be caused by a number of problems that typically sort out to either a fuel problem (clogged nozzle, clogged oil filter, clogged fuel unit strainer, dirty nozzle, bad fuel unit, airbound fuel lines, or no oil in the tank), or an electrical problem (no power to the burner, a bad primary control, an electric motor that has failed and is stuck)

Circulator pump hot to the touch means that the heater was working previously - enough to heat water in the system.

If you call for heat and the water temperature is within the specified range set by the HI limit on the aquastat, then it's normal for the circulator to run for a while - the burner won't come on until the temperature in the boiler drops about 20F below the HI.

See OIL BURNER HUMMING NOISE

Why is my ThermoPride oil burner humming?

I have a thermo pride oil furnace about 20 years old , yesterday every now and then I could hear a humming noise like when a bad breaker is humming or the refridgerater kicks on that only last about 2-3 seconds and then stops?

I didn't relate it to the furnace until this morning when it was a little cool in the house by a couple degrees and when I checked the furnace it was not running?

it ran all night but stopped in the morning, I turned the power off to see if it would maybe cool down? when I turned it back on it hummed for 2-3 seconds and stopped and nothing? On 2021-03-06 by huck finn

by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@huck finn,

Using the on page search to scan InspectApedia for "oil burner humming noise" we find

OIL BURNER HUMMING NOISE

that lists common causes and repairs for a humming oil burner

Oil Burner or Boiler Moaning Noise FAQs

Our boiler is making a loud moaning noise

We have a 2 year old boiler and it makes a loud moaning sound my husband has drained it several times and put new antifreeze / water mix it works for awhile then starts to moan again.

Any answers we would appreciate thank u On 2018-11-12 by verna

by (mod) - moaning heating boiler cause & cure

Let's start by isolating the sound to a source such as an oil burner motor, an unsafe chimney venting problem, a noisy circulator pump, a combustion issue, or perhaps pipe vibration from water velocity.

Watch out: if you hear a moaning that's more like a roaring freight train you may have a dangerous chimney fire. If that's the case get everyone out of the building immediately and call your fire department from a safe location.

Also see CHIMNEY NOISE DIAGNOSIS

Assuming it's not a chimney noise, buy your husband a mechanic's stethoscope. Let me know what you hear after checking these heating boiler noise articles:

HEATING SYSTEM NOISE DIAGNOSIS - all sorts of noises from heating boilers or furnaces or burners

DIAGNOSE OIL HEAT NOISES - traced to oil fired boiler operating defects

Watch out: If your heating boiler uses gas fuel (LP or propane or natural gas) see these articles: (moaning at a gas burner could indicate a dangerous condition)

• GAS BURNER FLAME & NOISE DEFECTS
• GAS BURNER SOOT CAUSE & CURE
• GAS BURNER PILOT LIGHT PROCEDURE
• GAS REGULATOR NOISES

Also see HVAC NOISE-2 CHATTER CHIRP CLANK FAN GROAN - chattering, clanks, clunks, cyclical, fan, groans, growls, honking, where some of those moaning noise clues might be of use.

Oil Burner Popping Noise FAQs

Oil burner makes a "pop" 15 seconds after the burner stops.

I own rental buildings and I have been maintaining oil fired boilers for many years. I never heard a noise like this pop 15 seconds after burner stops. Otherwise, unit is working fine.

Metalic popping noise 15 to 20 seconds after oil fired boiler oil burner cycles off? Happens every time. On 2018-02-12 by Kevin

by (mod) -

Kevin

Two possible causes leap to mind:

Is this perhaps temperature-change-induced flexing of metal ductwork?

Or is the fuel unit not cutting off fuel completely when the motor stops - pushing some incompletely-burned oil into the combustion chamber can cause a bang or boom or pop sound either at the end of the burner cycle or at the start of the next burner on cycle.

Or of course it's something else I'm not thinking-of.

Popping tin noises from oil storage tank

My husband just filled our oil tank a couple of days ago about 1/2 way and it has been making these noises like "popping" tin.

It almost makes me think that the pressure from the season/weather change is causing it. (Thats just what I would associate the noise with) Is that something anybody else has experienced or am I way in left field? On 2016-02-29 by Nicole

Reply by mod

Nicole:

Where is your oil tank? Outdoors or inside exposed to temperature changes may indeed cause on occasional flex of the tank sides or ends that might make the noise you describe. Can you tell me the age of the oil tank? I'm betting it's less than 30 years old. Newer tank = thinner metal.

Oil fired burner makes popping or expansion like sounds when heating up

why would my peerless hot water oil fired burner make popping or expansion like sounds when heating up On 2014-03-04 by Anonymous -

Reply by (mod)

See the diagnostic and repair suggestions on these two pages

• OIL BURNER NOISE SMOKE ODORS - home
• OIL BURNER OPERATING TROUBLE 

Popping sound coming from the oil burner air inlet & burner won't keep running

My pump and motor are a 1997 Becket model AF15.

I hear a popping sound coming from the inlet air box. It's in between pump and motor.

My furnace is not working correctly, doesn't seem to produce the usual amount of heat. It will cycle once, but will not fire again. Thanks On 2016-09-30 by Mike c

Advice by (mod) - popping sound coming from the oil burner air inlet sounds unsafe

Mike:

Watch out: Sounds like an unsafe condition, either an electrical failure or a malfunctioning burner.

DO NOT keep pressing the reset button - search InspectApedia for PUFFBACK EXPLOSION to read what can happen. Instead I'd call for service.

Puffing Oil Burner Noise FAQs

Beckett Burner puffs and weak flame goes out

I have a beckett burner in my furnace that has a weak flame and only runs about a couple of hours then starts to puff and then eventually goes out .

Then i have to dry the burner gun of wet oil to be able to start it again sometimes i have to wait a couple hours before i can fire it up again On 2016-03-05 by Micheal

by (mod) beckett burner has a weak flame

Michael,

Your system needs service and repair by a trained service tech. One cannot correctly adjust a modern high speed oil burner just by eye.

I suspect that either the oil burner nozzle is clogged and simply needs replacement, or your system is leaking oil, perhaps at the nozzle adapter or on the high pressure oil line, but the problem could be elsewhere.

Rumbling Oil Burner Noise FAQs

Rumbling oil burner noise sounds like a helicopter taking off

Well, going back to rumbling noise. Nozzle was replaced so far three times, filter cleaned, etc.

Still sporadically upon start up burner trying to take off like a helicopter, in fact it does sounds like a helicopter in the basement, after few seconds of operation it does quiet itself and going to normal sounds of burning flames, or if I'm fast enough - cycling power will restart burner properly.

Yesterday, it began "warming up" engines ;-) before tech even left driveway. I'm not going to pay third time for service call, since apparently he is unable to resolve the issue. On 2015-03-19 by Rumbling

Reply by (mod) -

Rumble

Was the nozzle replaced with the same spec as original? Did the service tech try an AR (anti rumble) nozzle?

Has the noise been tracked down at all?

Try a mechanic's stethoscope on the external parts when the burner is starting up: motor, blower, fuel unit, side of boiler, flue.

by Rumbling noise

Same spec nozzle - sure.

AR - don't know, probably not, he just keep replacing nozzles like a gloves.

Tracking - combustion chamber, some kind of misfiring.

Stethoscope will render you effectively deaf, half of the house vibrating and can be heard all the way from across the street.

And it is sporadic, thus cycling power does not really lead to constant replication of malfunction, usually turning power off and then back on solves the problem. I'm not taking chances and trying to shut it off as soon as possible.

by (mod) -

Rumble

Watch out: repeated nozzle changes followed by persistent oil burner flame problems can point to a damaged nozzle adapter.

Over-torquing the nozzle into the nozzle adapter or the nozzle adapter

Waste oil furnace air pressure problems - makes rumbling sound - what to check?

I installed a small Hot Shot waste oil furnace from clean burn a few years ago. It is a used furnace but a brand new oil burner.

Every winter when using it, I have to constantly adjust my air pressure up and down through out the day, if the flame goes out or if it gets to high and rumbles.

When it rumbles it blows out threw the peep hole, which I need to keep open or the flame goes out like there is not enough air for the burn.

I was thinking maybe the oil burner was set up for a bigger furnace but then reading this I realized there was never a draft control put in the stack pipe. Could this be causing my problem? Thanks for any help! - Vince 2/7/12

Reply: oil burner nozzle may be overfiring your oil burner

Vince,

You could have a combustion air problem but I'd look first for a dirty oil burner nozzle, improper air shutter adjustment on the burner. or a fuel unit that doesn't shut off cleanly, accumulating sludge and crud on the nozzle and causing startup problems.

Bad electrodes or a bad transformer that is failing can also give the symptoms you describe.

See OIL BURNER RUMBLING NOISE

Sneezing Oil Burner Noise FAQ

Beckett AFG oil burner sneezes

Have a beckett model afg oil fired boiler (weil mclain pwg04) in service 5 years , have a random miss fire problem (sneeze) , runs fine other wise, filter is clean, nozzle new, all setting same from factor , this problem started after the boiler fire chamber was cleaned 10/17 , a processional service company could fix it , maybe you can help ?

The oil burner makes a random sneeze /misfire for a 1/2 second than continues to run like normal ! On 2019-01-18 by BOATNIC

Reply by Mod

Boat

I would look first for a corroded or loose electrical connection in the primary control circuit

by BOATNIC

thanks, good call , and i did, all good, anything else ?

by (mod) - what else to check

I'm assuming by misfire you mean that the burner is running alone and then it suddenly stops and restarts itself with a sneezed.

I generally aim my diagnostic thoughts into

electrical or ignition, such as a loose or corroded electrical connection or a failing electrode insulator or failing transformer or igniter.

or

a fuel problem - clogs at the filter or strainer or nozzle

Squeaking Oil Burner Noise FAQs

Stanley Oil Fired Cooker squeaks at start-up

My Stanley cooker has started to squeaks when it first fires up, is this because the bearings in the motor are on the way out On 2016-03-22 by Brian H

by (mod) Stanley

I don't know, Brian but perhaps. I'd look at the bearings on the burner electric motor. I agree that it could be a failing motor.

Also check for a moving and squeaky barometric damper on the flue.

Clean and lubricate the damper pins if the noise is coming from there, and if the cooker provides a procedure for doing that.

If you don't already have it, download the manual for your oil fired (kerosene) Stanley Cooker at WATERFORD STANLEY MANUALS

Thundering Oil Burner Noise FAQs

Loud Thundering Noise at a new Weil McLain WGO4 Oil BUrner

I installed a new Weil-McClain wgo4 oil burner
To replace the 21 year old same model.
This unit makes loud thunder noise while running.(flame noise ?)
Is this normal for a newer model? On 2019-11-16 by Chuck

Reply by (mod) -

Chuck

To have room for a detailed reply I repeat your question and answer it at

OIL BURNER RUMBLING NOISE

Please take a look at that article and please do ask follow-up questions about anything that seems unclear or incomplete.