2281 Boiler running on diesel

HELP
We spent New Years Eve at our house in Comano, Lunigiana. When we arrived it was very picturesque with six inches of snow on the ground. But to our shock horror our boiler would not light, we kept trying every day and it wasn't that the diesel was frozen. Luckily we had an aga in the Kitchen which we lit, so we had heat and able to boil water for bathing. It certainly was an experience!!!!
Could anybody recommend who I can get in touch with to repair the boiler. We are going back out on the 24th February.

Category
Building/Renovation

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 01/06/2006 - 04:10

Can't help on a Mr Fixit - but did you check that the water pressure in the boiler was high enough.

My old oil fired boiler [like my current gas one] needed a minimum level of internal water pressure for it to light. It had a pressure dial on it, and there was a little tap at the side to turn on to increase the water pressure in the boiler.

If you can't get a 'man' booked before your return, it could be worth looking to see if the internal water pressure is too low when you get there.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/15/2006 - 16:29

Alan
Thanks for that advice. We are going back out in February will definitely check that.
Thanks and will let you know the outcome when we come back in March.:)

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/17/2006 - 04:16

If you know the boiler type - you may be able to download the instruction manual from the internet - I did this when my new boiler was fitted and I only got an Italian/German/french instruction book.

Thie instructions may have a 'trouble shooting' section

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/17/2006 - 10:22

Gosh, no boiler in the winter, my idea of hell! I did have a problem with our boiler when we went out in late September and I mis-diagnosed the problem as being a need for more oil. We managed to get it filled up and the boiler still wouldn't kick into action. THAT was when I read the instructions and found that the whole thing essentially needed rebooting. If I remember correctly I think we concluded that there had probably been a power surge or outage at some point when we had not been there and a safety switch was in the OFF position rather than the correct ON position.

If that doesn't sound like your problem, I do know someone who might be able to help you. We stayed in a B&B near Bagnone (when we were looking for our house in Licciana Nardi) run by an English couple and the husband had been a heating engineer in the UK. I believe he helps project manage some house renovations/rebuilds in the area so I'm sure he would be happy to help you in some capacity or other.

He's Alan Pratt and the details are on their website: [URL="http://villamimosa-tuscany.com/"]http://villamimosa-tuscany.com/[/URL]

How did you find driving in the snow, by the way. I understand there's been snow in Aulla this year as well. When we were in Licciana last winter they said it was the first snow they'd had for 22 years. Were they pulling our legs or is it a consequence of global warning.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/23/2006 - 12:01

Thank you for that I certainly will drop him an E-mail. Driving in the snow was very good as all the main roads had been cleared. So they seem prepared!!
We did decide to drive up to the lake but half way we noticed the road was getting more covered in snow and all the cars coming down had snow chains.
So we turned around and left it for another day.