Does it harm an oil boiler if it is only used occasionally?

[Plumb Line]

Hi

We're reviewing our heating options... One option is to mainly heat the house with wood, and keep our old oil boiler as back up and for occasional use. It's a Worcester Danesmoor 20/25 and is probably around 20 years old. Do oil boilers only wear out from use? Or can there also be issues from lack of use?

Cheers

 

[SJB060685]

The boiler should really come on from time to time to at least stop things like pumps and bearings from sticking and seizing up.
The storage of kerosene is another consideration. The shelf life of kerosene varies from source but a few years if you're lucky. Additives are supposed to help prolong the shelf life but bacteria problems, condensation and sludge are a few things that can form if the kerosene is left unused.
What sort of time frame are you considering?
Is your solid fuel source going to supply all hot water and heating needs?

 

[Plumb Line]

@SJB060685 - thanks for the reply and advice

OK, so if I were to turn the heating and hot water on once a month for a few hours, would that be enough? Perhaps just the hot water in summer though!

Good thinking RE the kerosene. I'll make sure we always have the additive from now on. How many years does it keep for with additive do you think? Will also not fill it right up so that it isn't sitting longer than necessary.

What sort of time frame are you considering?

It's really tough to say to be honest. At the moment we use less than a tank full in a year and it's our only heating. So when it becomes back up a tank full will last quite a few years.

Is your solid fuel source going to supply all hot water and heating needs?

We've always lived without hot water from taps, so no need for that. Showers are electric. As for heating, yes, it will mainly come from the wood stoves with the oil boiler as back up...

Cheers

 

[SJB060685]

I'd be more inclined to bring the boiler on once a week or two. To be honest it's hard to say and I can't give you an exact answer. If the boiler has been looked after over the years, with regular servicing then once a month might be OK.
There are a number if fuel oil additives on the market and they all claim to do different things and work magic. Honestly I'm not convinced that some claims are true and therefore would not/could not advise you on which one to purchase. Perhaps speak to your oil delivery company and ask their advice on additives. How long will kerosene last with additives you ask I couldn't tell you. If the tank is sound and not exposed to the elements then you could expect a few years but again don't quote me on that.

 

[Ric2013]

Interesting that kerosene deteriorates in storage. I'm assuming heating 'kerosene' is a different grade from the paraffin used for pressure lamps?

Does UK heating kerosene also contain a proportion of so-called bio-fuel that goes bad?

Only reason I ask is I have a quantity of paraffin I bought from a friend who inherited a drum of the stuff that was several years old and I have not had any problems with my camping equipment which I would imagine (perhaps incorrectly) would be more finicky than a large burner as used on a boiler. Just wondering what the difference is.

 

[SJB060685]

Yes different grades. Both will come from the fractional distillation process of crude oil.
Bio fuels are used in the industry but I don't know if the shelf life is the same or not.

 

[exedon2]

Just spoke to a mate who used to run a decent size oil distribution company.
His opinion is 5 years before kero gives any problems more if you put a additive in . He suggested using exocet additive.

 

[Plumb Line]

Just spoke to a mate who used to run a decent size oil distribution company.
His opinion is 5 years before kero gives any problems more if you put a additive in . He suggested using exocet additive.

That's really helpful, thanks for taking the time to do that.

And thanks to all for the replies and help

 

[SimonG]

I dont find the kerosene to be an issue, its water and biological ingress into the tank that causes the issues.

I would want to spin up the oil boiler on a monthly basis, keep all the moving parts moving.

I would say the same to somebody who as pumped heating and gravity hot. Spin up the heating on a monthly basis. Not for long. Always get a lot of calls at start of heating season when things have sat for a number of months, pumps not working etc.