Oil Lifter Pump Always On?

[GomezZz]

Hi there,

At my gf's house up north and she has an oil fuelled aga system in her house. Combi is situated indoors with a small oil tank above it that is filled via a lifter pump that pulls oil from outside storage tank. I'm told that the pump is normally only on to fill that tank but at the moment it is permanently on. Anybody have any idea why this might be ? Also do you recommend we switch it off via the fused switched spur ?

Regards

 

[Ged Simpson]

Haven't come across this system, but if the pump's on continuously and the tank's not overflowing it must be pumping against a closed valve, which will cause it to overheat and could eventually fail. I imagine the header tank has a level sensor that switches the pump on and of, which may be faulty, but that is just a guess.

 

[Roger Welton]

The BM lifters had 3? floats in them, one to cut out the pump in the event of the tank running dry (lo low level) this was bypassed by pressing the button on the top to prime the system, a low level float to cut the pump in during normal operation and a high level to cut it out.

 

[kimbo]

I think you will find assuming that the oil line has no leaks and air ingress that the pump is not sucking properly and probably wearing out. I have changed the insides of one of these a few times. You used to be able to buy just the pump at one time

 

[Roger Welton]

Bearing in mind BM have now gone to the wall i'm not sure how available parts will be now?