Only One Thermostat Working for Oil Furnace

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Rich75
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Post by Rich75 » Thu. Feb. 03, 2011 8:01 pm

Can someone point me in the right direction? My oil burner will not turn on from the first floor thermostat, it comes on for the hot water and the second floor heat. I'm not real familiar with oil burners, but pointed in the right direction I shouldn't have a problem fixing it. I hope.

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Thu. Feb. 03, 2011 8:07 pm

Start simple, check the first floor thermostat.

 
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009to090
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Post by 009to090 » Thu. Feb. 03, 2011 8:18 pm

First floor theromstat need new batteries?
Can you trace the wires to the boiler to see if a mouse chewed thru them?

 
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rockwood
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Post by rockwood » Thu. Feb. 03, 2011 8:33 pm

I'm guessing you have hot water heating and you have a thermostat for each floor/zone? We need more info to offer help.


 
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I'm On Fire
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Post by I'm On Fire » Thu. Feb. 03, 2011 8:45 pm

Possible frozen pipe somewhere?
My sister just went through this and the 2nd floor zone was frozen.

 
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jpen1
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Post by jpen1 » Thu. Feb. 03, 2011 8:48 pm

Without more info it is hard to tell . Check your theromostat to see if it needs new batteries (if it is the type that requires batteries). Do you have zone circulators or zone valves? Are the contacts in the thermostat closed. You can manually jumper the wires in the thermostat and see if this solves your problem. If you have zone valves it is very likely your solenoid on the zone valve is burnt out. Most zone valves have a manual actuation lever on them, you can try and actuate the valve and see if it allows for water flow.If you have zone circulators, is the circulator for the zone in question running? Another possibility is the circulator relay could have failed as well but that is a fairly uncommon failure. Some pictures of your setup would help greatly.

 
Rich75
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Post by Rich75 » Fri. Feb. 04, 2011 3:12 pm

I have the old style thermostat (the dial type) already tried touching the wires and still nothing came on. There are 2 circulator pumps and one reducing valve(I also tried flipping the lever and could hear water purging). I assume the reducing valve and a zone valve are the same thing.

 
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Rob R.
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Post by Rob R. » Fri. Feb. 04, 2011 3:35 pm

Is the circulator for the first floor controlled by the boiler aquastat or a separate relay? If it is a separate relay, check that out. Start by making sure that the wires are properly connected, and that the relay has power.


 
Brian
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Post by Brian » Fri. Feb. 04, 2011 4:38 pm

Matbe your pump is seized.

 
Rich75
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Post by Rich75 » Fri. Feb. 04, 2011 6:34 pm

It looks like the circulator for down stairs is on a seperate relay. When I turn the upstairs heat on to try to see which pump is working and that one is hooked up to what ever you call, where you control the water temp. Sorry I'am not up to par on my furnace terms!!! There are 2 gray boxes(I assume they are the relays) one on the furnace that controls the water temps and another one above the furnace. Looking at both of them all the wires look like they are hooked up, how would I test them. If thats possible.

 
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WNY
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Post by WNY » Fri. Feb. 04, 2011 8:06 pm

Post a couple pics and maybe we can walk you thru checking things.

Is the pump hot? Is it just humming? Did you trace where the thermostat wires go, maybe jumper the wires at the box and see if the pump goes on, etc...

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