Oil burner hesitating when running

I have a New Yorker (now known as Burnham I believe) FR 147 (147,000 btus) oil burner boiler. Provides baseboard heat and hot water also.

For a week or two, while running, it seems to start to shut down for less than a second, then keep going. It will do this 4 or 5 times usually a minute or more apart, and then will shut down properly when it reaches the upper limit temp. Have not had to do a restart.

Normally I have it tuned and checked before heating season, but this year I guess we forgot, so I am suspecting the cause is a dirty or clogged filter and/or nozzle.

A have a choice of (1)waiting 8 days for a $89.95 tune up and check (includes nozzle and filter replacement); or (2)a next day service call at $120 for first hour plus parts, but not a tune up. My choice now is to wait the eight days, if the problem gets worse before than I can still try the next day service call (more on the weekend though, I am sure).

What would you recommend given the problem I describe? My wife is getting a little concerned cause it is noisy when it acts up, is there a safety issue to consider? Thanks.

 

I can't imagine how a company could properly do an annual servicing for $90. It takes time to properly clean all of the flue passages. If all they are doing is changing the nozzle and the oil filter then maybe that's why it is only $89.95. Is this through your oil company?

Just food for thought...

 

Its hard to hold off for 8 days but if they do it all at that time Id go for it . So the burner is checked out right. just first guess is could have a small air leak in the oil line????

 

Thanks for the replies, Who, and Ed Imeduc.

I'll look for any possible air leaks in line, I guess that would be a visual check.

I am interested in Who's comment about the annual servicing. It is by my oil company. About $90 seems to be pretty standard in Binghamton NY area. They do replace the filter(s), nozzle, check combustion efficiency, clean the insides, check for air (exhaust) leaks, and give it all the once over inspection. Not sure what else. (Does not include a coil flush.) I just did some internet searches and this all is what is usually offered as a tune up. I did notice prices much higher in urban areas.

Would like to know what Who means by the flue passages, is this the "chimney"? They don't do this. Should this be done? What exactly is it.

 

I was talking about the insides of a boiler. If they do everything then that isn't bad. I always found the tough part about using the oil company for the annual servicing was the range in care. I've seen them spend 3 minutes vacuuming the internal flue passages (where the hot air from the burned oil heat the water on the other side of the steel or cast iron) and I've seen them spend 45 minutes doing the same. Sometimes they would do a combustion test, other times they wouldn't. The price is subsidized because you are a customer. If you normally get the same guy or can request the same guy I would do that.

I just wanted to point out that to do it properly, it costs more the $90 (the oil company is subsidizing this if they are doing a thorough job).

 

Thanks, Who. I think normally the tune ups are done as loss leaders, as you say subsidized, during the off season and I was surprised they didn't have a higher price now during their busy time.