I need help ... I ran out of fuel oil and subsequently my forced hot air furnce shut down. I now have fuel oil and have attempted to get the furnace running again. The fuel comes in on one line and splits to the hot water heater and the furnace. I reset both units and bled the lines. The hot water heater gave me no trouble ... the air in line cleared within several seconds and the unit continues to run with no problem. However, the furnace is another story. I can't seem to get the fuel running to the furnace air-free. No matter how much I bleed the line I am still getting air bubbles. After running about 20-30 seconds the furnace shuts down. Any suggestions ??????

 

If you ran dry can the filter have jammed up some on you and you need a new one. Also try and shut off the water heater for now and see what you get that way. With just the furnace trying to get oil. Does it have to pick up the oil or does it come out the bottom of the tank? Yes they will shut down on safety and you have to reset it If you are getting foam its trying. Down the line I put in a new nozzle in also ill bet the nozzle has dirt in it now . That dont have anything to do with getting oil in the pump now.

ED

 

I tried shutting off the water heater - still no luck. Granted, I dont know much of anything about furnaces but my common sense has me wondering how a clogged filter might cause foam(air) in the line. It also doesn't make sense to me that the line for the water heater comes through the same filter and seems to be doing ok. I think your suggestion of checking the filter is a good one since I ran dry and there may be sediments from the bottom of the tank. I"m waiting for my son to get home to help with that. I'm not sure how the oil travels from the tank either. Thought this might be something simple that I could fix myself. I'd call a service tech to come in but I am concerned about being taken advantage of with an inflated service bill especially since the furnace was running fine until I ran out of oil. Thanks so much for your advice.

 

I have seen guys pull the cadcell out of the burner and turn a light on it so the motor and pump would run for a long time to prime it. "just out of the box" do you tighten the bleeder up when it turns off each time and not open it till the motor starts again?

ED