What is my Oil AGA's consumption at its lowest setting?

[muddy42]

Very much off topic!

I am lucky enough to have a large kitchen with both an old oil powered AGA and a standard electric oven (one oven and and four hobs). The combination works quite well, the AGA goes off in the summer and is used for slow cooking in the winter, the electric setup is used for boiling or roasting. The AGA provides some background heat, but to be honest we use it less and less on a daily basis. I service the AGA myself and remove the carbon from the burner, all is fine there.

The AGA is generally on its lowest setting, with the wheel turned right down on the Thermostatic Control Valve to "OFF", note this setting is colder / involves turning the wheel beyond "LOW". What should the oil consumption be at this "OFF" setting? I have googled that HIGH flame is 8mm per minute and the LOW flame is 4mm per minute. Is OFF the same as LOW?

Looking at the tank and what we used last winter, I would guess it has used less than 4mm or 220 litres per month.

Any help appreciated.

 

[rafael fach]

Mine nearly bankrupted me took it out and put a new oil boiler instead much more efficient

 

[muddy42]

Mine nearly bankrupted me took it out and put a new oil boiler instead much more efficient

Thanks. I suspect I would feel the same if using it the whole time at HIGH. I'm just trying to work out what to do this winter and if it will bankrupt me at current prices, even using this OFF setting. I havn't put oil in the AGA tank for 18months, when oil was way cheaper, so I could be on borrowed time.

Or could OFF be like a pilot light setting where it is just ticking over?

 

[Farmer_J]

Same scenario as ourselves, I believe off will be the same as the low. Though no two aga thermostats appear the same

 

[muddy42]

Same scenario as ourselves, I believe off will be the same as the low. Though no two aga thermostats appear the same

Thanks Farmer. Plus my tank guage is all clouded up! I guess I could fashion some kind of dipstick and keep the level in the tank under review.

 

[kes]

Thanks Farmer. Plus my tank guage is all clouded up! I guess I could fashion some kind of dipstick and keep the level in the tank under review.

I have an electric AGA and can put it on whenever its necessary but it used to cost £6 per day that will be more like £12 now. I have a propane gas set of cooking rings and an electric oven and infra -red hob, just so I can use something if something goes down.
I use a graduated stick for checking central heating oil. Just use the internet to assess the overall capacity of the tank and work from there - mark it on said stick and it works accurately whenever you need it. just had 1000 litres for the winter (oil boiler) with solar and the log burner I'm hoping we make it without more oil.

 

[Woodenbeam]

We use about 2,500-3,00ish Ltrs I’m guessing on the Aga but it’s on all year & used / abused. Electric oven is very rarely used or kettle / toasters etc. Cooked on every day & wouldn’t be without it. Has a modern? flow control valve thing but it’s pretty irrelevant - it’s an oil burner but we make the most of it & it heats a proportion of the house in the colder months

 

[Malxwal]

We use about 2,500-3,00ish Ltrs I’m guessing on the Aga but it’s on all year & used / abused. Electric oven is very rarely used or kettle / toasters etc. Cooked on every day & wouldn’t be without it. Has a modern? flow control valve thing but it’s pretty irrelevant - it’s an oil burner but we make the most of it & it heats a proportion of the house in the colder months

This. A source of great comfort during Arwen and the other.

 

[Farmer_J]

We keep our aga on from Oct-May usually, I think it is using appx 6litres in 24hrs. We did replace gauge tube and filters a couple years ago on tank so can keep track of level easy enough, but do have a handy cane too. We had a new Grant boiler in 2018 but we are on a hot air central heating system which is next to useless and hoping to convert to rads next year. Really hoping for a mild winter tbh, when we first moved here a couple years ago and started using oil it was 22pence per litre! Admittedly that was when the oil prices hit rock bottom during the pandemic!

 

[Swedish]

If you used a working figure of 45L/week you wouldn't be far wrong.

 

[Woodenbeam]

One point - you say the lowest setting. I was told (don’t know if correct or not) that hot is better for not coking up the burner which in turn has got to be more efficient.
Ha, what am I saying - it’s an Aga!!!
& anyway it’s all irrelevant - the dogs would hate us if it ever went!

 

[muddy42]

Just picking up on this again after some more issues with my AGA. It turns out that the filter after the oil tank was completely clogged. I literally heard it gushing and gurgling after I cleaned it and turning on the supply. The problem is the AGA now gets too hot even at its lowest setting.

There is a screw labeled "Low Fire" on the control box regulator. Has anyone successfully turned this down, are these issues about going below 4cc per minute? I'm not too worried about the burner and wicks sooting up at low temp as I am now an expert at cleaning these. I'd rather clean more often than pay for the extra oil.

 

[Farmer_J]

If you turn the stat down does it click onto low flame? It may take a few minutes to go to low after adjusting stat.

 

[muddy42]

If you turn the stat down does it click onto low flame? It may take a few minutes to go to low after adjusting stat.

Thanks. Its definitely on "low flame" and has clicked. I've checked all of the switches are running ok and havn't waxed up.

I just suspect that its just with a clean chimney, clean burner, new wicks and clean filter, the thing is performing like new again. I inherited the AGA with the house and suspect it hasn't been serviced as thoroughly as this for a long time.

Unlike the previous owners I am using the AGA as a secondary cooker, hot water, space heater and for drying clothes. I would like it burning as little oil as possible, particularly this early in the winter and being so mild.

 

[Farmer_J]

Have you had the oil control valve apart at all? I found when I first moved into my place with an inherited aga like yourself filters were blocked and crud had actually found it’s way into the oil control valve. There is also a filter at the bottom of the control valve, two little machine screws holding a plate on. Inside is a long filter, I found this blocked up in mine. Cleaned it and it ran better. As well as taking the top off the OCV and cleaning the sliding brass tube (this is moved up and down regulating flow of oil by the arm from control box on top of OCV) with a tiny tiny slit in it, a dog hair managed to get in there and mess things up.

Yes doing lots of work like cleaning chimneys and removing burnt carbon from burner plate and 90° elbow and replacing wicks you tend to have to adjust things though I have only ever needed to adjust high flame. Whenever you make adjustments always wait 15 mins and only turn adjustment screw 1/4 of turn at a time.

So when you look through the window at burner when it’s clicked on low flame, what does the flame look like?

On low it should look like a blue flame just simmering above burner stack.

 

[muddy42]

Have you had the oil control valve apart at all? I found when I first moved into my place with an inherited aga like yourself filters were blocked and crud had actually found it’s way into the oil control valve. There is also a filter at the bottom of the control valve, two little machine screws holding a plate on. Inside is a long filter, I found this blocked up in mine. Cleaned it and it ran better. As well as taking the top off the OCV and cleaning the sliding brass tube (this is moved up and down regulating flow of oil by the arm from control box on top of OCV) with a tiny tiny slit in it, a dog hair managed to get in there and mess things up.

Yes doing lots of work like cleaning chimneys and removing burnt carbon from burner plate and 90° elbow and replacing wicks you tend to have to adjust things though I have only ever needed to adjust high flame. Whenever you make adjustments always wait 15 mins and only turn adjustment screw 1/4 of turn at a time.

So when you look through the window at burner when it’s clicked on low flame, what does the flame look like?

On low it should look like a blue flame just simmering above burner stack.

Thanks. I have toggled the brass regulator arm, but havn't had the control valve apart. I will pay more attention next time. I am pretty sure its working, the thing is like a furnace.

The flame is as low as possible, on mine low flame is actually "Off". the flame is uniform rather than flickering, but still looks quite full on, with a lot of yellow tones to it and filling the burner stack completely.

Yes I never find the advised 15 minutes is enough for changes to manifest themselves so I often leave it for longer. I'll leave it to settle for a few days then try turning the low down gradually.

Thanks.

 

[palmer_mike]

Off is the same consumption as low setting

 

[Foxyboy43]

Hmmm. Most of my pals are talking about getting rid because of the running costs but if you are considering installing a new oil boiler you may well find that under Building Regs your oil tank is now too close to your house and must be moved further away plus shock horror you may also find that the tank is old/condemned and guess what - you need a new one…..

 

[muddy42]

Off is the same consumption as low setting

Thanks I know that

Hmmm. Most of my pals are talking about getting rid because of the running costs but if you are considering installing a new oil boiler you may well find that under Building Regs your oil tank is now too close to your house and must be moved further away plus shock horror you may also find that the tank is old/condemned and guess what - you need a new one…..

Thanks. No I am definitely not considering replacing it, I just want it to burn as efficiently as possible.

 

[palmer_mike]

Thanks I know

With respect, I answered the original question you asked. If you knew the answer why did you ask?

Oil consumption on ‘off’ setting is the same as ‘low’ ie 4cc