Gas Back Boiler Question

Gatster

I have a gas back boiler and a gas fire fronting it which appear to be seperate units with a flue. The fire/hearth/surround is not inkeeping with the decor so I'd like to get a wall hung contempory fire of some description (gas or preferably electric), meaning I'd have to cover the hole left by the removal of the old fire.

My question is whether this is possible? I don't mind putting a vent in the plasterboard etc, but don't know if I have to get some sort of front for the boiler to shield the plasterboard - there is access to the area behind the fire, or I could put an access panel in.

rooferPete

Hi Gatser,

As a person who can supply the insert gas fires I will probably shoot myself in the foot on this one

Take advice regarding the two vents needed for the gas appliance which when taken into account with the output of about 2.5 kw can leave the room with less heat than you started with.

Also investigate the very high condensation levels there are from the unit you describe, I am careful about what I will recommend and when I find one of the largest and oldest suppliers of gas fires in Dublin refusing to stock that type of gas fire I prefer to be guided by their experience.

.

Gatster

Cheers RooferPete, but does this mean it's possible? I'm doing away with the old gas fire, I'm just checking it's safe to do so. I'll get someone in for the removal part but the 'sealing in' of the back boiler I'll do myself, safety factors permitting.

Whenn you talk about the output and the condensation levels, I presume you're talking about the actual fire? The boiler bit controls the radiators etc. and from what I can tell works very well and I'd ideally like to keep it in tact to keep the costs of this down (The house is 6 years old).

JamesM

Gatster wrote:

Cheers RooferPete, but does this mean it's possible? I'm doing away with the old gas fire, I'm just checking it's safe to do so. I'll get someone in for the removal part but the 'sealing in' of the back boiler I'll do myself, safety factors permitting.

Whenn you talk about the output and the condensation levels, I presume you're talking about the actual fire? The boiler bit controls the radiators etc. and from what I can tell works very well and I'd ideally like to keep it in tact to keep the costs of this down (The house is 6 years old).

I have said before that I am no expert on gas, but you do realise that, apart from ventilation, you need access to the back boiler for service and maintenance. I think that it is normally done by removing the fire.
Jim.

rooferPete

Hi Gatser,

As Jim pointed out the front is removable to service the boiler, a good number of "Baxi" systems were brought in here very similar to the system you have described.

My advice to you is do not attempt to interfere with the system on a DIY basis, I expect Jim will agree there are different qualifications and training needed to work on gas systems.

I am not qualified to touch one and if I did my insurance and the home owners insurance is basically null and void.

To the best of my limited knowledge the boiler with a fire front is manufactured as a system, many of the systems do not need standard chimney's they have flues that work by taking in the air needed while venting the fumes (balanced flue).

Perhaps the manufacturers of your system could supply you with the full details regarding seperating the front from the boiler.

.

Gatster

Cheers for the responses, I'm going to contact Bord Gais today and see what they say, try to get someone out to have a look

pipers

I would strongly suggest that you replace your existing back boiler with a wall hung one elsewhere in your property.

You cannot seperate a gas fire front from a backboiler.

rooferPete

Hi Gatser,

I'm glad Pipers cleared that question up, it's hard to beat the hands on tradesman

What Pipers may have forgot to warn against is Bord Gais tend to have favoured contractors who often have what can turn out to be expensive solutions to small jobs.

Some offer "Grants ?" that are really marketing tools, so while you need a qualified contractor there are approved and recommended contractors for work on gas.

It may be a good time to shop around.

.

Gatster

Bord Gais tend to have favoured contractors who often have what can turn out to be expensive solutions to small jobs

Sort of gathered that from their website!

I really don't have anywhere to put a boiler apart from behind the fireplace at this stage - I don't want this to turn into a major (expensive) project which I fear siting a new boiler could be (I also hate the way they look). The one behind the fireplace works fine as far as I can tell, but could I hang a wall hung boiler behind my fireplace so long as there is access to this area, with some sort of control for it wall mounted on the left ot right of the hearth - all the plumbing for the existing one is in the reasonably large cavity behind the fireplace, so it seems to make sense to leave it there.

EDIT
When I say 'resonably large cavity' I mean that if the existing back boiler wasn't there a average-large bloke could easily stand in it - it's ceiling height, about 6' wide and about 2.5' deep.

tcs

Re.

...could I hang a wall hung boiler behind my fireplace so long as there is access to this area, with some sort of control for it wall mounted on the left ot right of the hearth - all the plumbing for the existing one is in the reasonably large cavity behind the fireplace, so it seems to make sense to leave it there

can I assume the answer to that was a "no"?

I have an old gas back boiler with ugly brown Myson firefront that was installed circa 18 years ago.

I'm in a similar situation. It seems the conventional wall hung boilers need to be on an external wall (limited in a mid-terraced house).

Piper's

I would strongly suggest that you replace your existing back boiler with a wall hung one elsewhere in your property.

suggestion seems to mean

• the expense/disruption of quite a bit of new piping etc. if I move the location of the boiler
• if I locate in the kitchen, I'd need to be fairly sure that I don't plan extending to the back of the house with a conservatory or the likes as then it would need to be moved again at a future date & I'd bet that'd cost!
• I could locate it in a bedroom but
  1. would the noise of it kicking off in the morning drive the occupant of the bedroom ballubas?, &
  2. would it mean ripping up floorboards?

My current back boiler is in what's the kitchen/dining room in my house and since it's not my sitting room, I reckoned it'd be a nice option to put a pot-bellied stove to the front of the fireplace with the boiler in behind in the chimney-breast. Seems as though the Baxi fire fronts are the only option I can come across on the Irish market. Am I right on that?

I had one of the Bord Gais favoured contractors quote me last year, the price scared the bejaysus outta me and the 'fireplace guy' they used scared me even more with his 'choice' of fireplaces (the old one would have to go!). I know I could go elsewhere for the fire surround but it just seemed less hassle for them to work together to get the job done. I chose to go off and fry some other fish last year & leave it to this year to worry about this fish... so here I am...

By the sounds of this thread, it sounds like there are other options for getting this done other than the Bord Gais favoured contractors! Won't specifically quote them ir anything but they sort of make it sound that you have to go with them. "Here's our list of approved..." Is that rubbish? What qualification does someone have to have to replace a gas boiler etc.?

Thanks

T