Gas Fire (soot!!)

volvilla

I wonder could I get some advice from someone with more experience and knowledge with gas fires than I do.

Basically I moved into rented accommodation 6 months ago and have been using the gas fire for the past few months. As you will see from the images attached there is quite a bit of soot accumulating.

I have had the landlord send a technician out to examine it, who said it was fine/normal!! , however I believe this also happened to be the original installer.


Is it any way possible that this is normal? or are my fears warranted of this being potentially lethal?

Thanks so much :D:D

aujopimur

The coals look a bit sooty to me. Did the tech. do a flue/smoke test on the chimney, if he did'nt he should have, to make sure it was'nt a flueing problem

volvilla

Great thanks for that

If it was a flueing problem, is there any potential danger with using the fire for the time being?

volvilla

volvilla wrote: »

Is it any way possible that this is normal?

No, switch it off and leave it off, get your own RGI preferably from a company specialising in gas fires.
A gas flame is clean and will only produce soot if there is a problem ie.. The logs/coals impinging on the flame, incorrect injectors, over gassed etc.... a good RGI should be able to identify the problem. I couldn't leave a fire like that behind me.

volvilla

Thanks Gary. Will do.

MaxFlower

I saw something similar to what you are describing once in a friend’s house. It turned out that the fire was designed for (piped) natural gas and the fire was connected to the bottled gas. The soot was a disaster as it was very light and put stains on whatever it touched.

I suggest you get independent advice soon as possible as if it’s not burning correctly there may be other issues.

volvilla

That's interesting as it is connected to bottled gas!!

And exactly the soot has absolutely destroyed the cream carpet....

Was there any solution in the case with your friend?

MaxFlower

Only to change the fire for the correct type. The unit was cheap so there was no possiblity to change parts, the whole lot had to go and a proper one put in.

Billy Bunting

As per Gary, turn it off, any “technician” who walked away from that I would question their credentials, ask your Landlord when was it last serviced and does he have a Cert for it, that normally kicks them into action.

DO NOT USE.

aujopimur

Billy Bunting wrote: »

As per Gary, turn it off, any “technician” who walked away from that I would question their credentials, ask your Landlord when was it last serviced and does he have a Cert for it, that normally kicks them into action.

DO NOT USE.

+ 1

JohnnieK

Billy Bunting wrote: »

As per Gary, turn it off, any “technician” who walked away from that I would question their credentials, ask your Landlord when was it last serviced and does he have a Cert for it, that normally kicks them into action.

DO NOT USE.

Second that

Stove Fan

Any gas installer who walks away from a clearly faulty fire and declares it fine (if he was) wants reporting to RGI!!

Stove Fan:)