Coal back boiler leaking

Renno123

Hi I just noticed the wall beside the fire place is wet. On inspection the old coal back boiler is also wet. I'm waiting to hear back from plumber but what are my options? We have oil central heating, as well as coal heating. What is the most cost effective thing to do right now? Ideally I was thinking of saving to install a stove but the is not possible now. How much would it cost to remove the back boiler and continue using the fire?
Any opinions welcome. Thanks

cranefly

The most cost effective way to fix this is probably to get the plumber to drill holes in the back boiler and stop the water going into the pipes for the back boiler, at least then you can still light the fire without the back boiler blowing up.
The best solution would be to have a boiler stove put in, as you already have the pipes ready for this, but that would be a fairly costly thing to consider, but if money is a problem at this time, and as you already have oil central heating, the first idea i said would be the cheapest thing to do for now, at least you still have an open fire until you can get a boiler stove, as for removing the back boiler you could do that later when you get a boiler stove.

Dtp1979

cranefly wrote: »

The most cost effective way to fix this is probably to get the plumber to drill holes in the back boiler and stop the water going into the pipes for the back boiler, at least then you can still light the fire without the back boiler blowing up.
The best solution would be to have a boiler stove put in, as you already have the pipes ready for this, but that would be a fairly costly thing to consider, but if money is a problem at this time, and as you already have oil central heating, the first idea i said would be the cheapest thing to do for now, at least you still have an open fire until you can get a boiler stove, as for removing the back boiler you could do that later when you get a boiler stove.

If the back boiler is staying in situ then it shouldn't be lit. Yes is should be drilled and drained just in case someone lights it.
But an empty Boiier will eventually burn through and then you have CO fumes travelling up through old pipework and going God knows where

Tom44

Dtp1979 wrote: »

If the back boiler is staying in situ then it shouldn't be lit. Yes is should be drilled and drained just in case someone lights it.
But an empty Boiier will eventually burn through and then you have CO fumes travelling up through old pipework and going God knows where

Drill BIG HOLES and blank the pipes.



This guy didn't drill holes.
Holes are to let pressure safely escape.

Wearb

Even drilling holes isn't a great way yo do it if you are going to light a fire. Best way is to remove it. A customer once told me that they had that done, but the metal in the boiler warped and shoved out the fire front, knocking it down. No one hurt, but could have been.

I didn't see that myself, but I believed the story.

Renno123

The plumber said he would disconnect the pipe and it would be safe to the the fire then.

Dtp1979

Renno123 wrote: »

The plumber said he would disconnect the pipe and it would be safe to the the fire then.

On his head be it

Renno123

Would the entire fireplace have to be removed to takeout the back boiler?
We use the fire everyday during the winter so it will get a lot of use