Gasfire removed told backboiler was once or is still behind fireplace how safe now?

Scottf

So Last year when work was carried out at my house the plumber said the gasfire wasnt safe, and I had the idea of removing anyway to an open fuel fireplace.

Plumber removed gasfire, but then said there would have been a back boiler behind the fireplace at some stage as he saw the pipes for this at side of fireplace.

I moved in here 9 years ago and you can tell there was upgrades to the original house which would have been built in the 60s...

Like floors bit of wall insulation... and the fireplace was def a more recent install, than would have been originally, modern etc..

Plumber said all is fine as he cut the pipe coming from somewhere in or around fireplace/backboiler, at side of fireplace and said your good to go..

I have never tried to light since that time last year as paranoid about wether there is a back boiler or not, in safe condition to light open fuel fire...

Because the fireplace sorrund is modern I cant tell would the backboiler been removed anyway before I moved in when fireplace was modernised.

Another plumber told me the only way he checks is with a powerful magnet, which I got (really powerfull), and "scanned" the back of fireplace to see if anything triggering magnet but theres not.

NOw its freezing I really want to light open fuel fire but am still totally paranoid whether there is backboiler or not still and how safe doing this would be.

Any help regarding situation would be appreciated

Scottf

ALso I would have had the gas fire lighting over the nine years but not more than 20 mins I say, but this house was rented for years before I moved in

Larbre34

My parents had gas central heating installed many years ago and because my Dad loved an open fire, the fitters left a 'dual system' in place to accommodate the back boiler in the second reception room.

As you might have guessed, the fire was never lit again, but they did think about it one of the very cold Christmases and were warned by an industrial plumber mate of mine, not to even think about it without a recommissioning inspection, or better yet, reefing the back boiler out altogether and capping the pipework.

You can't be too careful with sealed vessels.

10-10-20

Someone on here suggested drilling through the fire-brick and into the boiler as a way of ensuring that the back-boiler was open.

Other than that you'd be looking at a full removal for peace of mind.

Wasn't there someone killed there a few years ago from back boiler exploding ? was in the news, you really need to make sure those things have been installed properly and have all the proper safety devices fitted.

I recently got a Klover pellet boiler stove installed, fantastic, love it, got tonnes of safety devices in it. If the water gets too hot it switches off, if pressure gets too high/low it switches off. Can be controlled via app, roasts the house. Ash feck all even after a week.

The pellet stove replaced a Effel oil stove which was fantastic too but was never plumbed in and now we're off foreign oil, mostly, will still use the oil now and then.

Scottf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119981561#Comment_119981561

my dad suggested that nearly just to know if its still there or not, what would be the story then with lighting a fire with a hole at the back, do you need to fill the hole with some certain material then if there was nothing behind or if you managed to drill through the back boiler if still there?

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119985321#Comment_119985321

Fill it with fire cement. You can get it in builder's providers, etc.

hamburgham

Interesting thread. I have this problem too.

10-10-20

For clarity: the official answer is to have the device removed or professionally secured so that it's not a threat, but if you looking for a quick fix while you wait in the cold for that professional then you can follow any information on here. But at the end of the day this is an internet forum and mad people from the internet can tell you to do mad things. 👍️

Scottf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119985549#Comment_119985549

thanks!! yes they can but no harm seeing what other people think too : )