Help! Sooty Glow warm Boiler

chocomonsta

Can anyone help?

We have just noticed that the vent outside from our 20 odd year old Glow warm bolier is full of black soot going about a foot up the outside wall. I have looked at the boiler inside and it seems to be a very yellow flame. Its never done this before and otherwise seems to be powering up the water and central heating with no problem. Nothing seems to be blocking the vent as we have now taken it off the wall. Any ideas anyone???

Thanks for your help in advance

bruce2110

I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO GET A CORGI REGISTERED ENGINEER AS SOON AS AND GET THIS CHECKED OUT STRAIGHT AWAY AS THERE COULD BE PROBLEMS WITH BOILER/VENTILATION - GET IT CHECKED OUT JUST TO BE SAFE!

Bruce2110

italiastar

bruce2110 wrote:

I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO GET A CORGI REGISTERED ENGINEER AS SOON AS AND GET THIS CHECKED OUT STRAIGHT AWAY AS THERE COULD BE PROBLEMS WITH BOILER/VENTILATION - GET IT CHECKED OUT JUST TO BE SAFE!

Bruce2110

I totally agree, but would add that you should turn it off immediately. When did you last have it serviced?

bruce2110

IN THIS CASE IT WOULD PROBALY BE A GOOD MOVE TO TURN YOUR BOILER OFF STRAIGHT AWAY (TONIGHT) AND CALL SOME OUT FIRST THING TOMMOROW.

PLEASE LETS US KNOW YOU HAVE RECIVED AND UNDERSTOOD WHAT WE HAVE ASKED YOU TO DO!!

Bruce2110

hawkwinddotcom

I have just pm'ed them

The danger signs

Carbon monoxide may be present if there are any of the following danger signs:

* Gas flames that normally burn blue burn orange or yellow instead.
* Sooty stains appear on or just above appliances, regardless of the fuel being burnt.
* Coal or wood fires burn slowly or go out.
* The fire is difficult to light
* The room is not properly ventilated.
* The chimney or flue is blocked – watch out for smoke in the room.
* You develop the following unexplained symptoms:
o tiredness
o drowsiness
o headaches
o
dizziness
o
chest pains
o
nausea

moneysavingplumber

chocomonsta wrote:

Nothing seems to be blocking the vent as we have now taken it off the wall. Any ideas anyone???

Thanks for your help in advance

Taken what off of the wall???? The terminal??? TURN THE BOILER OFF AND CALL A CORGI REGISTERED HEATING ENGINEER!! PLEASE!!!

chocomonsta

Taken what off of the wall???? The terminal??? TURN THE BOILER OFF AND CALL A CORGI REGISTERED HEATING ENGINEER!! PLEASE!!!

We went outside and took the vent off the outside wall to check it was not blocked. It took us about an hour to get it off as the bolts were rusted on. There doesnt seem to be a blockage just a few bits of dust and live spiders.

The boiler is situated under the stairs but does have a window to ventilate it aswel. Also even when we took the vent off it was still burning bright yellow. I read on someone elses thread that it could be the seals that have gone- are they repairable - it is an old boiler.

We are waiting for an engineer to call. Dont really want to turn it off as this is our only heating

Thank you so much for your replies, I will let you know what the man says. :beer:

chocomonsta

I totally agree, but would add that you should turn it off immediately. When did you last have it serviced?

We bought the house from a plumber nearly 3 years ago and it was looked at by the 'Warm Front Team' just over a year ago but we have never had a proper service. We did have to replace the pump about 2 years ago

moneysavingplumber

You simply should not have removed the terminal, it will further interfere with the already dangerous combustion, and if it is not possible to correctly fit it back on then the boiler may be totally condemned as a result. This is a classic example of why most of us that are Corgi registered disagree with people interfering with their own gas appliances in any way on a DIY basis.

The burner is probably filthy, over-gassed and possibly broken. If the case-seal is also faulty the boiler is in about as lethal a condition as it could possibly be. Please just turn it off.

dc

The boiler heat exchanger, where the gas heats the water is blocked up with soot, so the flames, instead of going up through the heat exchanger to heat the water,will be going round the outside of it causing the casing to get very hot.

The flames will be bright yellow instead of the normal blue. This is a very messy job to correct, unless done properly, and asbestos may be involved. So get a the thing serviced properly, before you regret not doing so.
If it is a balanced flue boiler, fumes will not be the main problem, but there is a fire risk. Safety comes before comfort, so its a fan heater and hot water bottles job till you get it sorted.

dc

hawkwinddotcom

Choco

Please take note of what the experts are advising you to do, you came here for advice.

Just switch the damn thing off until the Gas man has been and said its okay to switch back on. :mad: