Boiler flue/vent, help needed please!

t_obermory

If anyone can help me I'd be very grateful, I'll warn you in advance that I have no idea what the technical name for anything is so please bear with me.



This is a picture of the flue/vent? on the outside wall where our boiler is. There's a metal (lead possibly) plate above which I believe is supposed to divert heat away from the guttering. Its obviously not doing it properly as the guttering keeps warping and its starting to affect the roof; I've tried moving the metal bit closer and further away from the vent but it makes no difference.

I was told that it should be aluminum above it, and there are flats close to our house with the same sort of system that look to have a more rigid plate of metal above it as in this picture (sorry for the quality).



The guttering on these flats aren't warped so presumably the plate's doing it's job properly.

Which is where I come to my question, firstly I haven't a clue what the proper name for these is, if anyone could help? Secondly I've searched the internet (probably not helped by the fact I don't know its name) and can't find anywhere that sells them.

I will just get someone in to replace it if I have to but trying to be MSE I figured if I could find one it wouldn't be too difficult to replace it ourselves. So if anyone could help me locate one I'd really appreciate it.

t_obermory

Bump.

Anyone, please?

Pssst

The ideal would have been if the boiler/balanced flue assembly had been fitted lower but it may not have been possible hence your current situation.

It is not unknown therefore to fit a piece of aluminium plate to act as a heat deflector.

What is the plate that you have at present made of?

Perhaps the plate was fitted after the guttering started to melt in an attempt to stop it getting worse?


The plate is not purpose made. Its just a bit of aluminium sheet cut to shape.

If you were to go to a proper builders merchants which sells gas stuff,you would ask for an aluminium side sheet for use with a closure plate. These are used to box in fire openings to allow the fitting of a gas fire.

Repair the guttering,fit the new plate so that there is an airspace between the sheet and the guttering. Make sure it DOES NOT sit so low as to block the top side of the balanced flue outlet.

gasbag1602

t_obermory wrote: »

If anyone can help me I'd be very grateful, I'll warn you in advance that I have no idea what the technical name for anything is so please bear with me.



This is a picture of the flue/vent? on the outside wall where our boiler is. There's a metal (lead possibly) plate above which I believe is supposed to divert heat away from the guttering. Its obviously not doing it properly as the guttering keeps warping and its starting to affect the roof; I've tried moving the metal bit closer and further away from the vent but it makes no difference.

I was told that it should be aluminum above it, and there are flats close to our house with the same sort of system that look to have a more rigid plate of metal above it as in this picture (sorry for the quality).



The guttering on these flats aren't warped so presumably the plate's doing it's job properly.

Which is where I come to my question, firstly I haven't a clue what the proper name for these is, if anyone could help? Secondly I've searched the internet (probably not helped by the fact I don't know its name) and can't find anywhere that sells them.

I will just get someone in to replace it if I have to but trying to be MSE I figured if I could find one it wouldn't be too difficult to replace it ourselves. So if anyone could help me locate one I'd really appreciate it.

Its called a heat sheild and regulations say this needs to be 1 meter long, make sure you have your boiler checked to make sure its ok inside! Your boiler could have a problem like being overgassed or corroded flue! As the previous op said your boiler is too close really and should never of been there but all you can do is try a longer heat sheild, failing that a new boiler!:cool:

t_obermory

As far as I'm aware the metal is lead and its been there since the boiler was put in about 10-15 years ago.

Ideally we'd get a new boiler and resolve the problem then but as the boiler works and we don't have the money its not an option really.

The boiler's due for service so I'll get the flue etc checked then. I was hoping I could just buy a new plate ready made; is it the sort of thing the gas man who services the boiler would be able to get for me?

Thanks for the replies.

Pssst

The plate isnt special. It can be anything metallic,preferably aluminium. Go to your local plumbers merchants and ask for a closure plate,get some tin snips and cut it to size. Is that sooty marks i can see on your roof tiles? Not a good sign..

It probably isnt lead..its probably aluminium which bends easily especially after years of heat from the boiler.