Is it safe?....

bundance

.....to take the facing plate of my old potterton flamingo boiler, as I need to know when it was instaled and the information is inside.
I need to know because I am entering a competition called "britains oldest boiler"

many thanks

cybergibbons

<joke> I can imagine, being an ancient Potterton, it probably isn't safe anyway.... so nothing to loose! </joke>

Gloomendoom

bundance wrote: »

.....to take the facing plate of my old potterton flamingo boiler, as I need to know when it was instaled and the information is inside.
I need to know because I am entering a competition called "britains oldest boiler"

many thanks

Where are the details of this competition?

I've got an ancient Potterton that still delivers the goods (hot water in abundance).

cybergibbons wrote: »

<joke> I can imagine, being an ancient Potterton, it probably isn't safe anyway.... so nothing to loose! </joke>

I'll take the front cover off tonight and see if anything is loose.

cybergibbons

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I'll take the front cover off tonight and see if anything is loose.

That'll teach me to post at 3am.

bundance

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Where are the details of this competition?

I've got an ancient Potterton that still delivers the goods (hot water in abundance).



I'll take the front cover off tonight and see if anything is loose.

Here's the link to the competition - its on the competitions forum.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2460331


I got emailed the info they need
"five pieces of information: a photo of you with your boiler; the serial number of your boiler; the make of your boiler; the model of your boiler; and the age of your boiler (manufacturers’ date or installation date if available). "

I dont know the closing date, but can let you know (you may need to remind me as I have a memory like a sieve)

Also, please can you tell me what part of the boiler faceplate has the info on, and whether its safe to lift off (without a plumber)

thanks

Gloomendoom

bundance wrote: »

Also, please can you tell me what part of the boiler faceplate has the info on, and whether its safe to lift off (without a plumber)

thanks

I'm afraid I don't know exactly where you can find the info... my boiler is a different floor standing unit about the size of a fridge.

You can safely remove the faceplate without a plumber's assistance. However, to be safe you need to turn the electrical supply to the boiler off before you start. That will mean you will need to relight the boiler when you have put it all back together (and turned the power back on).

To get the main cover off...

Unscrew the two captive securing screws at the bottom of the casing and the single captive screw at the top, then withdraw the casing from the boiler.

The bottom cover also comes off, but I doubt the info will be behind that.

Pull off the boiler thermostat knob, then unscrew the screw securing the controls cover and slide the cover from the boiler.

If you have any doubts, call a suitably competent person in to help.

bundance

You can safely remove the faceplate without a plumber's assistance. However, to be safe you need to turn the electrical supply to the boiler off before you start. That will mean you will need to relight the boiler when you have put it all back together (and turned the power back on).

Sorry to sound dumb, how do I turn the electrical supply to the boiler off?

There is an electrical switch next to my boiler - I turn this off every time I turn the heating off, but I never have to relight the boiler. - Have I got the right switch?

thank you

macman

Turn it off and then try to fire up the boiler. If it doesn't ignite, you'll know that is the correct circuit. Might be an idea to familiarise yourself with your domestic wiring layout, as one day you might need to turn something off in an emergency.

Gloomendoom

bundance wrote: »

Sorry to sound dumb, how do I turn the electrical supply to the boiler off?

There is an electrical switch next to my boiler - I turn this off every time I turn the heating off, but I never have to relight the boiler. - Have I got the right switch?

thank you

I'm struggling here. There is a very good chance you do have the right switch... but without checking it myself, I can't give a definite yes. After looking at the Flamingo manual I may have been mistaken about the need to relight the boiler.