Fan Assisted Gas Fire - Problems!

dora37

Hi,

I am looking for some words of wisdom!

We have a new build house (6 years old) and the gas fire is a fan assisted one. There is no chimney. We didn't go with the builders standard glass fronted fire, we went with a fan assisted slim line flueless gas fire.

Basically the fire will not start, as the fan won't switch on (it stays on for about 2 seconds, then goes off again) We called out a CORGI Gas man who had serviced it a few months back, however fan assisted gas fires are not really his bag!

He took it apart to find out the make, however there were not any markings or part numbers on it at all. Right inside was an electric switch box, which again had no markings on, which we suspect is causing the problem.

The CORGI guy didn't know anybody who dealt with this type of fire (he dealt with electric or straight forward gas), and said we may be better getting the whole thing replaced.:eek:

As we can't get hold of anybody more qualified in this area - does anybody have any other suggestions before we go down the replacement route?

zkeithz

It is very difficult to ascertain the type from your description.

All gas appliances will have identification of make and model on them somewhere. I am surprised your CORGI gas installer couldn't locate it, even though it is not his bag.

Perhaps email a photograph of it to CORGI, or other gas fire retailers whi might be able to identify it for you.

Regards

keith

dora37

Thanks for your reply.

He did take it all apart, as we were there when he did it - and he said there was not one marking on it

plumb1_2

Hi Dora, if you had this fitted by yourselves and not the builder, do you not have the installation or User manual.

There will be some identifaction marks on the fire, it should have metal plate, for the gas rating.

dora37

Hi Plumb1

We are going on what the CORGI guy who totally dismantled it told us - obviously it isn't something we want to start messing with.

I will have to search to see if we have the orginal paperwork - just wanted to see whether anybody had any pointers.

As I say it was fitted over 6 years ago by a sub contractor who worked for a Gas Fire shop where we bought the fire, surround & marble from - however they are no longer there now.

Jonesya

One possible manufacturer is:
http://www.focalpointfires.plc.uk/

We've got one of their Powerflu fires, an Ashleigh Powaflu, actually with a very similar problem to what you describe - switch panel on bottom right of the fire, 2 switches - one to switch on, one to switch off. Normally you have to hold the on switch down for a few seconds while the fan starts and once the pilot gas valve has opened you can light the pilot and then the fire. At the moment though when you push the on switch down the fan starts as normal but it cuts out before the valve opens.

dora37

Getting confused looking at the different options, as some of them look the same! We are sure it is a Focal Point - it is a slim line and has to be on a outside wall - where there is a cage covering the fan.

Jonesya - have you resolved your problem, if so how?

I still need to be get somebody who knows about these type of fires.

Jonesya

dora37 wrote:

Jonesya - have you resolved your problem, if so how?

Not yet, we'll be getting the guy who fitted it originally back to fix it - we had the same problem once before, a couple of years ago, I think was due to a bad solder joint on the controller board - he just resoldered the joint.

If it is a Focal Point fire I'd have thought your best bet would be to email them and get the details of local retailers that sell/supports the fires and speak to them.

dora37

Jonesya wrote:

Not yet, we'll be getting the guy who fitted it originally back to fix it - we had the same problem once before, a couple of years ago, I think was due to a bad solder joint on the controller board - he just resoldered the joint.

If it is a Focal Point fire I'd have thought your best bet would be to email them and get the details of local retailers that sell/supports the fires and speak to them.

I've emailed them today for local retailers - so I'll go from there.