gas fire service ?

nicka99

hi all,
I just had our vaillant boiler serviced to keep the warranty intact (its only 1 year old) and the gas engineer recommended I also got the gas fire serviced as well despite only using its once or twice since it was last done when the boiler was installed.

is it necessary to service a gas fire annually ? are the risks the same as a boiler i.e. gas leaks (on or off), CO poisoning ? its one of the ones thats sits in the hearth with fake coals and gas that comes from underneath to give the look of a real coal fire. we dont use it often as even with the door shut it makes big drafts in the room !

HappyMJ

The risks are the same if not worse with a gas fire. A boiler is usually sealed from the room taking air from outside and then the exhaust goes outside as well. The gas fire takes air from the room and the exhaust goes up the chimney. That's why you get your drafts. If the chimney/flue is blocked the fumes will go back into the room.

If you didn't want to pay for it then make sure the flue is clear and a draft is being generated making a flow of air going up the flue properly.

rustyboy21

Manufacturers state you should get them serviced every 12 months. Above poster is correct, they are more dangerous than the boiler as the boiler is a sealed unit, only open to outside. Your fire draws air out your room, so if the flue was blocked it will pour fumes into your room.

It is not the fire that is the major problem. Yes you can get soot in the ignition, so it wont start, you may have developed a small gas leak from the valve, Spiders nests are a commmon site in my parts, blocking the spark ignition, but getting it serviced would also involve the engineer doing a smoke test on the flue to make sure it wasn't obstructed. Birds have a lovely habit of building nests on top of your chimney pot, Think central heating for birds ! even if the fire isn't on, it will still have warm air coming up the flue from your room.

Didn't your service engineer offer to do both at the same time at a set price. If not that was unusual, my fitters always offer to do both, works out about £10 more for the fire after boiler callout charge.

gas4you

Yes technically any gas appliance should be serviced/checked annually, but what you do in your own home is up to you.

Have you a cowl on the chimney pot? If not how do you know a bird has not dropped down and blocked the chimney?

Absolutely

I'd have the fire serviced too.

My BIL is a qualified Gas-Safe Engineer (installs boilers, central heating systems, services fires, etc).

I don't use my gas fire very often at all, but last year I did have it on and he took one look at the flames and switched it off immediately. Told me not to use it because it was unsafe and needed servicing.

He doesn't charge me so had nothing to gain financially.

Just because you don't use it often, doesn't mean you shouldn't have it looked at.

Lecture over

Yorkie1

When I had my boiler serviced in the summer, the gas chap asked if I wanted the gas fire doing too. He said that they are a higher risk in many cases than boilers. I said yes, please.

aliellen

nicka99 wrote: »

hi all,
I just had our vaillant boiler serviced to keep the warranty intact (its only 1 year old) and the gas engineer recommended I also got the gas fire serviced as well despite only using its once or twice since it was last done when the boiler was installed.

is it necessary to service a gas fire annually ? are the risks the same as a boiler i.e. gas leaks (on or off), CO poisoning ? its one of the ones thats sits in the hearth with fake coals and gas that comes from underneath to give the look of a real coal fire. we dont use it often as even with the door shut it makes big drafts in the room !

I work at a gas assessment centre. You should have all gas appliances serviced annually regardless of usage. If there is a gas leak and it has not been serviced it is the fault of the owner. If you have a gas cooker that should also be serviced. The engineer is correct and would recommend getting all gas appliances serviced at the same time every year, thus saving them coming out so many times a year.

RobinofKenilworth

nicka99 wrote: »

hi all,
I just had our vaillant boiler serviced to keep the warranty intact (its only 1 year old) and the gas engineer recommended I also got the gas fire serviced as well despite only using its once or twice since it was last done when the boiler was installed.

is it necessary to service a gas fire annually ? are the risks the same as a boiler i.e. gas leaks (on or off), CO poisoning ? its one of the ones thats sits in the hearth with fake coals and gas that comes from underneath to give the look of a real coal fire. we dont use it often as even with the door shut it makes big drafts in the room !

I would get the fire serviced regularly as well. As posted by others, checking the flue (outlet) is clear is as important as ensuring that there is sufficient available air in the room. If you are having your boiler is being serviced annually, why not get the fire done at the same time?

nicka99

rustyboy21 wrote: »

Didn't your service engineer offer to do both at the same time at a set price. If not that was unusual, my fitters always offer to do both, works out about £10 more for the fire after boiler callout charge.

no - thats what I was expecting - he charged £80 for the boiler service then wanted another £80 for the fire ! I was so taken aback I just said no thanks !

dont think Ill use it this year then. have my hopes set on a wood burner at some point in the future. Ill put the cash saved towards that !

and no, there is no cowl currently. in fact the chimney stack has almost disintegrated so thats another job...

thanks for the info