Help for problems with gas fire

robskyblueman

I would love it if someone could help with a problem we have had with a Focal Point gas fire we have purchased from B + q. The fire is a wall mouted Plasma effect and was placed in the same position as the old fire previously fitted.On the instruction sheet for the fire it states that the fire was suitable to be fitted in any suitable room as it was flueless and did not require a chimney.The only stipulation was the room required an air brick which we had fitted. Problem is the fire is now burning the plaster of the wall above it and leaving sooty deposits on the wall. The fire is out of guarantee but was fitted by acorgi registered fitter.Focal point have batted us away saying more or less "tough" They say that the wall should be heat resistant! Can you suggest what we could do next?

missile

You bought the fire from B&Q and it is with them you should argue that this fire is not suitable for purpose. You say it is out of guarantee, I guess this means more than 1 year? You really ought to have complained sooner and this will make it difficult but not necessarily impossible to pursue your claim. Write to B&Q and demand a refund, which they will most likely reject. Depending on the cost you can make a small claim in the county / sherrif court. The process is very easy and you do not need a solicitor.

Canucklehead

Hi

I would suggest that you turn off the fire and don't use it untill you have had someone corgi (with fires qualification on the back of his/her card)look at it.

I don't know what you mean by 'soot' exactly or 'burning the plaster' but it doesn't sound good from here so to be safe don't use it
There could be a fault within it.and as it's more than a year then have it looked at.

Corgi Guy

ormus

at the very least, get a CO detector alarm if you havent got one already.

moonrakerz

Don't want to worry you - but ..........

I was looking for a new gas fire and did consider one of the flueless ones until a (large) local showroom who used to stock them told me that they didn't recommend them any more. They had one catch fire in their showroom !

I bought a conventional gas fire with a flue !

robskyblueman

Thanks for the replies perhaps we may be safer getting a new fire.I am very annoyed as the fire sounded ideal when we bought it but it is a compete mess now. The black surround has all burnt off the fire and it looks a right mess. We only had it fitted about a year ago and it has left all black sooty marks on the wall above the fire and the heat from the fire rises directly from the top of the fire and has burnt the plaster causing it to crack. All in all the fire was crap but the manufacturers say we have put it on an unsuitable wall. Dont touch Focal Point fires would seem to be the moral of the tale!:eek:

deca_321

gas fires r more hassle than they r worth, a corgi gasman told me that, and he told me he got rid of all his fires, stick to radiators, less hassle and cheaper in the end.

EliteHeat

Personally I do not fit gas fires anymore - in fact I don't fit any open-flued appliance - it is not worth the risk IMO.

But yours, a flueless gas fire is absolute madness.

There was a case very recently were someone died on CO poisoning due to this type of fire. The fitter was jailed for a couple of years. In this gas, the fire was burning at a higher rate than designed for and the catalytic converter could not cope with the products of combustion. The gas valve is not adjustable and is factory preset.

The fact that you have evidence of sooting is extremely serious. Turn the fire off, do not use it.

I am very surprised that an airbrick was sufficient ventillation for this fire. I would have insisted that a purpose built ducted vent of 100cm2 was installed at the very least.

If you really want something like this, why not fit an electric plasma fire?

ninjaspy2000

Is there an open flue behind the fire?