New boiler flue = new boiler?

polophonic

Hi all, I've been advised that it is not possible to replace the flue on an old back boiler (Glow Worm approx 11 years). The current flue geometry certainly looks 'odd' and it vents underneath a roof in the garden. So it certainly needs to be replaced. Is it really the case that a completely new boiler is required?

warmhands.coldheart

I'd have thought someone could make you a replacement if you were able to get the old one's exact measurements. Just because you can't get it off the shelf doesn't mean it can't be done!

polophonic

warmhands.coldheart wrote: »

I'd have thought someone could make you a replacement if you were able to get the old one's exact measurements. Just because you can't get it off the shelf doesn't mean it can't be done!

This is what I (naively) thought

However are there legal issues with doing this work that would mean a gas engineer wouldn't want to do it?

rustyboy21

Back boilers were designed to fit into a chimney breast and class 1 flue. They would use a flexible 5'' liner to go up the flue and end on your stack with a 5'' gas cowl. If yours is coming out underneath a roof in the garden, then it might not be to current regs and getting anyone to supply and fit it for you, will be near enough impossible.

a photo of what you have and how it vents, would be advisable, if you want qualified engineers to give advice on here.

polophonic

I've put up two pictures here - they show the flue configuration and where it vents outside:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39712114@N03/sets/72157632026451448/

Please let me know if you can't view these images!

rustyboy21

Thats not a back boiler ! It is a wall mounted boiler.

Leaving it to the RGI's on here, but first thing that hits me is the vicinity of all the windows and the second is the route of the flueing.

Beware of what you may get told !

southcoastrgi

ID all day long, incorrect flue used, incorrect routing of flue, incorrect postion of flue with regard to openings into the building, products of combustion are going to re-enter the property, boiler disconnected & gas capped.

gas.man_3

Nice installation.......time for a new boiler and riddor anyone who's worked on it!!

polophonic

southcoastrgi wrote: »

ID all day long, incorrect flue used, incorrect routing of flue, incorrect postion of flue with regard to openings into the building, products of combustion are going to re-enter the property, boiler disconnected & gas capped.

So, if someone were to say that a 'registered gas fitter' installed and serviced this boiler, then they would be saying something... a little far from the truth?

Then could I go back to my original question: could I have a different flue put on this boiler (by someone who actually knows what they are doing!)?

daveyjp

I'm not an RGI, but that second photo shows the flue is too close to openings (and possibly too low?).

11 years ago regs were different and they aren't retrospective, so at the time it may have been OK.

My parents had a boiler for almost 30 years which was regularly serviced. When it failed it had to be moved as an opening window and patio door were too close to the flue outlet.

gas.man_3

To the last post too close to anything unless its effecting combustion or products of combustion were entering the property should of only been noted as no longer meeting current standards!

To the original poster yours appears to be a glowworm ultimate, a lot if not all parts are still available, get a gri round to have a look! It may well cost you an hours labour for a 10 min look but it could save you 2k!!! (Saying that just because the flue might be available you might not be able to route it correctly to meet current regs) I'd still rather pay to find out!!