Back boiler - replace front fire

benmason030

Hi i want to replace the gas fire infront of the back boiler with an electric fire/heater because i think it looks nicer and fits in better with the decor of the room. I've been told i can't do this, is this true and if so why is the back boiler dependent on having the gas fire in front as i've been told by a gas engineer?

southcoastrgi

your rgi is correct, the flue for the fire is routed through the boiler flue

benmason030

Why does that matter if I want to take out the fire? I want to take out the fire and leave the back boiler not the other way round. Surely the boiler can work independently of the fire?

I know the back boilers are ancient and I should prob replace it but haven't got the cash ATM.

sitesafe

I've got a back boiler too, it's been in the house since before I moved in in 1993. I know that originally there was an old gas fire linked to it when I first moved in, then a few years later the fire got replaced with another, more modern one, but the boiler itself wasn't replaced (it's still there now and does now need replacing).

I know in my experience one gas fire was replaced with another, newer model, but I do believe a new boiler wasn't fitted - I need one now though.

rustyboy21

The fires spigot, where the flue gases come out of, fits into the top of the boiler in a letterbox shape hole, then the boiler is connected onto a flexible flue liner to take away the gases.


If you take the fire away, the flue gases from the boiler will escape. Back boilers are not made anymore ( apart from the condensing Baxi one with the electric fire in front) so the manufacturers won't make anything to cap this spigot off, it is not commercially viable for them to do so, they want to sell the parts for the fires. You wouldn't be able to get an RGI to concoct a fix for you, more than their life is worth to do so. And you SHOULDN'T try to do it yourself.


You are , unfortunately stuck where possibly 500,000 people are stuck, that they have a bloody good boiler, but old horrible firefront and you cannot change one with out the other.


Sorry I couldn't help out any more.

benmason030

Reading around it looks like I'd be better getting a new boiler maybe through the green deal because I haven't got the cash available ATM and it looks like I could save quite a bit of money on bills, maintenance etc. and I really hate the fire and I don't like the idea of having such an old boiler. My mum got a free boiler and she's saved loads just in the short time it's been fitted

rustyboy21

Read into green deal a lot before committing , you would be better getting a loan from your bank instead, as the APR's are high with GD.


Link http://www.which.co.uk/energy/creating-an-energy-saving-home/reviews-ns/green-deal-loans-reviewed/green-deal-loans-the-basics/