Back Boiler - Is this right?

bm147

Hi all,

Recently moved in to our new home (got the keys yesterday), we knew there was a back boiler there, however after much reading and debating we decided that we would keep the unit and see how we got on with it this winter.

Fast forward to getting the keys and going in for the first time with the house empty, we see two wooden boards, one either side of the chimney breast, and the usual firefront on the main face of the chimney breast.

After removing the planks of wood, out of curiosity more than any thing (They werent held in place, just propped against the chimney breast), I see what seems to be insulation (pink coloured candy floss type), again out of curiosity i take a peak behind and I can see the back of the boiler and what appears to be the flue... So my question is.. Is this normal?

stator

It's not normal, whether it's safe or not a gas engineer would need to say.
You should get one to test and inspect and service all the gas appliances before you use them

bm147

Thanks stator, wasnt sure, hopefully someone here with some more knowledge can comment.
There is a valid gas safety certificate, and was also serviced less than a year ago, looks like it has been that way for many years!

Alex1983

I struggling to visually it, can you post a picture? A back boiler will have a copex liner coming off the top but it shouldn't be visible, it should be behind the fire.

Owain_Moneysaver

It depends what exactly you can see.

You should NOT be able to see any part of the back boiler itself (where the flames are). It may be that you are seeing a metal liner to the builder's opening.

It is imperative that you get these appliances checked and serviced every year. They can soot up or the flue get blocked and carbon monoxide can kill.

malky39

As said i imagine what your seeing is the liner which is normal as a back boiler is an open flued appliance. I would be getting check by a gas safe engineer they will be able to put your mind at rest. Ventilation is usualy the big one with these as people like to cover up vent because they make a draft, thats what they are there for

Ectophile

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

It depends what exactly you can see.

You should NOT be able to see any part of the back boiler itself (where the flames are). It may be that you are seeing a metal liner to the builder's opening.

It is imperative that you get these appliances checked and serviced every year. They can soot up or the flue get blocked and carbon monoxide can kill.

That's odd. I grew up in a house with a gas fire and back boiler. If I stuck my head on the floor and looked under the gas fire, I could clearly see the bottom of the boiler, including the controls, and also the flame when it was running.

Owain_Moneysaver

Ectophile wrote: »

That's odd. I grew up in a house with a gas fire and back boiler. If I stuck my head on the floor and looked under the gas fire, I could clearly see the bottom of the boiler, including the controls, and also the flame when it was running.

Yes, looking from the front underneath the fire.

NOT looking through a hole in the wall in the side of the chimney breast :eek: :eek: :eek:

bm147

What I could see was what looked to be a metal box, then a metal pipe going up which i assume is the flue?
Will try and grab some pictures tonight...

I was under the impression that they had to have a concrete fireproof box surrounding them?

Also, was hoping to put the TV on the chimney breast, can i drill in to it to attach the mount on the breast? or will this affect how the air is moved for the venting of gasses?

Owain_Moneysaver

If the box is like one of these
https://www.bes.co.uk/schiedel-large-flue-box-for-back-boilers-10800

that's okay.

You can fix the telly on the breast above provided you don't drill all the way through the brickwork. You must observe the manufacturer's installation instructions for clearance above the top of the fire front. (Typically 4" for a projection of less than 9", but your appliance may vary.)