Remove gas fire, keep baxi boiler?

WranglerWray

Hey,

My house has a really old boiler system, probably from the 80s. It's a Baxi boiler with the pilot light under the fire. The fire doesn't work and is an eyesore so I would like to have it removed but keep the Baxi boiler and fit one of those wall mounted electric dealies.

My question is, is it even possible to have the gas fire removed and keep the Baxi boiler and pilot light switch? How much would you expect it to cost, and is it safe to have an electric fire where the gas fire was while the back boiler is still functional?

EDIT: I also heard that when you get someone out to remove a gas fire they will check all other gas appliances as well. Is this true? And if not what would you expect a full safety check to cost?

Cheers!

Alex1983

You are not allowed to remove the gas fire of a back boiler it is part of the flue system.

EachPenny

Alex1983 wrote: »

You are not allowed to remove the gas fire of a back boiler it is part of the flue system.

Absolutely! I once had a very cold winter living in a new home because the previous occupants had removed the fire and I couldn't get anybody to get the boiler working until the fire had been replaced. Sourcing a replacement took several months, even though at the time back boilers were common.

Now it's either a case of leaning to love the 'eyesore' fire, or shelling out for a whole new boiler setup.

FreeBear

The OP could remove the gas fire, but it is not recommended. The gas front is connected to the boiler flue, so removing the fire allows fumes to vent in to the room when the back boiler is running.

It is NOT SAFE, so leave the gas front in place and put some money towards a condensing boiler when the Baxi finally becomes unserviceable.

datostar

Some years ago, Baxi did market a replacement for the old Bermuda gas fire/back boiler system which still used a back boiler with a new concentric chimney flue to draw in air as well as exhausting fumes. It came with an electric fire front. I think it was rather expensive and I don't know if they still make them.

Alex1983

They weren’t very good and very expensive and has been discontinued quite a while back.