Gas fire issues (cracked front coal, small pilot light)

ireallycantyodel

We recently had some issues with our gas fire. The pilot light seems really small and it could take some time to get it lighted. On a couple of occasions the fire just turned itself off randomly.

Now I have to say that we had a gas check in May and didn't use the fire until November. So it only started after the gas fire check. Which made me think he forgot to turn something back on fully.

So we called our landlord who sent another bloke out. And he only took two minutes and the only comment he made was that the front coal brick was broken. He then rushed out and he only said not to use it for now. I asked him what's wrong with it and he just dismissively told me he'll speak to the landlord.

Now our landlord has always been good with repairs so I am not blaming him but he never got in touch with us afterwards.So we did and he kind of evaded the question, too and said he never used it anyway when he lived there. So that wasn't helpful. We, again, asked him what's actually wrong with it but didn't get a reply.

My suspicion is just that the guy who checked it just wanted to get some commission on a new gas fire lol. I can't say for sure but since everyone has been a bit ambiguous I am only left with speculation.

I did some research and the company who made this fire is now out of business so can't get replacement bricks. I read that I could potentially fix it with some flameproof cement (although this part isn't really touched by the flames).




With regards to the pilot light, I didn't want to mess around with the valves so just cleaned a bit around it to get rid of the dust and free up any nooks and crannies. The little flame should actually come out out of two holes but it rarely does, it just comes out of the "side hole" usually (although it behaved well for this picture and also comes out of the top). But it usually takes a few attempts.

And it's really small compared to before the gas check.




There is another valve on the bottom of the fire, usually covered by the metal grid, does anyone know what that's for? Couldn't find an answer on the internet.

We don't have any issues with any other appliances although the gas check guy also forgot to close another valve on our boiler properly which lead to leakage so maybe he just wasn't with it that day...haha



Has anyone got any suggestions as to what could be the issue and if it is fixable so I can tell my landlord as he is clearly hesitant to fix it?

By the way, we have central heating and are not freezing although the air is still a bit chilly in the living room. We just enjoy the warmth and comfort of the gas fire (not to mention our cat). Also, the flames were always blue so I don't think there is problem with the gas itself.

nofoollikeold

1. The fire is designed to burn gas correctly with the "coals" in the right place and intact. If the coals are misplaced or damaged the gas may not burn correctly and may give off more carbon monoxide than the flue system can cope with. A qualified gas engineer would quite rightly mark this as "At Risk", and should, with your permission, put the fire out of commission until problems are rectified.
2. Provided the pilot light is sufficiently large to not constantly blow out, heat the thermocouple and then light the main flow of gas, it is big enough. It is not adjustable, flame size depends on the gas nozzle used.
3. The valve below the centre front is the main gas c?ck to turn the gas to the appliance off. In your first photograph it appears to be in the on position.
4. There is nothing you can do to repair this, unless you are able to get hold of a second hand fire with the "coals" intact. If your bodge is with fire cement, then if the gas engineer doing the next annual landlord's certificate spots it, he or she should, quite rightly mark the fire as at risk.
5. This is really an issue for the landlord to deal with. It is (presumably) his fire and his responsibility. He or she may well not wish to replace it with another gas fire, but possibly with an electric fire (no annual checks) or nothing at all. What your rights are in such circumstances I don't know. Electricity is much more expensive than gas, but electric fires are much more efficient than gas fires of the type you have, so the cost effect may be neutral.

ireallycantyodel

nofoollikeold wrote: »

1. The fire is designed to burn gas correctly with the "coals" in the right place and intact. If the coals are misplaced or damaged the gas may not burn correctly and may give off more carbon monoxide than the flue system can cope with. A qualified gas engineer would quite rightly mark this as "At Risk", and should, with your permission, put the fire out of commission until problems are rectified.
2. Provided the pilot light is sufficiently large to not constantly blow out, heat the thermocouple and then light the main flow of gas, it is big enough. It is not adjustable, flame size depends on the gas nozzle used.
3. The valve below the centre front is the main gas c?ck to turn the gas to the appliance off. In your first photograph it appears to be in the on position.
4. There is nothing you can do to repair this, unless you are able to get hold of a second hand fire with the "coals" intact. If your bodge is with fire cement, then if the gas engineer doing the next annual landlord's certificate spots it, he or she should, quite rightly mark the fire as at risk.
5. This is really an issue for the landlord to deal with. It is (presumably) his fire and his responsibility. He or she may well not wish to replace it with another gas fire, but possibly with an electric fire (no annual checks) or nothing at all. What your rights are in such circumstances I don't know. Electricity is much more expensive than gas, but electric fires are much more efficient than gas fires of the type you have, so the cost effect may be neutral.

Thank you for your reply. I will not do anything with it if fixing the brick would just cause issue.

I think my issue was the whole ambiguity. He didn't say anything about "At risk" or use any of the lingo I would usually expect when "condemning" a gas fire. And in fact, I would have expected him to turn the gas valve off in order to prevent us from using it. He just ran out and said he'll speak to the landlord and said not to use it "for now". I would have just expected more communication.

I was also hoping that there would be a cheaper alternative to replacing the whole thing in case the landlord wants to save money and in all honesty this guys behaviour didn't instill much trust in me..lol. But I will have a look around 2nd hand gas fires to see what can be done.

Grey_Critic

Need to be very clear about two things.


1 - Any adjustments made to a gas fire MUST be carried out by a registered Gas Safe engineer.



2 - Should the fire be replaced with an electric fire thenitmust be PATS tested each year.

bris

I would have condemned this as ID (immediately dangerous) Capped it and put a warning notice on it, with the responsible persons permission (you).


Who ever the LL had out should have done this, did you see an ID card?


The split coals are the problem, the gas will seep through these coals so it will not light properly. That's why its slow to light, I also expect it might light with a bang when enough gas build up to finally ignite.


You will struggle to get a gas safe registered engineer to install a second hand gas fire, I certainly wouldn't.

Whitterbod

https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/ ask to see his gas safe id and check numbers and a picture of person will appear with details of who they work for , a name and what appliances they can work on , if no card the dont let them work on the appliance better to be cold than iill due to fumes or worse

Alex1983

It's never a ID, immediately dangerous situation. It's AR at risk, but I do agree with bris that's not going back on unless you get new coals. There's no reason for the LL to replace it, I believe he will just get it capped off, no servicing costs and no need to be on the LL certificate any more.

The pilot looks to small, there's either not enough gas coming into the appliance or more likely the pilot assembly, oxypilot is partially blocked. That would explain why it randomly goes out because the small pilot will not heat the t/couple enough to keep it alight.

George_Michael

Grey_Critic wrote: »

Need to be very clear about two things.
2 - Should the fire be replaced with an electric fire thenitmust be PATS tested each year.

That is not correct for a couple of reasons.
The landlord must ensure that all electrical appliances they supply are safe but this doesn't mean that a portable appliance testing must be carried out. Whilst it is recommended, it's not yet a legal requirement.

If the electric fire is hard wired then it won't have a plug, hence a pat tester can't be used on it.

ireallycantyodel

I would have condemned this as ID (immediately dangerous) Capped it and put a warning notice on it, with the responsible persons permission (you).


Who ever the LL had out should have done this, did you see an ID card?


The split coals are the problem, the gas will seep through these coals so it will not light properly. That's why its slow to light, I also expect it might light with a bang when enough gas build up to finally ignite.


You will struggle to get a gas safe registered engineer to install a second hand gas fire, I certainly wouldn't.

Yes that was exactly my thought too. I would have expected a bit more.
We will speak to the landlord tomorrow.

C_Mababejive

Its AR at worst,,,but its a very crude fire with apparently no eat exchanger so the combustion is far less controlled. Chances are it will work perfectly safely. It needs servicing by someone whose competent. Fixing the pilot light is bread and butter stuff for a competent engineer..