Help - too scared to switch on living flame gas fire!

frostyspice

I've moved into a house with a living flame gas fire. There are no instructions for it. The make is Trident but their website doesn't seem to work.

How do i switch it on? There is a thing which looks as if I ought to turn it and another switch which looks like an ignition, cos it has a spark symbol (I think) next to it???? And a sliding bar thing above that. I'm nervous about gas - could anyone give me an idiot's guide to these things?

Peartree

If you are nervous you should get a gas engineer out to look at it before you use it. If you feel confident enough to light the fire, make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector - although you shouldn't be without one anyway, especially so when you move to a new home.

It is a relatively new fire, it will probably have safety features that means the gas supply will cut out and it won't light if there is any problem - mine won't light if there is a bit of dust round the ignition or the 'coals' have settled a bit. The older ones don't have these features. You could write down the make and give a local supplier a call to see how old it is likely to be. They might be able to provide instructions. Otherwise, you should do a more extensive internet search for instructions as it is important to know how to clean it and how to replace the coals in the right way.

Usually, you have to turn a dial to a specific point, whilst pressing in, and then press the ignition button. Once it is lit, you then turn the dial to the required level. Don't know about a sliding bar!

Taffspike

Trident ceased trading some time in 2007. I bought a Trident Excel gas fire about 5 years ago. The fire went defective (would not light), around Nov 2007 (nearly 5 years after purchase). The shop that sold and installed the fire have stated that they cannot get hold of spares. and in fact cannot get in touch with Trident, and hence cannot conduct a repair. There are rumours that Trident will be bought out this year, and that spares will once again become available. We have been without the fire over the winter and feel aggrieved that having paid around £800 for the fire, it just sits there unusable. We cant get it repaired and a replacement would cost us £850 to £1000.
1. Does anyone know anymore about Trident being bought out
2. Does anyone know the legal position and responsibility of the retailer that sold and installed the fire?

BRADLEYJW

im a specialist gas engineer, trident have closed but the parts are universal it could be a couple of things causing it not to light the pilot system just needs cleaning or just the ignition is just not catching there are a few other things but these are just the simple things to look for have it serviced by a corgi reg engineer and it should be sweet

sassybooboos

if it has the coals, check they are placed properly.
i had a new fire installed but they hadnt placed the coals properly so they were clogging it up underneath and the fire either wouldnt light or if it lit would go out unless i hoovered all the black stuff out.

eventually 3 engineers after the last engineer said they hadnt put the coals in the right place (put too many on for that type of fire).