Getting the front panel off Worcester Greenstar 25si boiler?

NSG666

Who can legally work on gas appliances? (gassaferegister.co.uk)

neilmcl

grumbler said:

I am no expert, but I don't see how some small amount of air from inside can "interfere with the combustion process."

I think this is just to prevent unintentional sucking cold air from outside into the house (or even hot air into a house with air-conditioning).

My point is that this seal doesn't have to be absolutely perfect.

The seal is there to prevent potential dangerous combustion gases from leaking to the outside. This boiler has basically two compartments, the lower third is the pipework, controls and electrics and the above section which is the combustion chamber housing the heat exchanger, etc. The design is such that a single casing is used with a large, thick rubber seal that completely covers the upper section. Unfortunately you can't get to the lower section without removing the whole casing, which means it's not a diy job.

grumbler

Again, I am no expert, but most boilers don't have any 'chamber' - just open flame. So do gas fires.

Nothing wrong with having an enclosed chamber, but I don't see why perfect seal can be of such importance for this particular boiler.

Just my common sense...

delmonta

I just dont understand why Hive say you can fit it yourself. Of course I'd rather save the money to wire up 3 wires! But also I dont want to void my insurance. 

Any idea how much it would cost to get it done by a gas safe registered person?

NSG666

How old is the boiler and when was it last serviced? It might be more cost effective to get both done at the same time - always worth having the phone number for a GSR engineer in case of breakdowns.

For info there is no security seal on the boiler so it will be impossible to tell who has removed the cover. Just pointing out the gas safe element and also say that we don't want to know what you decide to do.

bris

grumbler said:

Again, I am no expert, but most boilers don't have any 'chamber' - just open flame. So do gas fires.

Nothing wrong with having an enclosed chamber, but I don't see why perfect seal can be of such importance for this particular boiler.

Just my common sense...

Of course they do it's called the combustion chamber, in this boilers case it's the heat exchanger, it's a sealed system so no products of combustion will  leak into the room with the case off.

The heat exchanger is directly connect to and sealed for the products of combustion to be removed by the flue. 

There is no open flame in any boiler the flame is contained inside the chamber, the water pumps round the heat exchanger and the flame heats it up.

Someone even said it's unserviceable because you cant take the front cover off, unbelievable.

delmonta

NSG666 said:

How old is the boiler and when was it last serviced? It might be more cost effective to get both done at the same time - always worth having the phone number for a GSR engineer in case of breakdowns.

For info there is no security seal on the boiler so it will be impossible to tell who has removed the cover. Just pointing out the gas safe element and also say that we don't want to know what you decide to do.

Thanks for the advice. I haven't had it serviced since I bought the house 5 years ago! 

How often should you get the. Serviced? Maybe you are right though, if it needs servicing then kill two birds with one stone

Just on a tight budget currently

NSG666

Annually or when it breaks down.

casper_gutman

delmonta said:

I just dont understand why Hive say you can fit it yourself. Of course I'd rather save the money to wire up 3 wires! But also I dont want to void my insurance. 

Any idea how much it would cost to get it done by a gas safe registered person?

In most cases the Hive will be installed in place of a wired thermostat, or in place of a wireless stat with a receiver wired into the boiler but external from it.

These Worcester boilers with the internal receivers are relatively unusual, and clearly aren't what Hive had in mind when they said you could fit it yourself.

delmonta

Ok, well it seems like it's time to get the boiler serviced! So probably best to just let them do it