Uncapping a capped off gas fire

SadieO

We're in the process of buying our first house and have just had the fittings and contents form. There is a gas fire which has been ticked as being included but with a note saying "gas capped off". Which I assume effectively means taken out of use?

Is this something that can just be undone so that we can use the fire? If so, is it a big and/ or expensive job? Also, might it be an indication that something was wrong with the fire/gas supply, or is there no way of knowing that? The house is currently rented and the tenants have small children so I did wonder if they just got it taken out of use for the safety of the kids. The house has gas central heating and safety certificates etc, if that matters. 

Sorry if this is a silly question, never done this before! Thanks

victor2

Could be that the fire was no longer meeting safety standards, so its supply was capped off to prevent use. With gas central heating, there was no need to have a fire there.
If so, the pipe could have been capped near the fire and could be made live again by a Gas Safe engineer, but only if it was connecting to a safe fire.

Section62

SadieO said:

Is this something that can just be undone so that we can use the fire? If so, is it a big and/ or expensive job? Also, might it be an indication that something was wrong with the fire/gas supply, or is there no way of knowing that? T

It depends on why the fire was capped off.

One scenario could be you have a fire front attached to a redundant back boiler and it would be unsafe to use the fire now the boiler has been taken out of use.  If that were the case then you'd need to replace the fire rather than just reconnect the gas supply.

Alternatively it could be something like insufficient ventilation, or the fire's gas valve letting by. Lots of possibilities - only a gas safe engineer giving the fire a checkover would be able to give you the right answer.

Alanp

It’s either been removed as it’s not required, or it’s been capped because it’s unsafe, if the fire is still in situ, and there’s no paperwork telling you why it has been disconnected, then, as others have said, you need a gas safe operative to check it out

outtatune

How long is a piece of string?

Maybe the previous owner but one installed one of those stupid 'flueless' gas fires, and the previous owner decided death by carbon monoxide poisoning wasn't their thing?

I would never rely on a seller's safety certificate; I'd always get the place checked out myself, so you can ask then.

twopenny

First take a look to see if you can see where it is capped.
There should be a pipe coming from the floor. If it's still attached to the fire that's a cost to deal with.

Ask if a gas engineer can have access to look and'give a quote'. He will have the best idea of what needs doing and how much.
Imo worth paying his time (if he charges) so you know what's potentially ahead rather than a nasty worrying surprise.

I found sellers amenable if it's a reasonable request.
If they refuse I'd be a little suspicious.