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Post by teenagefanclub on Oct 2, 2023 7:13:22 GMT
My parents have a coal fire that they haven't used for about 15 years, and they want to start using again over winter.
It has a back boiler that can heat the water for the whole house. Problem is if that's now faulty it could explode when the fire is lit.
Is there anyway of isolating it and draining the system so they can light the fire?
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teflondel
Youth Player
Plumbing services
Posts: 318
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Post by teflondel on Oct 2, 2023 8:02:48 GMT
Assume they swapped from the coal back boiler to a gas combi years ago.
That being the case the pipes that ran up the side of the chimney breast are disconnected and all the water in the back boiler drained out.
The explosion risk comes if the pipes have been capped ( usually when cut back and left inside the chimney breast). Easiest way to avoid the risk is to drill a couple of holes into the back boiler so no chance of a pressure build up.
First job is to have it swept though even after that there will be soot left so sheet up to avoid ruining the carpet
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Post by teenagefanclub on Oct 2, 2023 8:25:19 GMT
Assume they swapped from the coal back boiler to a gas combi years ago. That being the case the pipes that ran up the side of the chimney breast are disconnected and all the water in the back boiler drained out. The explosion risk comes if the pipes have been capped ( usually when cut back and left inside the chimney breast). Easiest way to avoid the risk is to drill a couple of holes into the back boiler so no chance of a pressure build up. First job is to have it swept though even after that there will be soot left so sheet up to avoid ruining the carpet No, they live in the middle of nowhere so no mains gas. They just pushed an electric fire in the gap (they are in their 80s so it seemed like a good idea to them). No boiler just immersion heater, storage heaters and economy 7. Chimney is swept every year. So back boiler still attached and potentially full of water?? |
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Post by elystokie on Oct 2, 2023 8:40:27 GMT
Assume they swapped from the coal back boiler to a gas combi years ago. That being the case the pipes that ran up the side of the chimney breast are disconnected and all the water in the back boiler drained out. The explosion risk comes if the pipes have been capped ( usually when cut back and left inside the chimney breast). Easiest way to avoid the risk is to drill a couple of holes into the back boiler so no chance of a pressure build up. First job is to have it swept though even after that there will be soot left so sheet up to avoid ruining the carpet Had this done a while back at my mum's after she passed, the plumber hadn't quite finished apparently, my sister asked him on my behalf (she'd arranged the work) if I could light a fire when I went to stay and he said no problem. Except there was - the back boiler still had water in it and due to the pipes still being open the upstairs had turned into one big 'steam room' when I went up half an hour later 😕 |
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Post by teenagefanclub on Oct 2, 2023 8:43:50 GMT
Assume they swapped from the coal back boiler to a gas combi years ago. That being the case the pipes that ran up the side of the chimney breast are disconnected and all the water in the back boiler drained out. The explosion risk comes if the pipes have been capped ( usually when cut back and left inside the chimney breast). Easiest way to avoid the risk is to drill a couple of holes into the back boiler so no chance of a pressure build up. First job is to have it swept though even after that there will be soot left so sheet up to avoid ruining the carpet Had this done a while back at my mum's after she passed, the plumber hadn't quite finished apparently, my sister asked him on my behalf (she'd arranged the work) if I could light a fire when I went to stay and he said no problem. Except there was - the back boiler still had water in it and due to the pipes still being open the upstairs had turned into one big 'steam room' when I went up half an hour later 😕 Was it an easy fix as described? |
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Post by elystokie on Oct 2, 2023 8:59:32 GMT
Had this done a while back at my mum's after she passed, the plumber hadn't quite finished apparently, my sister asked him on my behalf (she'd arranged the work) if I could light a fire when I went to stay and he said no problem. Except there was - the back boiler still had water in it and due to the pipes still being open the upstairs had turned into one big 'steam room' when I went up half an hour later 😕 Was it an easy fix as described? Not massively, he had to cut a hole in the side of the fireplace, luckily only plasterboard, and presumably drained it somehow. Have your parents considered a log burner? Far more efficient, don't know what current legislation is environment wise on them mind, I fitted one in my old house a few years back, only difficulty was getting the flu up the chimney, but that's because it was a bit of an odd layout, otherwise its quite straightforward. |
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Post by teenagefanclub on Oct 2, 2023 9:02:32 GMT
Was it an easy fix as described? Not massively, he had to cut a hole in the side of the fireplace, luckily only plasterboard, and presumably drained it somehow. Have your parents considered a log burner? Far more efficient, don't know what current legislation is environment wise on them mind, I fitted one in my old house a few years back, only difficulty was getting the flu up the chimney, but that's because it was a bit of an odd layout, otherwise its quite straightforward. Trying to convince them, but they've still got about 2 tonne of coal in the coal bunker (old pig sty). Also their chimney is a random shape as well. |
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Post by elystokie on Oct 2, 2023 9:19:24 GMT
Not massively, he had to cut a hole in the side of the fireplace, luckily only plasterboard, and presumably drained it somehow. Have your parents considered a log burner? Far more efficient, don't know what current legislation is environment wise on them mind, I fitted one in my old house a few years back, only difficulty was getting the flu up the chimney, but that's because it was a bit of an odd layout, otherwise its quite straightforward. Trying to convince them, but they've still got about 2 tonne of coal in the coal bunker (old pig sty). Also their chimney is a random shape as well. Ah, no potential to run a flu straight outside? A mate who was helping me had to take some bricks out of the chimney breast in the loft to 'free' the pipe we got stuck, I'd have been knackered without his skills, luckily he didn't mind going on the roof too, definitely not my thing 🙂 Some burners can burn coal I think. |
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Post by iancransonsknees on Oct 2, 2023 11:40:37 GMT
I'd go down the multi fuel stove route, you can burn logs or coal on them. Far loss heat lost up the chimney than a bog standard coal fire and grate.
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teflondel
Youth Player
Plumbing services
Posts: 318
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Post by teflondel on Oct 2, 2023 14:39:41 GMT
Ok if they just stopped using it and had nothing done then there should be no issue lighting a fire. The back boiler will still be full of water and it will heat the water in the cylinder as it did before.
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Post by teenagefanclub on Oct 2, 2023 16:21:11 GMT
Ok if they just stopped using it and had nothing done then there should be no issue lighting a fire. The back boiler will still be full of water and it will heat the water in the cylinder as it did before. I think it's the 15 years of non use, has it corroded etc. No way of telling. |
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teflondel
Youth Player
Plumbing services
Posts: 318
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Post by teflondel on Oct 3, 2023 6:42:01 GMT
Ok if they just stopped using it and had nothing done then there should be no issue lighting a fire. The back boiler will still be full of water and it will heat the water in the cylinder as it did before. I think it's the 15 years of non use, has it corroded etc. No way of telling. The back boiler itself will be made of copper sat behind a cast iron plate so being unused won’t make any difference. |
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Post by danceswithclams on Oct 3, 2023 6:46:47 GMT
their chimney is a random shape Saw Their Chimney Is A Random Shape supporting World of Twist in the early 90s. Great band. |
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Post by teenagefanclub on Oct 3, 2023 7:07:56 GMT
I think it's the 15 years of non use, has it corroded etc. No way of telling. The back boiler itself will be made of copper sat behind a cast iron plate so being unused won’t make any difference. Is there anyway of testing the system, with a small fire (so it only produces a small amount of heat maybe) |
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Post by lordb on Oct 3, 2023 7:14:38 GMT
their chimney is a random shape Saw Their Chimney Is A Random Shape supporting World of Twist in the early 90s. Great band. Booooooooooo |
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teflondel
Youth Player
Plumbing services
Posts: 318
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Post by teflondel on Oct 3, 2023 18:05:32 GMT
The back boiler itself will be made of copper sat behind a cast iron plate so being unused won’t make any difference. Is there anyway of testing the system, with a small fire (so it only produces a small amount of heat maybe) Yes try with just a wood/ log fire as burn faster and cooler than a coal one After about 30min feel the pipes leading to the cylinder if they are getting warm they are full of water and back boiler working as it should |
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