DANGER OF THE WEEK AWARD

Bad Gas Fitter

Can you pick out the problems with this weeks winner? If you said flue coming out through the window frame you’d be correct. If you said condensate pipe work not large enough or uninsulated you’d be correct. These pictures show that this installer was more interested in giving his boiler a good view than with a safe installation. And as always, if this is the work on view what is the work inside the flat like!

1. To start with the flue should be 300mm above, below or to either side of an opening door, air brick or opening window according to most manufacturers instructions.
   Years ago the wording of regulations was not as tight as today’s blame culture. The wording on how close a flue terminal could be to an ‘openable’ window would many times be stretched by the installer. The old standby when caught out was to suck air through one’s teeth and state with GREAT conviction that ‘the window didn’t open whenever I installed the boiler……mate!’

   The wording has changed to state that the flue cannot be located withing so many centimeters of an opening in the fabric of the building. That should have stopped idiots from installing next to air bricks, doors, windows (opening or not), etc. It hasn’t in many cases like these 30 Illegal Flues found on a single site in Oldham, Gtr. Manchester, England.

2. As the boiler is condensing the outside pipe work should really have been 32mm so as not to freeze. Although some manufacturers state that outside pipe work can be insulated to keep from freezing the condensate pipe work if frozen will not allow water to drain. The backup of water will eventually lead to a sensor shutting the boiler off until the problem is repaired. The sensors work! I know about what I speak!So this installer used a small 21.5mm overflow pipe and wrapped some insulation around part of the pipe work (but not all) in order to comply. Perhaps he did wrap the entire length but didn’t secure it properly some of it blew away, was eaten by rats or stolen by kids. Who know? The fact is that NOW the pipe is laying across the ground ready to freeze at the first sign of cold weather. It would have cost more in time, effort and money to insulate the small pipe work than it would have to install 32mm in the first place.

So as always beware the installer who sticks the flue near any door, window, air brick or any other OPENING IN THE FABRIC OF THE BUILDING. Also, if you have a the boiler on site they always have a nice picture with a flue installation guide and measurements under the installation section. We’ve had a few clients ask us in the past about flue regulations and we are always happy to show them the literature, building regulations and anything else required to satisfy their needs.

If your installer is obtuse, short or just won’t talk with you about technical issues that you feel strongly about it may mean that he doesn’t know himself (perhaps not really CORGI Registered) or the installer is just not your cup of tea. Fire them! Call someone else. Can’t find a qualified installer? Call CORGI on 0800 915 0485 or click this link to their website to find someone local who is qualified.

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