Baxi Solo 3 PFL 60 plume smells of unburnt gas

[Flip]

Hi there Plumbers Forum,

I have a problem with a Baxi Solo 3 PFL 60 and am looking for any helpful advice…

The boiler is 15 years old and, according to most, will happily go on another 15. The flue exits in to the side-return area between 2 terraced houses. BUT it now puts out a puff of unburnt gas every time it ignites, and we have new neighbours who are complaining that the gas goes in their bedroom window, only a couple of metres away, and makes them feel ill (the boiler doesn’t run at night but they work odd shifts…)

We’ve had it thoroughly serviced, and the engineer installed a horizontal plate above the flue exit, but this hasn’t helped. He suggests a replacement gas valve might help, but this is an expensive ‘might’, whilst another engineer has said this is normal for these boilers as they age and there’s not a lot you can do about it.

Apparently a flue extension would only have been possible at the time the boiler was installed…

Is there any reason I can’t put a deflector plate directly across the flue, 30 or 40 cm away? I would think this would break the direction of the plume and stop it heading straight in to the neighbour’s window. Or could I construct a stainless steel ‘chimney’ over the whole thing to force the gases up/down? Or do you think the replacement gas valve would work?

Any other suggestions gratefully received!

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Any pics of the flue system

Also I can’t see how it’s going to be that much gas coming out the flue to cause an issue due to safety features etc

 

[garygvl]

they've always stunk out of the flue when they get older

 

[Sharp Point]

I’ve even noticed new boilers giving off a gas whiff a little

 

[CHRISX]

Hi there Plumbers Forum,

I have a problem with a Baxi Solo 3 PFL 60 and am looking for any helpful advice…

The boiler is 15 years old and, according to most, will happily go on another 15. The flue exits in to the side-return area between 2 terraced houses. BUT it now puts out a puff of unburnt gas every time it ignites, and we have new neighbours who are complaining that the gas goes in their bedroom window, only a couple of metres away, and makes them feel ill (the boiler doesn’t run at night but they work odd shifts…)

We’ve had it thoroughly serviced, and the engineer installed a horizontal plate above the flue exit, but this hasn’t helped. He suggests a replacement gas valve might help, but this is an expensive ‘might’, whilst another engineer has said this is normal for these boilers as they age and there’s not a lot you can do about it.

Apparently a flue extension would only have been possible at the time the boiler was installed…

Is there any reason I can’t put a deflector plate directly across the flue, 30 or 40 cm away? I would think this would break the direction of the plume and stop it heading straight in to the neighbour’s window. Or could I construct a stainless steel ‘chimney’ over the whole thing to force the gases up/down? Or do you think the replacement gas valve would work?

Any other suggestions gratefully received!

Hello Flip,

From your description it seems obvious that the Gas Control Valve is letting too much Gas out before it is ignited.

However enough Gas to be actually smelled externally / inside another property [!] being expelled from the Flue I find worrying.

Imagine that the Gas Valve for some reason is letting out Gas to the Main Burner for just a couple of seconds before it is ignited and that unburnt Gas is ejected from the Boiler Flue for also only a couple of seconds - unless people are adjacent to the Flue how could that very small amount of Gas be smelled ?

The information that this unburnt Gas actually drifts a couple of Metres away and into another property`s window where the occupiers can smell it seems impossible unless there is much more than a very small amount of Gas being let out by the Gas Valve.

And if that is the case [a large amount of unburnt Gas exiting the Boiler Flue] why is there not an `Explosive Ignition` big enough to destroy the Boiler Heat Exchanger / Boiler Case when ignition does occur ?

A large amount of Gas being ignited within the Boiler would definitely cause damage because the volume of exploding Gas cannot escape through the Flue before it pressurises the Combustion Chamber / Boiler Casing.

It might be worth telephoning the Baxi Technical Helpline just to see their reaction.

However with almost every Boiler Manufacturer they may refuse to comment apart from advising You to engage a Gas Safe registered Engineer to look into this.

I would tell them that You have done this and have been advised by the Gas Engineer that the Gas Control Valve needs to be changed but you are just looking for another `Expert Opinion` from Baxi Technical.

Good Luck in sorting this out.

Chris

 

[Flip]

Many thanks for your replies so far. I did try phoning Baxi and they won't talk to me. Here's a couple of piccies (not very bright 'cos it was raining this morning!). The first shows the outlet with its 'deflector' over the top. The second shows the outlet in the lower left with the neighbour's window in the upper right. If I hold my hand up when the boiler is on, I can feel the plume rising and it clears the top of the small fence on the dividing wall, so presumably keeps on rising up to their window.
I feel that if I could block the plume it wouldn't rise directly towards their window and allow the gas to disperse... Possibly just a higher fence panel in that position might work...?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

tbh i dont think you will win

and when your changing your boiler your going to have problems with the flue position