Commercial flueing

[diamondgas]

Hi folks,

I'm new to the commercial stuff so forgive me if i question the dodgy stuff!!! LOL

I was asked to investigate a flueing issue regarding dripping water! I came across the image you are about to see, I hope! ( had limited joy with uploading images with success)



I'm hoping the image will expand and you'll see where I've pin pointed the clients issues

The three boilers attached to the header are Quinta 85's. The header goes into a conventional (Brick?) chimney (no idea of it's size) There's a condensate pipe exiting the chimney

And a condensate at the end of the headier. Main problem is that condensate is dripping through the flue joints. Corrosion is evident at nearly all of the flue joints and I have an iky feeling something isn't right but no experience in commercial flue installation to know whether that's right!

There are no POC's by-the-way! Just condensate fluid!!!

I've found the biggest heal possible and kicked it back to the installers ... however I'd appreciate your view, if you are an experienced commercial engineer, to give me more experience when tackling this kind of issue

Many thanks, Steve

 

[SimonJohns]

Billybob150811 :: I kmow what you mean and i have distanced myself 'responsibility' wise However for my own personal experiece i really would like to know if it is 'normal' to accept condenste fluid to 'drip' from the flue?

No it's never.

This is a f to copper after 8 months

I haven't got any pics of erosion of cement or like materials. I will get some soon and post them up

I've come across a leaking roof before. The condensate had eaten through the slates and ended up comin in building

Nasty stuff

 

[billybob150811]

i will add i,ve put together quite a few of these single skin s/steel flues the gasked is ordered seperatly from the locking band and i have had sites were buyers havent ordered the gas tight gaskets and if you dont tell them their wrong they will let you carry on in ignorance knowing you carry the can

 

[diamondgas]

no i dont have enough exp of enough different firms and i think we let ourselves be out flanked by "experts" but i would stick to my guns on this and be resolute in sticking with no

You comercial matey?

 

[diamondgas]

Simon In your time in the commercial experience .. is it normal to see condensate fluid drip from flue joints? I'm not asking you to be Mr GSR by the way ..lol .. just personal experience

 

[billybob150811]

not really i won a comp in gas installer and it was a buderus com conversion i,m not going to renew it because i dont make enough out of it so i,m glad simonjohns said no to any leaks as he has a lot more exp in this area

 

[SimonJohns]

Simon In your time in the commercial experience .. is it normal to see condensate fluid drip from flue joints? I'm not asking you to be Mr GSR by the way ..lol .. just personal experience

I have had it alot. Just reccomened that it gets repaired ASAP. Get my photos out of previous jobs and say its easily fixed.

Never had a custard say no as yet.

But in the case of this I would call in a flue company to give you a quote. It doesn't seem to be of correct spec and to me the bends seem wrong. Not in fluing standards but the construction for condensing boilers

The use of copper makes me wonder and the lack of traps is also another alarm bell

In the com world. We dont really do flues. 90% of the time it is subbed

 

[diamondgas]

I have had it alot. Just reccomened that it gets repaired ASAP. Get my photos out of previous jobs and say its easily fixed.

Never had a custard say no as yet.

But in the case of this I would call in a flue company to give you a quote. It doesn't seem to be of correct spec and to me the bends seem wrong. Not in fluing standards but the construction for condensing boilers

The use of copper makes me wonder and the lack of traps is also another alarm bell

In the com world. We dont really do flues. 90% of the time it is subbed

Totally respect that Simon, I'm aware that flueing is sub'ied"! ... With my limited understanding (comercially) i still don't expect corosion to take place as a norm around any flue joints!! However I have concerns regards comercial installs when i see folk install condensing boilers on conventional flues ... seems a contradiction, personally >) :lol:

 

[SimonJohns]

Totally respect that Simon, I'm aware that flueing is sub'ied"! ... With my limited understanding (comercially) i still don't expect corosion to take place as a norm around any flue joints!! However I have concerns regards comercial installs when i see folk install condensing boilers on conventional flues ... seems a contradiction, personally >) :lol:

It should be lined and tbh. I haven't come across this yet.

But it classed as fd so it not really a conventional flue

 

[diamondgas]

It should be lined and tbh. I haven't come across this yet.

But it classed as fd so it not really a conventional flue

omething old --- something new!

I went through this transition, and strill experience it with conventional heating design ... However does comerciail flueing going through the same transition? The difficulty in realising the difference between conventional and condensin flues?

 

[SimonJohns]

omething old --- something new!

I went through this transition, and strill experience it with conventional heating design ... However does comerciail flueing going through the same transition? The difficulty in realising the difference between conventional and condensin flues?

you will usually find if its wrong it will destroy itself within 6months to a year

far short of that i cant really describe the differences, all depenedant on situation and how installed

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

you will usually find if its wrong it will destroy itself within 6months to a year quote Simon johns

sounds like your problem here Steve

 

[diamondgas]

I agree Mark The installation can only be a couple of years old tops! The amount of condensation in the header will be phenominal I'd imagine. Its a pitty the flue manufactureres don't get to see how poorly their products cope with condensate?? I'm assuming that they are purpose made for condensing boilers, I may be wrong and the material used is inappropriate?

Will be refering the job back to the client to have a flueing expert out ASAP Thanks for the advice folks