Decomission back boiler , keep fire front

[E4gas]

Customer wants a new combi boiler ( conversion ) , they have back boiler at the moment ,but they want to keep fire front in use , is it ok to do this , it means leaving empty back boiler in place

 

[AWheating]

theres a tech bulletin on this.

best to speak to the manufacture for advise. If they say yes ask for it in writing to cover yourself as some manufactures have changed there minds on this issue if i remember correctly.

 

[villa_tom]

I've seen it done a few times, especially in older peoples homes. I'm sure I heard somewhere tht you have to drill holes in the heat exchanger so it can't be used again. But as AW says best call the manufacturers as they'll know for sure

 

[armourer]

As AWheating said there is a TB out about this. I remember quoting it a few months ago on a similar question we had on here.

It was something alone the lines of burner stays in, Gas capped to BBU and 10mm hole in BBU heat ex (to stop any pressure build up incase any water is left inside).

Also contact manufacturer to see if it is possible and what they recommend as they differ in advice.

 

[REDSAW]

leaving the feed and return does this tho and vents of any system water left in?.

 

[armourer]

leaving the feed and return does this tho and vents of any system water left in?.

And what if the heat ex is blocked and there is still a pocket of water in there?

Unlikely I know, but when I first heard about this reg it was after one had gone off like a bomb and demolished a house (Cornwall I think)?

 

[tamz]

There is no need to drill the heat exchanger if you disconnect the pipes and leave them open. The pipe fairy isn't going to come in and cap them.

Or you could do what i saw last year when some halfwit had piped the new boiler up keeping the back boiler in the circuit (don't even think about it)

 

[tamz]

Unlikely I know, but when I first heard about this reg it was after one had gone off like a bomb and demolished a house (Cornwall I think)?

That was a coal fire and there has been a few of them.

 

[REDSAW]

The what if-fairy dont exsist if you do the inspection right ie was it working before/

 

[Mike Jackson]

There is no need to drill the heat exchanger if you disconnect the pipes and leave them open. The pipe fairy isn't going to come in and cap them.

Or you could do what i saw last year when some halfwit had piped the new boiler up keeping the back boiler in the circuit (don't even think about it)

I went to a customer complaint a few years back where the installer had done the same on a combi conversion. The customer was complaining of hearing water running through the back boiler!

 

[Nostrum]

I always refuse, my reason for it was the pilot light on the BBU would always keep the flue warm which helps with the flue pulling. Now its gone it's quite likely the fire can spill for at least the first 5-10 mins as a 4 inch liner can be very restrictive and a lot of the time they weren't fitted very well.

I'd sooner see it outside on the lawn myself.

My 2p

I phoned Baxi about this years ago and at the time they wouldn't give me an answer in writing so I never did it. Bloke I was working for kicked off as he thought it was ok. If I remember Baxi said to cut all the controls and thermostats out so it could never be used again. Also said to make sure any holes were sealed after pipes removed etc

 

[buckley plumb]

if its a glow worm bbu i did one lasr month phoned glow worm they said its ok as long as the gas pipe to the boiler is capped off so the boiler cant be turned back on . if its baxi then you will have to call baxi

ant

 

[Leo21]

ive left loads with the bbu left in, its absolutely fine as long as its not the very old baxi 372 or 572 wich requires the bbu pilot to be lit so the front fire can operate. anyway if the bbu breaks down people still use the fires with no problem. ive had bg complain but they have no power over us so it was left as is.

 

[desperado dan]

ive left loads with the bbu left in, its absolutely fine as long as its not the very old baxi 372 or 572 wich requires the bbu pilot to be lit so the front fire can operate. anyway if the bbu breaks down people still use the fires with no problem. ive had bg complain but they have no power over us so it was left as is.

i would do exactly the same i have never had an issue.