Glowworm 45/60

[dave1]

Has anyone any experience of these. It's an OF boiler, I was after the manual if anyone has a copy? Long shot I know. I rang glowworm earlier for one and their reply was "oh gosh"!

More to the point I've AR'd the boiler due to the flue, the current set up is, it comes off the boiler in rigid flue then as it goes into the loft converts to flue liner wrapped in insulation and wire mesh. I was concerned at this set up so AR'd it until I could find more info.
No signs of spilling or distress.

 

[tamz]

Its been a while since i've saw one done like that. The insulation and mesh is to prevent cooling of the flue products and condensation forming. Wouldn't be allowed now.
Even if you find the MI's there will be nothing much in them about flueing. It will refer you to BS 5440 of the time.

 

[dave1]

Its been a while since i've saw one done like that. The insulation and mesh is to prevent cooling of the flue products and condensation forming. Wouldn't be allowed now.
Even if you find the MI's there will be nothing much in them about flueing. It will refer you to BS 5440 of the time.

I found a man that has actually seen one... What do you think to it being connected to a rigid flue, which I'm guessing has been used to replace an asbestos flue.

When you say wouldn't be allowed now what do you mean?

Also I believe these have an asbestos rope seal? So how would you go about stripping it down to service?

 

[tamz]

Seen more than one and fitted a few too.
Probably been fitted like that from new. Twin wall up into the loft, converted to copex then onto a ridge terminal. Copex wrapped in rockwool and wire meshed to hold it on. Quite common in the 70's.
Would be NCS but i'm sure you could find another couple of faults (support, clearances etc) to AR it. Better to replace it with IL if they will go for it.

Basic boiler to service, lift out the burner and clean it (better washing it) clean the injector, lint arrestor, pilot jet and adjust if necessary, clean the heat exchanger with a flue brush, check the insulation panels etc etc. Basic stuff.
The boilers had asbestos rope seals around the combustion box and on the top inspection panel iirc. These can be replaced with glass fibre rope and the existing ropes disposed of properly.
The boiler itself may not be the most efficient thins but they will run until the rse falls out them.

 

[dave1]

Seen more than one and fitted a few too.
Probably been fitted like that from new. Twin wall up into the loft, converted to copex then onto a ridge terminal. Copex wrapped in rockwool and wire meshed to hold it on. Quite common in the 70's.
Would be NCS but i'm sure you could find another couple of faults (support, clearances etc) to AR it. Better to replace it with IL if they will go for it.

Basic boiler to service, lift out the burner and clean it (better washing it) clean the injector, lint arrestor, pilot jet and adjust if necessary, clean the heat exchanger with a flue brush, check the insulation panels etc etc. Basic stuff.
The boilers had asbestos rope seals around the combustion box and on the top inspection panel iirc. These can be replaced with glass fibre rope and the existing ropes disposed of properly.
The boiler itself may not be the most efficient thins but they will run until the rse falls out them.

That's what I was hoping you say about the flue, I wasn't 100% sure if it was right. But good to know its ok. I'm going back tomo so will give it a thorough going over. If I get the chance ill be getting rid of it.
Still love it when I see an old appliance like this still going strong, a lot of these new boilers don't last 5 minutes. And they call it technology advancement ay!

Oh one more question if you don't mind, what is the correct way of joining the twin wall to copex?

 

[tamz]

With a copex adaptor.

Page 4 bottom right of here
[DLMURL]http://www.selkirkchimney.co.uk/documents/products/catalogue-insta-lock.pdf[/DLMURL]

The joint will probably be packed with asbestos rope and topped off with fire cement.
If they have used the connector of the type above that one on page 4, the flue is fitted the wrong way around. It is (was) quite common to find this as you needed a boiler starter (page 4 bottom left) to come off the boiler because IL doesn't fit in the flue hood the right way up.

 

[dave1]

With a copex adaptor.

Page 4 bottom right of here
[DLMURL]http://www.selkirkchimney.co.uk/documents/products/catalogue-insta-lock.pdf[/DLMURL]

The joint will probably be packed with asbestos rope and topped off with fire cement.
If they have used the connector of the type above that one on page 4, the flue is fitted the wrong way around. It is (was) quite common to find this as you needed a boiler starter (page 4 bottom left) to come off the boiler because IL doesn't fit in the flue hood the right way up.

Thanks Tamz. You've been a great help.

 

[dave1]

Thought I'd upload these incandescent anyone was interested.

 

[dave1]

In case not incandescent lol

 

[tamz]

It has been fitted like that since the original install in the late 70's
A few NCS's so AR but if it was working ok with no signs of spillage i wouldn't loose any sleep if they turned it back on.
If you talked them into bringing it up to stds it would be easy enough to do. 2 x 3ft lengths, slatepiece, storm collar and cowl and take it straight through the roof where it comes through the ceiling. Oh and a CO detector too.
Looks like an older persons house too so the boiler will probably last longer than they will.

 

[GrahamM]

Still a few they old GlowWorms round my way and will probably still be around when I'm gone, if the owner can afford the gas to run it.
The flue is a bit scarey looking but if is well supported and all smokes are good I would be inclined to NCS's it.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

Still a few they old GlowWorms round my way and will probably still be around when I'm gone, if the owner can afford the gas to run it.
The flue is a bit scarey looking but if is well supported and all smokes are good I would be inclined to NCS's it.

i would tend to agree

 

[dave1]

Well you won't be pleased to know I shut it down. It will be getting a new boiler installed. The council I work for are trying to get rid of all OF boilers anyway. When I put my smoke bomb in I had smoke coming out from the asbestos seal at the top around the heat ex. Tbh I wasn't going to start messing with that.
Have to agree though not much to them tho is there.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

Well you won't be pleased to know I shut it down. It will be getting a new boiler installed. The council I work for are trying to get rid of all OF boilers anyway. When I put my smoke bomb in I had smoke coming out from the asbestos seal at the top around the heat ex. Tbh I wasn't going to start messing with that.
Have to agree though not much to them tho is there.

not a bad thing to get rid of a of boiler,new one will be cheaper to run but far more expensive maintenance wise

 

[GrahamM]

not a bad thing to get rid of a of boiler,new one will be cheaper to run but far more expensive maintenance wise

Tell me about it!
Miss my Mark 1 fiesta that I could strip to bits in my driveway. The Focus ST is starting to give me major financial headaches.:sad:
Sometimes newer is not any better!

 

[tamz]

The council I work for are trying to get rid of all OF boilers anyway.

You never said you worked for the council.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

You never said you worked for the council.

would have made replies much shorter

 

[dave1]

would have made replies much shorter

Well for a contractor, not actually for the council lol.

 

[Reg Man]

Amazing what was seen as acceptable for some way back then. Flue liner for lining chimney's? well at least its worked all these years without callamity.

 

[tamz]

It was never really acceptable Steve, but at the time we just did to the best of our knowledge and ability (and did what we were told).
Years before gas was thought of, people figured out the best ways to run flues (chimneys) but it was easy to see when you got it wrong then. There are some basic principles of how a flue works and these never change although they have had to be adapted on the side of caution for gas as the products are relatively unseen.
I can see where the old heads came from in their thinking.
Won't be long before guys our age are seen as the dinosaurs :smile:

 

[Reg Man]

It was never really acceptable Steve, but at the time we just did to the best of our knowledge and ability (and did what we were told).
Years before gas was thought of, people figured out the best ways to run flues (chimneys) but it was easy to see when you got it wrong then. There are some basic principles of how a flue works and these never change although they have had to be adapted on the side of caution for gas as the products are relatively unseen.
I can see where the old heads came from in their thinking.
Won't be long before guys our age are seen as the dinosaurs :smile:

Spot on, cringe at some things that went on. no change there.