servicing flued convector fire/ newbie Q

[sterry_12]

Hi lads, jus doing my gas portfolio (not yet qualified) been servicing fires and BBU wit a mate but i've never serviced a flued convector. would you take the fire off the wall, or do you jus strip it down an clean the burner etc? no smoke bomb required i guess? smoke test once fire is back together as normal. any help would be great! cheers.

 

[sterry_12]

anyone?

 

[keltoyboy]

hi sterry.... i'd take it out and check everything.....you'd be amazed what you will find behind these things.... never walk away in doubt....and you sound in doubt as to what to do with this....no disaster for overdoing a job....

 

[sterry_12]

ok so take it off the wall, would i use a smoke bomb? i am not actually servicing the fire jus asking HOW to service it as i've only serviced BBU with a chimney. Once off will the fire be hard to line back up with the flue?

 

[Mike Jackson]

hi sterry.... i'd take it out and check everything.....you'd be amazed what you will find behind these things.... never walk away in doubt....and you sound in doubt as to what to do with this....no disaster for overdoing a job....

I'm assuming the OP means a balanced flue gas wall heater. Personally I'd check the flame picture, gas rate it and use the analyser to check the combustion. I'd only strip and service if the gas rate or combustion was out because there's a good chance of damaging the seals when you take it apart.

 

[sterry_12]

nice 1 cheers mike. as im learning for my gas exam, is this by the book? struggling to find a service routine for these fires. im guessing you wudn't use a smoke bomb either, jus a smoke match?

 

[Mike Jackson]

For the exams you should be following the manufacturers instructions or the instruction sheets given to you by the assessment centre. To check for leaks on the casing I'd be using the analyser again.

 

[keltoyboy]

ok so take it off the wall, would i use a smoke bomb? i am not actually servicing the fire jus asking HOW to service it as i've only serviced BBU with a chimney. Once off will the fire be hard to line back up with the flue?

smoke bomb?? some of these can be hard to do as they are under positive pressure.... fitted a new one recently and the pressure of the wind blowing in the flue made it impossible to do a smoke test......as smoke would have been all over the house....as for refitting the flue some are easier than others,depends on the fitter and the quality of the flue kit!!!

 

[sterry_12]

cheers lads, have no experience with these fires so jus wanted to know incase i don do one before the exam!