Chimney failed Flue Inspection - Tenant Damage

[dilalio]

And one that has some coloured smoke pellets - grey is no good against a cloudy sky

 

[dilalio]

Of course... you will then be accused by the neighbours of witchcraft and be burnt at the stake

 

[Doggit]

Naw, they'll try and toast him over the gas fire, and as it doesn't work, they'll give up and go home.

 

[ianmcd]

Rather less than some recent electronic devices or tumble driers

You seemed to have focused on the last resort than sorting the root.
If smoke goes IN the chimney, it will come out. Somewhere. The flue could be damaged in the loft,filling the loft with smoke (and fumes when fire on, and poor flue pull). More likely the wind was blowing the smoke in a position not visible to him. I have in the past done several smokes, while repositioning myself in the front/side/rear garden. Over the road, and standing on walls. Did any smoke enter the room in which the fire is located. ?
Most fire jobs are straightforward, it is the awkward ones that seperate the experienced, and the thinking, from the clowns

First, get an RGI that is registered AND experienced with gas fires. Explain what happened and ask for him to retest and give his opinion

I am registered for gas fires and I am the first to admit I would be the last person to call to work on them,cant see how if the TV bracket bolts entered a standard Chimney how it would affect the pull in any way, piercing a liner? cant see it to be honest but stranger things have happened, as already said just voicing my opinion , I would go with FiremanT he is the authority on fires on here

 

[gas112]

wouldnt surprise me if the guy doesnt even have fires on his ticket .
OP do not pay the bill guy sounds like a chancer

 

[SirGalahad]

wouldnt surprise me if the guy doesnt even have fires on his ticket .
OP do not pay the bill guy sounds like a chancer

I have already paid him, part of the annual boiler contract, will call company today and ask for recheck. If they dont do a retest then will pay for another gas safe guy to come out. I think im inclined to think that this guy hasn't got an idea what he is upto.

I might leave this company - been with them 5 yrs never had to call them out - only for gas safe certs.

 

[Nige F]

Get the gas fire removed by a Gas Safe person - fit an electric fire - a lot safer

 

[SirGalahad]

I would guess the guy did not know how to interpret the test, or have any experience of fires and chimneys.
He says he is not sure if all the smoke came out? Where the heck did it go, then. Did he check in the roofspace?.
If the "pull" was sluggish, did he preheat the chimney?If there is a problem, it is more likely to be with, say, a cobweb (seriously!) or birds nest material than a handful of bolts. I could go on, but you get the idea.

Also, before I started chopping bricks out to investigate a bolt, would it not be simpler just to remove the bolts, and use a prodding device to see if the chimney is breached?

Also, the TYPE of chimney is significant. If the tenant does not use the fire, then why not remove it, and save some annual fees?

So I finally got hold of the tenant and the guy did the following.

He turned on the heater and did a smoke test. Said not sure if the smoke was all going up the chimney, asked the tenant to check around the back of the tv where the bracket was to see if there was any smoke coming out. The engineer did not leave the building or check anywhere else.

It seems the pull was not great mainly due to the fact the fire hasn't been on in a while and he did not pre-heat the fire, just turned it on.

 

[Madrab]

Honestly, as far as being a landlord is concerned, leave the gas fire capped or remove it. It will always be a lot more hassle than it's worth, inefficient and they can be an easy source of potential CO problems and draughts.
Every engineer can have a different opinion on them and their flues when performing tests but as someone that does a lot of landlord checks and come across some real dangerous installs, I always recommend a landlords decorative or LFE gas fire is capped or removed where their is adequate central heating in place.

Tis a lot less bovver than a hovver

 

[gas112]

simple he has not got a clue if he stayed in house .
Nothing up with a properly fitted and maintained open flued appliance but clearly by clown attending this fire this is were the dangers can arise

 

[ianmcd]

never heard so much shoite, use an engineer that knows what he is doing

 

[FiremanT]

As above. Nothing else to say, really. Except - did you pay a great deal?

 

[Doggit]

Exactly, ask for a refund. Then you can decide if you want to leave it disconnected.

EDIT: Sorry, should have read

Exactly, ask for a refund, get it done again, and then you can decide if you want to leave it disconnected.

 

[dilalio]

 

[ianmcd]

OP @FiremanT is respected and used as a benchmark on fires he gives the best advice and the rest of us professionals go to him when we dont know so you would be well advised to take his advice