Flue fallen off bracket in ceiling void

[ceecjc1]

Hello experts,

I have two flues in the ceiling void of my flat. One is the intake and one the exhaust.

One of the brackets holding the air intake to the concrete above the ceiling void has fallen off resulting in the intake flue resting on the plasterboard for a couple of feet before going down into the boiler.

The thing is - there's no play on the flue at all, so you can't push it back up and reconnect to the ceiling. Is it possible that they installed the flue this way during boiler installation?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Agile]

How did you become aware of this?

It does sound as if they fitted it that way!

Regardless, flues are potentially dangerous and the advice would always be to get a registered engineer who is familiar with your Keston or Powermax boiler.

There are new regulations about flues in voids! Some boiolers will need to be turned off if insppection hatches have not been fitted by 2013.

Tony

 

[Agile]

How did you become aware of this?

It does sound as if they fitted it that way!

Regardless, flues are potentially dangerous and the advice would always be to get a registered engineer who is familiar with your Keston or Powermax boiler.

There are new regulations about flues in voids! Some boilers will need to be turned off if insppection hatches have not been fitted by 2013.

Tony

 

[ceecjc1]

Hi Tony,

Thanks for the response.

How did you become aware of this?

I had a specialist in this morning to install inspection hatches in the ceiling and it was they who discovered the flue problem. I admittedly didn't try to push the flue very hard in case I broke it but it felt proper solid. I'm not doing anything else with it until the gas-safe guy comes to examine it.

It does sound as if they fitted it that way!

I was hoping if it's been fitted not up to standard that the NHBC warranty might kick in. The flat is only eight years old.

There are new regulations about flues in voids! Some boilers will need to be turned off if insppection hatches have not been fitted by 2013.

This is why I was getting the hatches installed. My wallet runs and hides whenever anyone comes to see my Powermax

Thanks
Chris

 

[ceecjc1]

Tony, are you gas-safe? The reason I ask is because the exhaust flue from the boiler is lagged with about an inch of insulation along its length. I wasn't expecting to see this, is it normal?

I don't see how an engineer can be expected to inspect the flue when it's wrapped in a blanket.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Sounds like you have a very long flue and they lagged it to prevent condensing in the flue.

Can't say I have seen it first hand though.

 

[Agile]

Tony, are you gas-safe? The reason I ask is because the exhaust flue from the boiler is lagged with about an inch of insulation along its length. I wasn't expecting to see this, is it normal?

I don't see how an engineer can be expected to inspect the flue when it's wrapped in a blanket.

Yes, of course! I should not be giving advice on boilers without an understanding of what a DIYer could and should not be doing to a boiler.

Its unusual to lag them but probably for the reason Dan suggests.

Tony

 

[ceecjc1]

Thanks guys. The flue is over five meters long so this sounds like it might be the reason.

Cheers guys, appreciate the help!

Chris

 

[mickyg]

if its lagged then maybe its a SE boiler, maybe one of them tiny things what the name escapes me.......hmmm it will come. I should remember I at risked a dozen or so in Chelmsford for similar problems.

 

[mickyg]

ah its just come to me. Maxol Microturbo. Is it one of them?

 

[Dan Robinson]

Yuk... wash your mouth out

 

[David937]

ah its just come to me. Maxol Microturbo. Is it one of them?

It's a Powermax

 

[mickyg]

ah its just come to me. Maxol Microturbo. Is it one of them?

It's a Powermax

I was wondering how you knew, then i just re-read the thread
Well thats also SE so makes sense with the lagging.

 

[ceecjc1]

Yeah it's a Powermax. I'm planning to move house to get away from the thing. Nah it's not that bad.

Tony - would you class a boiler as unsafe if one of the brackets holding the "in" flue wasn't correctly supported from the concrete ceiling? The rest of the flue is fine and the whole thing is rock solid. As I said, it looks like it was installed that way.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Dan Robinson]

Would be responsible to say anything other than to recommend an RGI see it first hand. Flues should be supported throughout their length.