Can boiler flue exit flat below height of boiler?

[Garnett13]

We are hoping to move our combi-boiler from where it is now low down on an external wall, to higher up on the adjacent wall.

Currently the flue comes out the top of the boiler and straight out through a hole in the external wall directly above the boiler.

Our builder suggested that when he moves the boiler he can use an airbrick which is on the same external wall a few feet above the vent.

The landlord's surveyor has raised concerns about this (along with concerns about just about everything) saying that building control will need to be involved because converting the air brick might mean we need to fit another air brick.

Is there any reason why we can't just extend the flue so that it comes out the top of the boiler and then turns down and exits through the existing vent? The existing vent is lower than where we want to put the boiler.

Thanks for any help.

 

[muggles]

Your builder sounds like he doesn't know what he's doing, is he gas safe registered?

You've not said what boiler you have but generally speaking a flue needs to have a continual fall back to the boiler

 

[Garnett13]

Thanks Muggles.

So the builder was proposing something very much like what exists now: the flue exiting above the boiler.

"Generally speaking a flue needs to have a continual fall back to the boiler"

I presume this means the flue can never dip down and must exit the boiler and continue upward all the way to the exit from the property, right?

I wanted to know if that was necessary because being able to use a lower vent would make the solution a lot easier.

 

[rjm2k]

The landlord's surveyor has raised concerns about this (along with concerns about just about everything) saying that building control will need to be involved because converting the air brick might mean we need to fit another air brick.

your landlords surveyor hasn't raised concerns about a non qualified person moving a boiler though?! :-O

you are doing building work on a rented property? or a leasehold?

 

[Garnett13]

Gah!

Been trying to find more info, and struggling with what terms to use.

ANyway, found this thread:-

//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=201696&start=0

...which seems to answer my question.

Back to the drawing board!

 

[Garnett13]

rjm2k, thanks for all your help.

 

[rjm2k]

rjm2k, thanks for all your help.

If you don't think raising concerns about a non qualified person doing work they are not legally allowed to do, possibly resulting in the DEATH of you or your loved ones is helpful, I don't know what would be!

 

[muggles]

Indeed, I ask again - is your builder qualified to do the proposed work?

 

[rjm2k]

Indeed, I ask again - is your builder qualified to do the proposed work?

based on the OPs response to safety issues I suspect that there is no builder and that they are planning to do the work themselves or at least on the very cheap, probably without the landlords permission but thought the most pressing issue was whether or not a single airbrick is sufficient for the flue!

I still don't get the doing building work on a property with a landlord (unless it's leasehold and the landlord is the freeholder)

 

[Garnett13]

RJM2K is wrong. Builder is qualified. Don't ever go into detective work, will you, RJM2K.

Property is owned on a long lease (though how this assists with my question about flue set up is anyone's guess.

RJM2K, here's a link. Read the article and all the links therein. You're welcome!

 

[rjm2k]

Builder is qualified.

Good to know, you should be safe then.

RJM2K, here's a link. Read the article and all the links therein. You're welcome!

You seem to have missed the point that perhaps if more unqualified people were to work on gas installations, such deaths would be more common and therefore on that list. Maybe that's why only qualified people are supposed to carry out such work?

Here's a link for you

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/carbon-monoxide-poisoning-sends-4-000-people-to-a-e-each-year

Even with the controls in place, 4000 people go to A&E each year with carbon monoxide poisoning, 200 hospitalised and 50 dead, all OK unless you are one of those affected/their family/friends.

 

[Garnett13]

You seem to have missed the point that perhaps if more unqualified people were to work on gas installations, such deaths would be more common and therefore on that list. Maybe that's why only qualified people are supposed to carry out such work?

f you don't think raising concerns about things possibly resulting in the DEATH of you or your loved ones is helpful (even if they are slightly irrelevant to the question in hand), I don't know what would be!



Anyway, thanks for your concern. I guess it's easy for a layperson like me to come in and get frustrated at not being able to get answers while the professionals answering have seen it all before, and know the risks and dangers out there.