Baxi Burnall - Removal

[Millwright]

Hello.

I have a Baxi Burnall in my living room. I'm going to remove it and modernise the living room a bit.

The heat exchanger flow and return pipes were cut back years ago in the side cavity of the chimney, all that's left are some brass fittings. The underfloor vent/grid has been covered in concrete, so I couldn't use it anyway, plus being aware of the risks of heating a back boiler I'd go nowhere near it.

What advice could someone give me for the removal of one of these?

Thanks.

 

[Millwright]

Most of the brick mantle/surround is off.

I've confirmed the breast is held by a concrete lintel.

 

[Millwright]

This is what we're left with after removing the brick mantle

 

[jeff the gasman]

Remove the bricks either side of it up to the lintel. That’s the original builders opening.
They come out easier than you think

 

[Millwright]

Thanks. Will carry on with it today and see how far I get.

 

[FiremanT]

What is your intended final result?

 

[Millwright]

What is your intended final result?

To open the fireplace into an open fire, but just as a visual feature. I have no intention to use a fire.

Basically if it looks like a brick opening, it has to be better than it was before. It looked dreadful and dirty.

 

[Millwright]

Just having a cup of tea, this has taken three hours so far today. It's all out. I just need to tidy the opening and decide on what's next.

Such as do I square it up as it is, or do I open it up to the vertical mortar lines either side of where the coal fire was.

 

[Terrywookfit]

What are you fitting in the opening ?

I could have removed the lot and bricked it back up in 3 hrs.

 

[Millwright]

What are you fitting in the opening ?

Nothing.

I could have removed the lot and bricked it back up in 3 hrs.

I'm leaving it open, not bricking it up

 

[OwainDIYer]

tickle the mortar out with an SDS hammer drill and chisel.

 

[Terrywookfit]

Remove the infill brickwork up to the lintel and leave the builders opening as suggested.

Should take 30 mins max with a lump hammer and chisel !!

 

[Millwright]

I stopped at this today as I had a lot of clearing up to do and needed to make sure the beer was in the fridge.

So that's the air box below. I pulled up a deep metal casting which I assume had a grate on the top. The grate looked to have a covering of concrete on it, it weighed about 30kg or so so I assume it was filled completely with concrete by someone who wanted to fill it to stop the draughts.

 

[FiremanT]

The deep metal casing was the ash pan. It will have a dcut to outside for combustion air. If there was a gas fire fitted, it is a requirement to seal off the draught.

 

[jeff the gasman]

You’re still not at the builders opening which will look a nice feature with a little work.