Back Boiler Education

[DIYpedro]

Hi everyone. I'm a complete newbie and this is only my second thread.

I have been working on a property. I certainly know what I want things to look like or what I want done but I soon realised that I need good tradesmen and specialists in to do all the different aspects of the work.

I have found of course that some are better than others.

A number of years ago, I had a new grant boiler installed.
The previous system did have a back boiler. I wanted to keep the fire and fireplace at the time so didn't have it completely removed at the time.

Since then I've read a lot more about the dangers and risks with back boilers still in place and want to make sure I do have everything right.
At the time back then, I did not quite understand how all these things work (and to be honest I'm not sure I still do now).

In the absence of the original installer, how can I be sure the back boiler has been safely decommissioned?
I have assumed (based on the up to date guidance) that it would be not really be safe to use the fire until I have clarity.
The more read I'm not sure that it's ever really safe to use the fire now.

And also what's your thoughts on what I should really be doing with it?
Is it ok as is if all the necessary precautions have been taken?

Or is the value of the house much improved with it completely taken away?
Would this be a stumbling block to a future buyer?

 

[accelerator]

Would this be a stumbling block to a future buyer?

I doubt it, because they could sort it out themselves fairly easily (relative to the cost of a house).

 

[gas112]

so it was done a number of years ago , have you never had the remaining fire serviced since then .?

 

[DIYpedro]

so it was done a number of years ago , have you never had the remaining fire serviced since then .?

No. Should I?
Haven't been using it but this is a good point.
I've had the boiler serviced but didn't think about the fire.

 

[JimCrow]

I take it this is an old solid fuel back boiler you have, if it is just drill two ¼" holes through the front of the water jacket to make it safe, this might have been done already.

 

[gas112]

I take it this is an old solid fuel back boiler you have, if it is just drill two ¼" holes through the front of the water jacket to make it safe, this might have been done already.

nope from description its a gas back boiler

 

[DIYpedro]

No it was an oil system it was connected to before I updated

 

[DIYpedro]

I take it this is an old solid fuel back boiler you have, if it is just drill two ¼" holes through the front of the water jacket to make it safe, this might have been done already.

No this hasn't been done but it wasn't mentioned to me at the time. I hadn't a clue what I was doing or what it was all about so didn't want to do it myself.

 

[JimCrow]

Post a pic of your back boiler.

 

[DIYpedro]

Post a pic of your back boiler.

I've never seen it myself it's still enclosed behind the fire and fireplace. How do I get a pic of it?