Gas fire failed its smoke test. Who to call?

[Ltnman]

I live in a house built in 1990 that has a class 2 chimney that vents via a ridge tile and ducting via the loft. In 2007 the gas fire was changed to a Baxi open flame but since that date the fire has only been used for maybe 2 hours per year after the initial enthusiasm, as the fire is more for decoration than providing heat.

As we are looking to sell the house we had a safety check carried out. The fire failed a match smoke test, as only some of the smoke was being drawn and an analyzer was picking up readings just above the fire surround where there is slight smoke discoloration. Now should a call out a fireplace installer first to check the installation or assume the class two chimney is partially blocked and get a sweep out first. I don’t want to pay for a sweep if it isn’t needed. The fire has been disconnected.

 

[cross thread]

Looking at the heat staining on the surround it looks like it’s struggling .cheap option is remove and cap off fit a electric one.

 

[avonmouth]

I used to do a lot of gas safety for councils back in the day and vented ridge tiles often caused problems and especialy with that type of fire.
Do what cross thread said above and swap it for electric.

 

[Exedon]

As above just abandoned the gas fire.
I did loads of that type of flue on newbuild back in day .
Even when new odd ones we could never get to pass spillage test.
Horrible things.

 

[Ltnman]

Going electric is not an option, as the old electric socket was removed to fit the fireplace. So allowing for a poor class two chimney design how do I proceed? Chimney sweep, inspection of installation or a different design of fire to fit the existing grate/space. I am reluctant to just abandon the fireplace, as a working fire is a selling point but I hear what everyone is saying.

 

[gas112]

Something as simple as cob webs are enough to make a fire on precast fail a spillage test. . When they smoke matched your fire did they leave it on for10/15 mins beforehand and after failing did they then try it with a window cracked open....
But it certainly looks like you have staining on that back panel

 

[Ltnman]

Fire was set to maximum for around 8 minutes. Doors to the lounge were shut, double glazed windows remained closed. Test was repeated with doors and windows remaining closed.

He was going to pass it until I mentioned the sooting on the marble fireplace that he missed. At that point he got out his analyser..

Would a glass fronted fire be more likely to pass?

 

[gas112]

He missed the staining how? .
After failing a window should have been cracked open to see if a vent would allow spillage test to pass.
Did he actually remove the fire to check flue
No a glass fronted fire will not have more chance of passing.
.
So it failed spillage test and he was going to pass it and never noticed signs of spillage on marble. You need to get a different gasman