Old open fire.

[Richard3268]

Evening one and all.

I'm after some advice regarding an old open fire with a back boiler.
It is a Redfyre R200 from the year god-knows-when!

When we moved into our house it was connected to the heating, we used it a few times with no bother.

Fast forward about 8 years and the back boiler has been disconnected and the fire not used since. The pipe work from the boiler went through the side of the chimney and up the wall, I cut this off and hammered the copper pipe back into the hole a little and the wall plastered.

They were not capped off as such.

Now, I've been thinking about using the fireplace again but obviously I don't want to blow the house up (and tbh it's not properly sealed anyhow)

I've read that as a precaution I can drill some holes in the water jacket and that would release any pressure which may build up, but I'm unsure if the bit I'm looking at is the actual water jacket or not, so any advice welcome.

Hopefully I've attached a picture!!

 

[Nige F]

The plate with the bolts is deffo the water jacket

 

[Richard3268]

Hmm, cheers for the reply Nige.

But one question, it seems to be in 2 pieces, top half where the bolts are and the bottom half in the black square with the ridges, that bit is about 4" thick.

So, is it the top bit, bottom bit, or all of it?

 

[tell80]

Its probably a one-piece appliance but to make sure then why not remove the bolted on "door" and look and see?
What kind of new appliance or whatever are you now contemplating using?
When you originally moved in was it a solid fuel fire?

 

[Richard3268]

It was a solid fuel fire and is exactly as when we moved in, the only thing I've done is chop the water pipes off the side of the chimney breast to the central heating.

Ideally I want to use it this winter as it is and then take the lot out next spring.

I've thought about removing the door but to be honest they're old, I can see them snapping and then I'd be proper buggered!

 

[tell80]

Use heat on the bolts and wd40 - take your time.
If they snap your not buggered.
Drill top and bottom - surely its not 4" of metal?
Did the lower water pipe come very low - if yes then its definitely a one piece like most of the other old back bolilers.

 

[Richard3268]

Cheers Tell80, very helpful.

I've probably not worded it very well! When I say 4" thick I mean deep, as in from the front of the grate to the back (at the little gap at the bottom) so I'm guessing it's hollow inside.

As for the pipes, they were as low as the black box in my pic so you're probably right about it being one piece.

Think I'll try and take the plate off and drill some holes in it.

Again. Thanks for the help.

 

[tell80]

No need to take the plate off - simply drill your holes at low level below the plate.