Summary
- A boiler flue is a pipe that carries by-product gases generated in a boiler system outside the home.
- Boiler flues are either round or square, and can be positioned horizontally or vertically.
- The regulations on boiler flues are strict, and the specific dimensions for boiler flues depend on the boiler model as well. ...
Can two boilers share the same flue?
Yes, with some provisions and restrictions an oil and a gas fired heating appliance may be vented into the same chimney flue. In some jurisdictions an oil fired heater and a gas fired heating appliance, such as an oil fired heating boiler and a gas fired water heater may be permitted to share the same flue provided.
How to flush boiler?
So, you can make sure whether you’re ready to start power flushing.
- First of all, switch off the boiler
- Fully open the radiator valves
- Fully open the diverter valve
- Disconnect the system water supply.
What boiler should I buy?
You should buy one that is sealed combustion because it brings outside air into the burner and directs exhaust gases outside. Non-sealed combustion boilers draw heated air in and then send it up the chimney, wasting the energy used to heat the air.
Which boilers are eligible for a boiler grant?
The scheme aims to replace old energy-sapping non condensing boilers with modern condensing models which are energy efficient, to help households lower their fuel bills. Only gas boilers are eligible: if you have an electric, oil or LPG boiler you won’t be able to apply for a boiler grant. Boilers have to be under 86% efficient to qualify.
What happens if a boiler flue is blocked?
If your boiler's flue becomes blocked, these gases have nowhere to go other than back inside your home. In some cases, this can be fatal, with the NHS stating that around 60 deaths a year are caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. The two main gases your gas condensing boiler produces are water vapour and carbon dioxide.
Do all boilers need a flue?
Does Every Boiler Have a Flue? Regular, combi and system boilers are all fitted with flues. In fact, the only type of boiler which doesn't have a flue is a back boiler, which used to be situated behind fireplaces. However, back boilers are increasingly rare these days and most homeowners choose to have them updated.
What comes out of boiler flue?
The boiler flue is essentially the boiler's chimney, but instead of smoke and soot being channelled away from the inside of the home, it's mainly carbon dioxide and water vapour that's emitted.
How do you know if your boiler flue is blocked?
A blocked flue can have any of the following signs:A noisy boiler. ... Staining or sooting around the pipe and its seals. ... Water leaks around the boiler or mouth of the flue pipe. ... Strange smell. ... Carbon monoxide alarm is triggered.
Does carbon monoxide come out of boiler flue?
Boilers can produce carbon monoxide naturally, but the gas is usually carried out of your house via a flue. If your flue is blocked, the carbon monoxide has nowhere to go and will escape into your home. Carbon monoxide can also be present as a result of a leak in your appliance.
Does a combi boiler need a flue?
Do all boilers need a flue? Any boiler, no matter what type or the fuel it burns, needs a flue. When any fuel, including gas, wood or oil, is burned, it produces fumes, including smoke, soot, water vapour, CO2 and even carbon monoxide. These gases need to be expelled somehow, and a flue is the best way to do this.
Why does water come out of boiler flue?
The main cause of leaking boiler flues: However, this means the waste products exiting the flue are much cooler than in non-condensing boilers. This cooler plume causes acidic condensation to form in the flue. This acidic water is the key problem when it comes to leaking boiler flues.
What is the purpose of a flue?
Why is it important? The purpose of the flue pipe is to remove harmful byproducts of the combusted, or burned, fuel from inside your home. If the byproducts are not properly ventilated from inside the home, then you can have a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide.
Should steam come out of boiler flue?
Many people can be alarmed with what a boiler is blowing out of the chimney or flue. So fear not, the boiler is most likely doing what it is supposed to. Unless you smell burning or see flames coming from the flue or chimney everything is ok*.
How do you clear a blocked flue?
The cap should pull right off with a little applied force. Clean the chimney cap with a scrubbing brush to remove any debris. Proceed to inspect the inside of the chimney with a flashlight. Use your brush to clean out the top portion of the chimney, either by pushing or pulling out the debris.
What causes a boiler to give off carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is a gas produced in a boiler when fuel is not burned completely due to a lack of oxygen. Common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include dizziness, headaches and shortness of breath. A stuttering pilot light or dark staining around gas appliances is a sign of carbon monoxide leaks.
Can your boiler make you ill?
Causes of carbon monoxide poisoning Common household appliances used for heating and cooking can produce carbon monoxide if they are not installed properly, are faulty, or are poorly maintained. Appliances that can cause carbon monoxide include: gas boilers.
What are the regulations for boiler flues?
What are the regulations around boiler flue?300mm away from an opening window or air vent.25mm below guttering, drain pipes or soil pipes.300mm above ground, roof or balcony level.2,000mm below a Velux window.1,200mm from an opening, such as a door or window, into the home.More items...•
Do boilers come with a flue?
yes, all new boilers should come with a brand new boiler flue that is suitable for the boiler to ensure the safe removal of gasses from your home. If you choose to get your new boiler installed by Boiler Central, you will get a free flue included in your installation.
What's the difference between open flue and room sealed?
Plant rooms will require less ventilation than open flue systems, and with reduced air flow, warmer room temperatures are possible – a useful point when designing tighter buildings. Room sealed appliances reduce the risk of flue gases spilling back into the plantroom due to poor flue operating conditions.
Can a boiler flue go through a flat roof?
Get the boiler installer to cut the hole through the roof and fit the flue pipe and weathering slate, and ask him to seal (as best he can) the slate to the existing roof covering using mastic, this will keep the water out until you can get a roofer to seal it properly.
How Does a Boiler Flue Work?
The flue is basically a tube from the combustion chamber of the boiler to the outside atmosphere. But again, just like the exhaust pipe on a car, there is often a little more to it than that. Modern car exhausts can incorporate a turbocharger which uses the exhaust gasses to add extra power to the engine. Similarly, a modern combi boiler can use the heat in the boiler flue to rewarm the water which is being pumped back to the boiler from the domestic radiators. In addition, the water vapour in the exhaust gasses can form condensation as it cools in the flue, which can be recycled to increase efficiency. This is why these boilers are also known as condensing boilers. Since 2005 it has been a legal requirement in the UK for all new domestic boilers to be of this type
What is a Boiler Flue?
Essentially, a boiler flue is simply a pipe which fulfils much the same function as the exhaust pipe on a car. In the same way that you would not want gasses from your car engine coming anywhere near you or you passengers when you are driving along, the boiler flue keeps the waste products from your heating system, such as moisture, carbon monoxide and other waste gases, away from the inside of your home. It is important to know, however, that a boiler flue is not really the same thing as a chimney. The only time that a chimney performs a similar function to that of a boiler flue, is when the system uses a back boiler, which heats the system via a fireplace. Back boilers are rarely fitted new these days and are becoming less common, as modern boilers are much more efficient.
What is a boiler flue?
A boiler flue pipe is an essential part of any heating system that burns fossil fuels. As well as producing heat, the process of burning fuels creates harmful gases. If breathed in, these gases could prove harmful to those in the property. Simply put, boiler flues do the same job as an exhaust pipe on a car.
Why don’t electric boilers need a flue?
As opposed to gas and oil boilers, electric boilers don't burn any fuel which means that they don't produce any waste gases that need to be emitted out of the home . Electric boilers are typically best suited to smaller properties, such as flats, that have a single bathroom and low demand for central heating.
How much do boiler flues cost?
This is because it will be included in the cost of the boiler. Should you need to replace your existing flue pipe, you could expect to pay around £100.
How do you know if a flue is blocked?
Being outside, there's a chance that various bits of debris can make their way into the flue and cause a blockage. Should this happen, waste gases will be unable to leave the property and could lead to the boiler overheating or carbon monoxide leaking into the property.
How to tell if a boiler is in operation?
When the boiler is in operation, you will notice steam leaving the flue – this is condensation and waste gases being emitted away from your home.
Why do you need a flue pipe?
Any boiler that burns fossil fuels, such as gas and oil, will need a flue pipe. This is because burning fossil fuels produces waste gases that would be harmful to the occupiers if emitted into the home. One of these gases is carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a potentially harmful gas that can't be detected without a carbon monoxide alarm as it's both colourless and odourless. It's important to be aware of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, which includes: 1 Headaches 2 Dizziness 3 Breathlessness 4 Nausea 5 Collapsing 6 Falling unconscious
Why do you need a boiler service?
As part of the service, the engineer will check the flue to ensure that it's free from obstruction. When there's a fault with your boiler, the issue will commonly be displayed as an error code (or fault code) on the unit's digital display.
What is boiler flue?
Marco. A boiler flue is a pipe that travels from your boiler to an external wall of your house – you’ve probably seen it puffing out steam, especially on colder days. This pipe is designed to carry waste gases and condensation from your heating system. Instead of being released into your home, they’re expelled outside.
What type of boiler doesn't have a flue?
The only types of boiler that don’t have flues are back boilers, which are installed behind fireplaces. Instead, they use a chimney to get rid of waste gases. As a side note, back boilers are not the most efficient kind of boiler.
How far down should a boiler flue be?
Boiler flue regulations stipulate how a system should be positioned. A horizontal flue must be at least 30cm below a window, wall vent or door.
How far away from window should a vertical flue be?
A vertical flue must be situated no less than 100cm from an adjacent opening window. This is to ensure that waste gases cannot easily re-enter your home. If your flue faces your neighbour’s property or a public space, you will also be required to ensure it is at least 2.1 metres above ground level.
How much does it cost to add a flue extension to a boiler?
In some cases, there may be a large distance between your boiler and an external wall. This would require you to buy a boiler flue extension, which costs around £50. It’s best to speak to a registered gas engineer who will take a look at your home and advise you if this will be necessary.
Where are vertical flues?
Vertical flues that pass through a property are usually concealed in a cabinet or boarded over. Boiler flue regulations require the cabinet or panels to be accessible at regular intervals, to ensure the flue can be safely inspected and if necessary, repaired.
Is carbon monoxide in a boiler flue?
Instead of being released into your home, they’re expelled outside. One of the gases your boiler flue pipe will disperse outside is carbon monoxide, which is potentially very harmful. This is why it’s so important to have a boiler flue correctly installed, in line with gas safety regulations. Here we’ll delve deeper into the different types ...
What is a boiler flue?
A boiler flue is a pipe or duct that's attached to gas boilers which allows waste gases produced during the heating process to safely leave the building. You might recognise them as those black or white ducts that stick out of buildings expelling gas.
Why are boiler flues required?
Boiler flue regulations have been brought into place for new boiler installations to keep you and your neighbours safe from potentially harmful gases. In this guide, we're going to break down the regulations to give you the peace of mind that your boiler flue is in a safe place.
Why are boiler flue regulations in place?
Boiler flue regulations ensure that the gases being expelled don't re-enter the home, which would instantly make the flue redundant.
What happens when a boiler is burning?
Temperature. The harmful gases are produced when the boiler is burning fuel, which means that the gas exiting through the flue is hot, so this needs to be taken into account when positioning the flue. Keeping it away from any plastic gutters as they could end up melting is one of the considerations to be made here.
How to ensure boiler flue meets the regulations?
The best way to ensure that your boiler flue meets the regulations is to seek the expert advice of a Gas Safe registered engineer. Fill in our simple form today and to get FREE quotes from up to 3 trusted engineers in your area.
What is a condensing boiler?
Condensing boilers are highly efficient units that have 2 internal heat exchangers meaning that less heat is lost through the flue. When a non-condensing boiler is replaced with a condensing boiler, the different flue arrangements could mean that the current flue has to be relocated.
How far away from the window should a boiler flue be?
How far this is will depend on the size of your boiler but is typically between 30-60cm above , below or to the side of an opening.