Hi, can anybody advise.


We have just moved into a housing association property, and we have found that the gas fire had been capped off due to it failing a spillage test.

Can anyone tell me if this means the back boiler is safe to use as they are interconected? and this has not been disconnected.


Many thanks

Ian, November 2010

no one seems interested in repairing a spillage with gas fired back boilers and the flu assembly. mine went month ago and was told new combi boiler would be the cheapest answer. Back boilers are no longer being fitted so it makes sense to have it removed. I had big black stains above the fire so always be safe. New boiler cost me 2500

Ray Martyn, December 2010

Therefore it is probably safe.
BUT (and this is a big BUT), no-one on an advice page can advise you of a boilers' safety with any guarantee, only a physical test is good enough to verify.

Use the CO detector wisely.

Carefree, November 2010

Thanks for your help

The assosiation have on their records that the fire failed the test in June when it was serviced. The tenants at the time told them not to bother replacing it as they didnt use it?

I have bought a carbon monoxide detector today and put this near the fire/boiler, as with having young children and also ourselves you want to make sure your safe.

They have said today they are looking at getting a combi installed, but how long that will take is anyones guess.

But we need the heat due to all that white stuff outside :-(.

ian, November 2010

That can't be safely answered on here without knowing details.
How do you know the fire failed spillage? Some people have the fire turned off because of children fiddling etc.

The only safe answer is not to use the boiler until a proper spillage test has been carried out to verify that the BBU is safe.

Carefree, November 2010