During a routine boiler service and Gas Safe inspection at a property in Stevenage, our engineer identified several defects affecting the safety and compliance of the installation.
Problems identified during the inspection
Incorrect flue fall
The flue was not installed with the correct fall back towards the boiler. Its internal wall penetration was also inadequately sealed.
Missing support bracket
No suitable bracket had been fitted to support the horizontal flue and maintain its required position.
Unsecured flue joints
The flue joints had not been correctly secured using the required screws, creating a risk of movement or separation.
Gas pipe without a sleeve
The gas supply pipe passed through the wall without a suitable protective sleeve around the pipework.
Incorrect boiler flue installation
A spirit level was used to demonstrate that the flue had been installed with an incorrect fall. Condensing boiler flues must be positioned correctly so that condensate can return towards the boiler as intended by the manufacturer.
The wider inspection also showed that the horizontal flue had no suitable supporting bracket. The joints had not been correctly secured, and the opening around the internal wall penetration had not been adequately sealed.
Unprotected gas supply pipework
The gas supply pipe passed through the building structure without an appropriate protective sleeve. Gas pipework passing through masonry should be properly protected from contact with potentially corrosive materials and from movement or damage.
External flue inspection
The external flue terminal and the surrounding wall penetration were also visually inspected as part of the overall safety assessment.
Important: this case study documents the condition found during the inspection. It does not claim that the identified defects had already been repaired when these photographs were taken.
Why a thorough boiler service matters
A professional boiler service involves more than checking whether the appliance turns on and produces heat. The boiler, gas supply, flue, combustion performance and surrounding installation should all be examined for defects that could affect safety.
In this case, the inspection allowed several installation faults to be identified and clearly explained to the customer before the situation could deteriorate further.
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