Comments on: recently moved into a house with an open coal fire on inspection the back has had holes drilled into it,?

By: big owl

big owl — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:10:59 +0000

In the UK I use to install the back brick…that`s what its called,it is U shaped,the holes are NOT to make the fire burn any better the back of that brick should be solid.Also there two types of bricks 1 is a whole unite,the other comes in 2 halves.
You can fill the holes with fire cement,which you can get from an open fire dealer.Its a thick paste which you can water down to mould it.read the instruction on the tin.
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By: yankee

yankee — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:41:59 +0000

ur boiler is no longer connected to the heating system [ ie no water content] , its done this way to allow u to light ur fire in a safe manner. i have done this to old boilers that only heat hot water or on a pneumatic system.basically its safe to use
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By: riga mortice

riga mortice — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:29:59 +0000

The holes have been drilled in the back boiler to make it safe If you heated up a sealed boiler it could blow up and if the pipes were merly left cut off, someone could blank them with the possibility of creating a bomb, to remove the back boiler would be very messy and costly daft when it is not necessary just leave the holes as they are
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By: mickeyblueyes

mickeyblueyes — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:19:59 +0000

Take note of Kathy S comments. My mother had solid fuel central heating but recently had it changed to a wall mounted gas boiler. The contractors left the back boiler in & said they would disconnect it from the supply pipes to ‘ disable’ it & ‘make it safe’. Then the inspector came to check/pass the job & condemned the back boiler issue saying that it must be removed…..no disconnecting pipes or drilling holes in it would be acceptable….it could be a ‘bomb’ waiting to go off if a fire was lit and any remaining water in it boiled & built up pressure.
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By: Kathy S

Kathy S — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:06:59 +0000

Check this out straight away, an open coal fire should not have holes drilled in to it, the only ventilation it needs is provided by the chimney flue. A cheap and dangerous way to disable an old back boiler is by drilling holes in to it, this can and may cause an explosion due to the build up of hot air and steam. It's dangerous, sort it out.
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By: Richard Coeur De Lion

Richard Coeur De Lion — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:42:59 +0000

If you do not have a water boiler of some sort behind the wall. IE for heating the rest of the house or for hot water. then i see no reason for the holes. you see a open fire works on the principle of convection. IE warmer air rising and cooler air dropping this is why you have a chimney the hot air go's up the chimney and this draws cold air from the room its in. so there would be no need for holes in the back of the wall other than for the reasons i've stated.
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By: daddywozabankrobber

daddywozabankrobber — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:55:59 +0000

the holes help the flames ‘draw’ air, or oxygen, to facilitate it’s combustion. if you close them up your future fires may not burn as vigorously….. phew! so many big words for the day!
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like drilling holes on the bottom of a bbq base.
South Africans know! XX

By: Sal*UK

Sal*UK — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:35:59 +0000

They are to help the fire 'draw' and should be there!
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