TECHNICAL VISITS - CASE STUDIES
£100s of pounds saved
Problem - A Nottinghamshire
homeowner had experienced problems for over two years with an open
fired back boiler. These problems got worse until fumes entered
the room every time the fire was lit making the occupants feel ill.
The homeowner sought advice from various contractors who recommended
lining the chimney at a cost of around £1,000.
Solution - SURE FIRE
investigated the problem and found that using the wrong size brush
to sweep the chimney was leaving an ever increasing amount of tar
deposits around the chimney pot, building up to form a restriction.
Simply replacing the pot that was already cracked, and using the
correct brush, has solved the problem at a fraction of the cost.
Investigation ends 4 years of misery
Problem - On an estate
in North Wales a tenant had been experiencing weather related
fume problems from a solid fuel appliance for 4 years. Despite
numerous attempts by the landlord and a chimney lining company
to solve this the tenant still was still suffering.
Solution - A CCTV inspection
of the flue and a full set of tests revealed the flue leaked into
the cavity walls of the bungalow and spread fumes throughout the
property. The problem was related to the weather and affected
by wind blowing on the cavity air vents. Two other properties
on the estate were tested, at the landlords request, and were
all found to have the same problems. It is also possible that
the same problem occurs in the twelve other properties on the
estate!
Assistance with legal proceedings
Problem - In the Retford
area a home owner had a chimney relined in late 1999 by a local
builder to prevent fumes and smells entering the bedroom of the
next door neighbour. Despite this the fumes were still being reported,
the builder returned and attempted remedial action that was at
best 'first aid' and at worst 'a bodge job'.
Solution
- SURE FIRE were asked to inspect & test the chimney and use
the results along with existing documentation to produce a report
for the Small Claims Court. A legal action was brought by the
client in March 2001 when the builder disputed the findings and
our client was awarded the cost of all investigations and legal
representation as well as the full cost of the removal & replacement
of the substandard lining.
Danger of Carbon Monoxide poisoning
Problem - A client
in the Ashfield district council area had suffered from Carbon
Monoxide (CO) exposure from the solid fuel open fire of a next
door neighbour. The complaint reached the point where the client
contacted the Environmental Health Office of the local council
and an officer was sent to investigate. Two months later no action
to test the chimney or prevent the use of the fire had been taken.
Solution
- On the advice of the Solid Fuel Association the client contacted
SURE FIRE who installed CO monitoring equipment which showed a
rise in the levels of CO in the clients bedroom when the solid
fuel appliance was in use. A report was produced and passed to
the Environmental Health Department and within days tests for
the chimney were organised. top of page |
