Open Fire Back Boiler

[H. Neary]

Hi Recently I added a couple of radiators to a small system. I now have a total of four [Around 6kW].

The boiler is at the back of an open fire and I have been informed that it should be a larger unit with the sides extending to the front of the fire.

In another part of the house there is one matching this description, I remember it going in, it was a Dunsley.

I want to upgrade the "water heating" rated backboiler for a "wrap around" similar to the Dunsley but everything on the web seems to be designed to be used with dedicated solid fuel burning systems.

Has anyone any ideas where to source something similar to the old Dunsley, and what would be involved in replacing the existing boiler with a higher output unit?

Regards

HN

[Tim]

Not sure what you mean by "dedicated solid fuel burning systems" but you can still buy a Dunsley fire with back boiler.

[Dave Liquorice]

none for how much is going up the chimney...

Stoves with boilers are far more effcient at heating the room and water than an open fire. I think the OP ought to at least look at fitting a stove, though finding one with a suitable balalnce of heat to room and heat to water might be tricky. Our Stovax Stockon 11 is rated at 7kW to water and 3 to room but it's quite large.

[H. Neary]

Thanks for the replies. I could not see anything that related to what I have already though.

The back boilers were bought in, no fire was supplied, only the boilers and the fireplace/ fittings were built around the boilers.

The Dunsley was a cast iron device that the grate pushed up against. It formed the fire back and continued up for around 750mm.

The boiler sides came forward so that the fire was surrounded on three sides by the boiler.

I have tried to find a similar device but all the Dunsley site depicts is complete fires. No boiler details or diagrams.

Regards

Hugh

[Tim Downie]

Surely by the time you've rebuilt the whole fireplace to fit a back boiler you're not going to quibble about fitting a new fireplace? Fitting a manufacturer's own fire at least gives you some comeback if you have any problems with lack of performance in the future.

Tim

[H. Neary]

The fireplace in question is very impressive. It was built using a range of materials that blend together perfectly.

I would want to keep this. Although the units on offer now do look very nice, the open fire that was put together by the local builders could not be improved upon in terms of looks. I would willingly lose a bit of efficiency in order to keep it.

There is already a back boiler, so I am hopeful that a replacement could be fitted without having to do much more than the temporary removal of a few bricks on the fireplace.

I really do not know much about the work involved. My only work on a fireplace was the removal of one in order to fit a gas fire around thirty years back.

I think If I could locate a boiler similar to the Dunsley that is fitted to the other room, I could see if the job looked feasible. First though I need boiler dimensions, and of course a supplier.

HN

HN

[Colin Stamp]

I came across this whilst looking for an ash pan for my Baxi:-

Colin.

[H. Neary]

Thanks Colin.

Not quite the same as the original, but I'll attempt to get a full diagram of the dimensions and feed arrangements. It may do the trick.

Many thanks

HN