solid fuel inset stove heating an old redfyre back boiler?

[philyaboots]

Hi all, and thanks for reading my question! I have an old 16" fireplace that houses a lovely perfectly working old redfyre back boiler that after a few hours of burning coal and wood,produces loads of very hot water, however the fire doesn't throw much heat in to the room, could I in theory,after removing the old fire grate, fit an inset steel or cast iron stove into the recess and back it onto the back boiler and still get a little hot water from it? it seems a shame to rip out the working back boiler when it works so well but I'd really like to make the fireplace more efficient for the purpose of room heating if i possibly can. I've looked into the idea of replacing all with a boiler stove but have found it impossible to find a reliable guy who will take on the plumbing side of things, so am considering a simpler option, i realize the water wouldn't get as hot as when a naked flame is licking at the boiler, but maybe it would act as a starter to help warm the hot water cylinder that sits above it upstairs,
Just asking??!!
Thanks.

 

[stani]

The first answer is an emphatic NO. Secondly you need to look up HETAS you will find plumbers there who can do the work required.

 

[philyaboots]

Pray tell, why so emphatic? what do you think might happen?

 

[stani]

Flueing problems, trying to get a stove close enough to the back boiler, you won't get anywhere near the heat required to effectively transfer to the boiler, have you checked wether or not there is a damper in the flue?

 

[philyaboots]

Yes there is, the original hanging lever, forward/backward type damper, it can be lifted and removed easily, i have found when using the fireplace even with the damper completely open(pulled backward) all evening, it still gives heat to the boiler, it takes longer of course, but still heats the tank after about 6 hours burning, it seems a crime to remove such a great simple boiler, believe me, its very hard to find a hetas plumber here in Norfolk,plumbers can earn their money by doing simpler work, they are as rare as hens teeth..!

 

[stani]

I understand your plight in not wanting to remove the fire, but when the damper is closed there should be a considerable difference in heat output to the room,
have you had the chimney swept, checked the damper is operating correctly, preferably by a NACS reg sweep.
soot and debris build up can affect the correct operation of the damping mechanism.

 

[stani]

just searched HETAS for Norfolk engineers, didn't know it was in Argyll.lol

 

[philyaboots]

chimney swept in December, and told by sweep that the draft was good, i.ve had four quotes from hetas stove fitters/suppliers, all have told me that they no longer recommend plumbers for the wet side of things for a boiler stove fitting, they have been let down so often, they just cant get plumbers to do the work, a tip for hetas plumbers thinking of moving to Norfolk, don't hesitate, you.ll be flat out for work..! please come and see me first..!:tounge_smile:

 

[stani]

I can't understand a HETAS fitter that doesn't do the wet side as well, I do gas and oil, it's like me turning up fit the boiler but you need someone else to do the wet side, unbelievable.
Sorry mate for your plight, but the stove against the back boiler would be dangerous.