On Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:24:00 -0500, S Viemeister wrote:

The back boiler concerns me - it will, of course, be disconnected from
the heating system, but I wish to be able to continue to use the
fireplace. How does one safely decommission a back boiler? Can this be
done without wrecking the fireplace?

Presumably this is an open fire with back boiler? Personally I'd keep
it as a backup/auxillary heat source. Unless it is really kanckerd in
which case your into replacing it anyway to keep the fireplace
operational.

If you want to drain the back boiler and keep the fireplace I think
you have to fill the boiler with sand to prevent (slow down?) it
burning through. Without the water to take the heat away the metal
will get very hot...

--
Cheers
Dave.