I have a couple of open style gas fires - one is fine, the other one
builds up black carbon deposits quite quickly on the centre of the
three ceramic panels. These deposits end up quite thick and have to be
brushed off. What's going wrong and how to correct it? Thanks Andy Evans

The message .com
from "Eusebius" contains these words:

What's going wrong and how to correct it?

Insufficent air for the amount of gas being burnt at that spot. I'd
suggest the air grille underneath is fluffed up. It's unlikely to be too
much gas unless the nipple's dropped out.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

Guy King wrote:
The message .com
from "Eusebius" contains these words:


What's going wrong and how to correct it?


Insufficent air for the amount of gas being burnt at that spot. I'd
suggest the air grille underneath is fluffed up. It's unlikely to be too
much gas unless the nipple's dropped out.

Similarly, I've had the same thing - most of the fire is okay - but
towards the back in the 2 corners I've got black pots on the concrete or
whatever panels.

What's the best way of removing these marks?

I'll try taking all the 'coals' out and cleaning it to see if that
improves the cause.

Thanks

D

The message
from David Hearn contains these words:

Similarly, I've had the same thing - most of the fire is okay - but
towards the back in the 2 corners I've got black pots on the concrete or
whatever panels.

What's the best way of removing these marks?

An oxidising flame. That'll get it hot enough to burn off the carbon
/and/ provide sufficient oxygen.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

It's unlikely to be too much gas unless the nipple's dropped out.

Thanks - If the nipple's dropped out will I find it on the floor
underneath or do I have to get another - if so where? what does a
nipple look like - is this the technical word to ask for? Andy

The message .com
from "Eusebius" contains these words:

Thanks - If the nipple's dropped out will I find it on the floor
underneath or do I have to get another - if so where? what does a
nipple look like - is this the technical word to ask for? Andy

It's the tiny jet through which the gas emerges. The combination of the
size of hole in the jet and the pressure behind it are what determine
how much gas comes out. If there's too much then that would cause the
problems you're seeing. It's unlikely - they don't often just "drop
out". It'll be a small metal threaded cylinder with a tiny hole through
the middle. Rather like a radiator's bleed nipple in size.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

Guy King wrote:
The message
from David Hearn contains these words:


Similarly, I've had the same thing - most of the fire is okay - but
towards the back in the 2 corners I've got black pots on the concrete or
whatever panels.


What's the best way of removing these marks?


An oxidising flame. That'll get it hot enough to burn off the carbon
/and/ provide sufficient oxygen.

Are you saying that something like a blow torch would get it off - or to
sort out the problem causing the soot (provide sufficient oxygen) and
it'll burn the carbon off?

D

"Eusebius" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a couple of open style gas fires - one is fine, the other one
builds up black carbon deposits quite quickly on the centre of the
three ceramic panels. These deposits end up quite thick and have to be
brushed off. What's going wrong and how to correct it? Thanks Andy Evans


Incomplete/incorrect combustion resulting in a yellow flame leaving these
deposits. There is a chance that CO is spilling into the room too. Don't
use it until you've had it checked. As others have said, this may be being
caused by insufficient air or possibly a blocked chimney/flue. What is the
KW output of the fire (it should say on the data plate on the fire under the
cover)?

Angus

The message
from David Hearn contains these words:

An oxidising flame. That'll get it hot enough to burn off the carbon
/and/ provide sufficient oxygen.

Are you saying that something like a blow torch would get it off - or to
sort out the problem causing the soot (provide sufficient oxygen) and
it'll burn the carbon off?

Generally. You'll need to play the inner pale-blue cone of flame over
the carbon - that's the bit that still has an excess of oxygen.
Experiment - you'll get there in the end.

But also, fix the cause - incomplete combustion, which is what's caused
this deposit can be fatal as it usually accompanies carbon monoxide
production.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

Insufficent air for the amount of gas being burnt at that spot. I'd
suggest the air grille underneath is fluffed up.

that was indeed the problem - I used a vacuum cleaner and also a dental
brush to clean out the holes in the grille. dust must have got through
and collected. you could see the holes which were blocked and causing
yellow flames. Thanks

The message .com
from "Eusebius" contains these words:

that was indeed the problem - I used a vacuum cleaner and also a dental
brush to clean out the holes in the grille. dust must have got through
and collected. you could see the holes which were blocked and causing
yellow flames. Thanks

Well, I was bound to get one right /eventually/. But of course - I'm not
qualified or registered so you'll have to put the fluff back and call a
CORGI bloke.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.