Flue & VentilationInspection & RepairBolton & Manchester
Inspection and repair of boiler flues, gas fire flues and ventilation systems. We check for blockages, damage and compliance with current regulations. Essential for carbon monoxide safety.
Boiler & fire flues • Ventilation checked • CO safety priority
25+ Years
Experience
All Gas Appliances
Coverage
Gas Safe
Registration
CO Detection
Safety Priority
or with Service
Standalone
Why Flue and Ventilation Checks Save Lives
A boiler or gas fire's flue does one job: carry the products of combustion (including potentially fatal carbon monoxide) safely out of the building. When it fails — through blockage, joint failure, damage, or non-compliant termination — those combustion gases can spill back into the home.
Ventilation matters equally. Open-flue gas fires and some older boilers draw combustion air from the room they're in. Block up that air supply (the most common cause is new tight-fitting double glazing) and combustion becomes incomplete, producing CO.
We carry out standalone flue and ventilation inspections, or include the check as part of annual servicing. Either way, we use proper instruments — flue gas analyser, smoke pellets and visual inspection — to confirm safety, not guess.
Real Work Examples
Common Flue and Ventilation Faults
Many CO incidents could have been prevented by an inspection that would have taken under an hour. The faults are usually obvious to someone trained and equipped to look — invisible to most homeowners.
- Loose or disconnected flue joints in lofts or voids — surprisingly common after building work
- Bird nests, leaves and debris blocking chimney flues — particularly after summers without use
- Plastic flues melted or sagging from being run too close to other heat sources
- Replacement double glazing blocking previously-vented combustion air supplies
- Flue terminations too close to opening windows, doors or boundary lines — non-compliant and dangerous
Our Process
Visual Inspection
Full flue route inspected wherever accessible — boiler outlet, joints, terminations and any concealed sections (with cameras for hidden runs).
Joint Integrity
All accessible joints checked for security, seal condition and any signs of combustion product leakage.
Termination Compliance
Outdoor termination checked against current regulations for clearances from windows, doors, vents, boundaries and ground level.
Spillage Test
Smoke pellet or analyser test under operating conditions confirms products of combustion are clearing the flue properly.
Ventilation Audit
Combustion air provision to the room checked — vent free, sized correctly, not obstructed.
Why Choose Conroy
CO Risk Reduced
The single most effective safety check for any home with gas appliances — flue integrity is the difference between safe and dangerous combustion.
All Flue Types
Open chimney, balanced flue, vertical flue, fan-assisted, twin-wall — all inspected with appropriate technique.
Standalone or Combined
Available as a standalone inspection or included with annual boiler/fire servicing — either way, full results documented.
Compliance Confirmed
Flue terminations, joint sealing and ventilation provision checked against current Gas Safe technical bulletins and regulations.
Camera Inspection
Where flue runs are concealed in lofts or voids, we use a borescope camera to inspect without unnecessary access work.
Written Report
Findings documented with measurements, photos where useful, and clear recommendations for any remedial work.
Technical Detail
Concealed Flues
Modern fan-assisted flues running through lofts or voids must be inspectable via access hatches every 1.5m. Where hatches are missing (very common on installations from 2008-2015), we use camera inspection and recommend hatch installation.
Termination Distances
Modern regulations specify minimum distances from windows, doors, air vents, boundary lines, ground level and corners. Old terminations sometimes fall foul of newer standards — we check current compliance.
Ventilation for Open-Flue Appliances
Open-flue gas fires and back boilers usually need a permanent air vent in the room. Replacement double glazing or new insulation often blocks or removes the original vent unintentionally — a critical safety issue.
Plastic vs Metal Flues
Modern condensing boilers use plastic flues (typically 60/100mm). Plastic must not run within set distances of other heat sources. Older systems and gas fires use metal flues with different sealing requirements.
Camera Inspection of Chimneys
Open chimneys used by gas fires can be inspected with chimney cameras to check for bird nests, soot accumulation, liner damage or partial collapse. This is often required after extended periods of disuse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Looking for something else? Phil also covers 24/7 emergency plumbing, full boiler installation and boiler repairs, annual boiler servicing, central heating installation, power flushing, leak detection and landlord gas safety certificates (CP12). Browse the full list on our services page or see recent jobs and customer reviews.
Based in Bolton, we work across Bolton, Manchester, Bury, Blackburn, Chorley, Wigan, Preston and Salford. See all areas we cover, learn more about Phil Conroy, or get in touch for a free quote.
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