How can i turn the gas off to my fire and will it mean that i will have no hot water if i have a back boiler?

Question

i had an ofsted inspection for childminding and they have advised me to turn the gas off to the fire, the reason for this is so the children dont switch it on. i believe to do it i have to turn a tap like handle that sticks out of the wall by the side of the fire but its apinted over and i cant move it besides, we have a back boiler, so surely turning the gas off to it will knock the pilot light off and thus we will have no hot water??

i dont want to use a fire guard if i can help it as i never have the fire on and the guard takes up so much space and we only have a small living room.

the other suggestion they gave was to remove the k**b so they couldnt turn it, but i cant get it off. any advice with regards to turning off the gas would be helpful

thanks in advance

Answer 1

Get a corgi engineer to do it for you, it wont cost the earth, and will have it done by the time you have thought about these answers.

Answer 2

Why dont you just get someone to make a s***w on metal cover to cover the k**b that way you can still use it if you need it later.

Answer 3

There is a 3 way tap under the fire, which can be turned so that the fire or the back boiler can be turned off or both. On many back-boilers, 1/4 turn with a spanner anti-clockwise isolates the fire. The best way to get the control k**b off without breaking it is to lever it off by useing 2 screwdrivers at opposite sides. The tap outside of the fire would indeed turn the boiler off as well as the fire, and if it is stuck, would be likely to leak gas if you did manage to move it.

Answer 4

The valve coming out of the wall may be used to turn off the fireplace but follow the piping from the valve to the fireplace to see if it goes anywhere else, if it does then you should try to find a closer valve. To take the handle off, usually use a screwdriver to remove screww and a pair of large pliers to grab a jiggle handle while pulling. Make sure to smell for gas leaks after (rotten egg smell), if you do call gas company.

Answer 5

Probably a separate pilot on the boiler.

And probably a separate rotary multiple position gas valve under a cover on the side / rear of the fire.