Alde heating using gas problem

Courageous Trish
Courageous Trish Forum Participant Posts: 6
edited February 2023 in Caravans #1

Hi there,

This is my first time posting here.  I've been a member for about 9 months though.

I wondered whether anyone could help,.  I've been using all gas in my caravan for the past 9 months.  I have two Safefill Cylinders, as they are lighter in weight. I recently put some gas in one of the empty cylinders, attached it to my caravan and then heard an explosive sound from the front of the caravan where the cylinder is located.  Since then my Alde heating and water system only work from the mains and no longer from gas.  I can still use the gas cooker and fridge on gas.  

When I attempt to switch on the heater and water on gas, the Alde screen says "Fan Restart ..." for a while and then "Fan Failure".  The fan works with the mains and I have heating and hot water.  I've had a repairer here today, but he was unable to repair or understand the problem.  Just to reiterate, this all started after the loud explosion sound from the cylinder.  I queried whether the cylinder was overfilled, because I did pay a little more than usual and asked whether gas prices had increased, which he said it hadn't.  I am aware there is an overfill protection device.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.    

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited February 2023 #2
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Courageous Trish
    Courageous Trish Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited February 2023 #3

    Hi [Deleted User User],

    I shall call them and see if they are able to help.  That's a great that I can contact them directly.  I shall make sure I have all the information to hand before I call.

    I'll let you know how I get on.

     

    Trish

  • jennyc
    jennyc Forum Participant Posts: 957
    500 Comments
    edited February 2023 #4

    Trish, I’m sorry to read about your problem. Safefill bottles have an internal cutoff valve to prevent overfilling and like all gas supplies, they feed your appliances through a regulator, so even if overfilled a gas bottle won’t harm your heater. I believe that your Alde heater uses a fan as part of its burnt gas exhaust system, which intuition suggests isn’t necessary for electric heating. I’d guess that the explosion was caused by an accumulation of un burnt gas in the boiler’s exhaust.

    I’d be inclined to look here https://www.alde.co.uk asking for their specialist advice. 

  • Courageous Trish
    Courageous Trish Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited February 2023 #5

    Hi [Deleted User User],

    I received a reply from them.  

    "Thank you for your email, from what you have described you have experienced a BLEVE (boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion).

    This is caused by overfilled (or overturned) gas bottles which puts liquid gas into the gas lines. When this liquid gas ignites it will create a large bang which can damage the combustion fan and/or fan housing, flue hose and sometimes flue cap on the side of the van. I would ask your service agent to inspect the combustion fan as it sound like this could be damaged and would need to be replaced,"

    So the combustion fan may need to be replaced.

  • Courageous Trish
    Courageous Trish Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited February 2023 #6

    Thanks jennyc. I'm going to get the fan checked out.  Fingers crossed.  

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited February 2023 #7
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Courageous Trish
    Courageous Trish Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited February 2023 #8

    Thanks everyone for your advice.

    My heating is up and running again.  The repair man took out the fan.  The fan is attached to a round disc shaped car board, which had become distorted in shape.  All he did was bend it back into shape, put the fan back and the heating is working perfectly fun again.    

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited February 2023 #9
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User