Can I change my gas fire that’s fitted to back boiler without changing back boiler?

Whether you can replace your existing gas fire front without changing the back boiler will depend on the compatibility between the back boiler and fire.

In many cases, older back boilers, such as those made by Glow Worm, are no longer in production. This means that you won’t be able to find a fire front that is compatible with your old back boiler.

For some more modern back boilers such as those made by Baxi you may still be able to find a compatible replacement fire front from a plumbers merchant or specialist stockist.

Before deciding on the best option for your fireplace upgrade project, it’s always best to check with a qualified and registered Gas Safe engineer.

Problems with changing your gas fire and not your back boiler

Gas fires and back boilers share the same flue. This means that they must be compatible with each other for them to work safely.

Some problems you may face when trying to replace your gas fire but not your back boiler include:

• High costs
• Difficult installation
• Difficult to source
• Compatibility problems
• Expensive to run

In many cases, it may be more cost-effective and provide better results to upgrade your back boiler and fire front.