EP #21 – Essential Flue Gas Analyser Tips w/ Dan Tempest

Overview

A flue gas analyser is a gas engineer’s most important tool. Without one, work comes to a complete standstill.

Join host Tulloch Priest as he chats to Dan Tempest, heating & plumbing business owner and Anton ambassador, all about these little tools – from why you should never keep them in your van to the benefits of software integrations.

Listen to the episode:

Highlights

Background & being an Anton ambassador

• Dan has used Anton analysers for many years, and social media was a marketing tool he’s grown over the years. Being an ambassador was a natural progression as he regularly posted content with analysers. (0:52)
• Analysers look at air quality and combustion readings to make sure an appliance is burning correctly. However, not all analysers have the same features – some offer additional functions like measuring pressure differentials. (2:35)

How to choose the right analyser

• The first thing is to understand what your job is. If you’re doing purely domestic Cp12 certificates, you’ll need tightness testing, flue gas analysis, and temperature differential. The latter is important in edge cases when doing safety checks for properties that house vulnerable people or calculating whether water is returning to the boiler cool enough to condense and work efficiently. (4:31)
• For commercial work, analysers need to do a lot more. (8:15)

Using the analyser

• You shouldn’t simply put the analyser in the flue and take a reading. Some things you need to look out for include:
  • If you see the readings spiking, you should take the analyser out to avoid damaging the analyser. (9:50)
  • The appliance should be running for a couple of minutes before doing an analysis. (10:30)
  • They come in robust cases but they are delicate measuring instruments. (11:00)
  • Don’t leave your analysers in your van. The drop in temperature can contribute to moisture build-up, and they’re one of the most valuable tools you absolutely need. (11:45)

Using software with flue gas analysers

• Using your flue gas analyser with software allows you to have a report with each reading. This legally covers you by attaching a date on the reading, having all the right numbers, and proving you were there. (14:40)

Tightness testing

• Tightness testing isn’t a requirement for a service. But for a CP12, Dan always does tightness testing to make sure the tenant is safe. (19:20)
• Dan recommends doing a tightness test both before and after, Doing one before allows you to get a baseline, and after ensures everything is working well. (21:30)

Anton analysers

• Anton analysers have useful prompts at the end of each step to make sure little things like putting the flue gas analysis cap back on are done. (27:30)

Calibrations

• Most analysers will shut down when they need to be calibrated. Any reading done on an analyser that hasn’t been calibrated is void, but Dan has still seen some engineers trying to change the calibration dates on the analyser to get around this. (31:00)
• From time to time you can get strange readings because of external factors. Only a calibrated analyser can be trusted in these kinds of situations. (34:40)
• Dan will time his analyser calibration for when he goes on holiday so that he doesn’t lose any time on work. (36:10)