Heat/spillage problem

[sammathias]

unfortunately it was never right in the first place. may have passed original spillage but the gap between the brick and wall is a nono as others have mentioned. also precast you must have a minimum of 3 starter blocks before the tapered block! always learning. should have learnt that on your acs.

 

[firemant]

Rober

Just been researching this a bit an this is the type of flue that's installed so the image of the underneath of the flue block is most likely what these lot refer to as a 'Cover Block'.
I think that I might tell them to get a chimney sweep in before I start removing the surround as it might just be a blockage (He says hopefully) especially as this was initially about a supposed spillage problem, and I did find part of a wasps nest along with a load of cobwebs, in the ridge terminal.
The metal part of the flue was clear so I didn't think that there might be a blockage further down!
I've taken out the connection between the exit block and the terminal so I might go back and smoke test it without that bit attached to check if there's a blockage somewhere.
Would that explain the heat build up in the surround, just above the fire?

View attachment 32942

Are you still intending to fit a starter block?
The install is definitely wrong. The problem us not so much products escaping into wall, as much as air being entrained into flue. This will reduce the effectiveness (pull) and cool the POC"s.

TBH, as you did not charge for the install (weird, frankly), I would leave it alone. If you try to fit starter blocks,you will have to source the same make.