10 Flue Gas Analyser Tips To Save You Time & Money
Hi everyone, I’m Jan Haider, KANE’s Sales & Training Manager. I’m a Gas Safe registered engineer with over 43 years of experience as a Gas Engineer.
You might also recognise me if you have ever done any training with Vaillant as I am a their support trainer covering Elland, Scotland and Belper.
I have been working at KANE for 12 years and want to share with you my best FGA tips and tricks to help you save you time and money.
Here are my top ten tips to ensure that you and your analyser is always ready and raring to go.
1. Make sure that your analyser has a current certificate of calibration
Only use authorised calibration companies approved by the manufacturer, as BS7967 requires that analysers are only re-calibrated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Without a valid certificate of calibration, you don’t comply with BS7967*, any results from your analyser are valueless and your GSR Inspector might have an issue with your work.
2. Get your analyser serviced/recertified when you least or don’t need it
Arrange for it to be done while you are on holiday, so you don’t lose any working time. You can use KANE’s fast & efficient Freepost service, see here for more details: www.kane.co.uk/freepost This way, your analyser will be ready when you arrive back.
3. Don’t leave your analyser in your van overnight
Like you, it doesn’t like the cold. When left in a cold van overnight and then taken into a warm kitchen it might get affected by condensation and not work as it should.
Also, thefts of analysers and other expensive tools from vans are unfortunately on the increase.
4. Register your analyser with the manufacturer
KANE allows registered owners to “book-in & pay ” for a Fixed Price Service, Calibration and Recertification. This reduces the time the analyser is away ensuring you are not without your analyser any longer than necessary and you don’t get any unexpected charges.
In addition being the registered owner means you can be contacted regarding your analyser’s recertification and may help you be reunited with a stolen analyser if it’s recovered as it can be reported stolen from your KANE ‘Dashboard’.
5. Contact the Manufacturer before you buy a pre-owned/second-hand analyser
When buying pre-owned analysers, always check their history, ask for a serial number and confirm that these match. You can use our stolen analyser check tool here: https://www.kane.co.uk/resources/stolen-analyser-check
If you are unsure about a company selling online, confirm they are authorised distributors.
6. Before using your analyser
Make sure the date and time are correct on the analyser, that the analyser is within the calibration period and there is sufficient charge in the battery to carry out the test required. Ensure the water trap is clear and dry and always switch on in fresh air.
7. Don’t put your probe in the flue and then switch the boiler on
On start up, some boilers create very high levels of CO and this might be enough to destroy your analyser’s CO sensor. Ideally use an analyser with CO sensor over-range protection – such as the KANE458.
8. Watch your water trap levels and filters
Water ingress into an analyser is bad and can be an expensive fix as it’s not covered by warranty. Dirty filters may also affect the analyser’s performance.
9. Hang your probe and hose up after every use to allow any condensate to drain out
Hanging hose loops can trap water and result in a flood of water swamping the water trap.
Moving the depth stop cone to the end of the shaft also protects the thermocouple tip and wiping the shaft dry stops build-up of condensate residue on it.
10. When you have finished a job keep a printed record of the results
If something goes wrong in the future, a record of the test may come in handy. You can keep a secure record in a couple of ways; by using the KANE IRP-2 printer or the KANE LIVE App.
Note: Make sure that the analyser’s settings are correct e.g. fuel and especially date and time or the printout might not be worth the paper it’s printed on!
•Section 5.2.1 of BS7967: 2014 states: “analysers should be treated with care, and used and maintained with the analyser’s instructions. Before using an analyser it is essential to read operator manuals and ensure that the analyser has a current proof of calibration.”