Building Requirements for Flueless Gas Fire

LittleVoice

Thinking of having a flueless gas fire and wonder about any change needed to the building for purpose of ventilation.
The new fire would replace old, conventional (open flue) gas fire which backs onto external wall chimney.
I know a CORGI-registered fitter would be needed to actually install the fire but want to get a feel for work involved first, before seeking quotes.
Would there be a need for separate ventilation and have the chimney blocked off or would it be possible to use the chimney for some ventilation? Could the fire be placed directly in front of present back-plate or higher up the wall above this?
Would a gas-fitter need more time to fit a flueless or a conventional fire? Given the hourly rate for gas-fitters, this could be significant in deciding which fire to go for.
Is there a website which could explain how the ventilation calculations are done? It looks to me as though there needs to be some calculation of whether the room has sufficient air supply to meet a high percentage of the fire’s air requirements but that is from a four-minute look at the matter and would like to know how these things are actually worked out.
Advice appreciated.
LV

Canucklehead

Hi

As a flueless gas fire it can be fitted wherever you like.(within reason.)
Yes there are requirements. Consult a manufacturers installation instructions.
I would not fit one (even if I had the element on my ACS list).They need to be serviced properly and thoroughly EVERY year.


Corgi Guy.

LittleVoice

Thanks. I'll follow up on the manufacturers idea.

Are you also saying that you think flueless ones are more difficult/complicated to install than "conventional" gas fires?

Is the thorough servicing more complicated too?

medders2604

I have a flueless fire, it was fitted very quickly and easily exactly where I wanted it with no problems at all.
With regards to ventilation different fires need different amounts of ventilation depending on the output. Have a look at a few and you will see in the technical spec that it specifies a minimum ventilation size.
Im not sure about servicing though there was nothing in the manual that I can remember that says every 12months (will have to dig it out and check) but I have only had mine in since February anyway.

medders2604

Right have got the manual for my fire now, it gives a minimum room size of 23 cubic metres and a minimum of 100cm square of ventilation but muct not be installed under or within immediate vicinity of the ventilation.
For servicing it does say annually as a minimum depending on how much it's used. It also gives a list of what needs to be checked and instructions on how to, I would always use a CORGI plumber though its not worth the risk but servicing does seem straight forward and not overly complicated or anything that qould cost a fortune, I'll get the plumber to check mine when he services the boiler anyway.

Pssst

I tend to agree with Canucklehead. I am not overly enamoured with flueless gas fires myself.

Sophiej

Actually you dont need gas or ventilation for all flueless fires. I bought one which runs on bottles of ethanol (basically meths). I put it in our old fireplace, covered up the chimney (so the heat didnt go up the chimney instead of into the room). Its great, really warming - much warmer than a gas fire. The ethanol isnt too expensive & gets delivered & I didnt need an engineer, I just bought it & got the builder to make a hole for it (im not good at DIY with bricks!)
I got it from http://www.gomodern.co.uk. Its the basic 'Burner' model from Ecosmart. They are in London but you can buy online too.

TomsMom

Sophiej wrote: »

I got it from http://www.gomodern.co.uk. Its the basic 'Burner' model from Ecosmart. They are in London but you can buy online too.

I was interested in your post Sophie as I am trying to find the right fire for a house we're renovating, until I checked out the website and saw the price :eek: OUCH! Back to the drawing board for me as I don't have that much in my budget for a fire.

jessmist

HI
We got a flueless fire in around 18 months ago we have found it to be really good have a look at this website
http://www.burley.co.uk/category.php?cid=2

trogg

I have fitted many of this type of heater, must admit you might find it hard to find an installer that will fit one.

Of all the ones I have ever installed, none could have been into chimney using the chimney flue as ventilation, In fact, all those I have fitted have been in houses that have no chimney which I why they have flueless fires fitted.

Most require ventilation of 100cm2, with a minimum room size of 16-20m3.

So although they claim to be 100% efficient, it can be very draghty.

The best thing you can do is to find the fire you want and get the manufacturers to send you the technical details, all gas appliances need to be installed to manufacturers instructions.

The only problems I've had is trying to run the gas pipework to the heater without too much of it showing (modern houses tend to have concrete floors so pipework is usually run around the outside of the house)

As for how safe they are, all of them will have a cut off device,
And when you consider it's 'safe' to have a 13kw flueless gas appliance(cooker) in the smallest room of the house (kitchen), then having a 3kw flueless heater in your lounge souldn't be a problem.

DON79

We had a flueless fire fitted about four years ago. we did it because we would have needed a whole new flue on the roof as well as a new gas fire. the old one got condemned. so we opted for flueless and it has been great. we had an air vent fitted into the floor in a corner to allow for ventilation through the air brick under the floor. it is an excellent fire and really attractive. and servicing has been an absolute doddle. costs between £50 and £75 a year for a corgi engineer to come and do it. not complicated at all.