Going back to a coal fire

elaine373

I have just moved into a council house and have had a gas check whereabouts the engineer has removed the old redundant gas fire. Behind it is an old brick fireplace. I was wondering if anyone knows what the procedure is to find out whether i can use this as a coal/wood fire and what needs to be done to safely use it as one?My landlord is Birmingham city council ad i an unsure which department to ask.Thanks

muckybutt

Get in touch with your local housing office that would be my first port of call, they should send a sweep around to sweep it councils now have a care of duty to sweep chimneys, also ask them if it is a smoke free zone, if it is then normal coal or wood burning would be a big no no so you would then have to look at smokeless fuel or go back to gas, unless you looked at getting one of the better make of multi fuel stove to enable use in a smoke free zone.

hermanmunster_3

yes we are getting a wood burning stove approved for a smokeless zone, did not wangt tobe stuck with smokeless fuel. The fitters had to smoke bomb the chimney first and show it was OK, otherwise would have had to have a lining put in ... would have cost £800+ so glad smoke went where it should....