Concerned about Log Burner

gemandshed

Hi

Just wondering if any of you can give me some advice.
We are first time buyers and couldnt afford central heating, so purchased a log burner.
I am aware that we are supposed to have them fitted by a hetas registered engineer. A hetas engineer swept the chimney and checked the chimney and gave it the ok to burn but his price was very expensive so my father in law fitted the log burner. I wasnt very kee, but didnt want to cause an argument.
However, I am concerned about the way in which my father in law has fitted the log burner and whether or not it is safe. He has put a hearth down which is very big, with big gaps front and to the side. From what I can see he has put fireboard up, cut a whole in the fireboard and then slotted the back of the burner into the hole so its sits ontop of the hearth.
It is great and gives off alot of heat, and we rely on it to keep warm. However, I am always concerned about carbon monoxide and this is bothering me. We will get central heating soon so will this log burner be ok temporary the way it has been fitted?

Thanks for reading
Gemma

sunshinetours

If it wasn't fitted by a HETAS engineer who I believe effectively self certify, I believe you need to get it signed off once work has been done via your local council? Plenty of posts on here about it if you search

However definitely get a decent CO detector or two fitted - they are good to have fitted anyway like smoke alarms

Sure someone far more knowledgable will be along to add/correct my assumptions above

keith969

When you say he has 'put fireboard up', what is this and where is it? What is the point of the stove fitting into this hole in the board? Maybe you could post a picture?

The main thing to worry about is that nothing combustible is too close to the stove - they get very hot!!!

If the chimney has a decent draft and there are no leaks then carbon monoxide will not be a problem, as the chimney acts like a big pump and will suck up all the hot smoke the stove produces. But a CO detector is not that expensive so why not be on the safe side.

evilgoose

A wood burner is a bit different than a gas fire - in that you can 'see & smell' the fumes from the log fire, if there is smoke in the room then you have a problem.
The fire will die down and wont burn well if it's not getting sufficient air.

If the burner is rated to give higher than 5kw then you need to have a fresh air vent into the room.
Effectively your installation is illegal if it has not been fitted by a hetas engineer or has been signed off by your councils building control dept.
Not sure but your house insurance might be effected?
The quotes I had for installation were around the 800 to 900 mark or for the higher grade mining around 1100. that was for the liner, register plate and top plate (not sure on correct term) and a new chimney pot and bird guard, installed by a hetas engineer.

From your description, I'm a little unclear on what you've described. Do a google and there are plenty of sites which give the regulations on the distances between the stove and any combustibles. - also, never underestimate the distance a burning log can roll!!

I've got a small stove thermometer, which is handy to see how hot it's burning, to hot, and you'll shorten the life of the stove and the flu lining and using fuel unnecessarily