Gas Fire venting

wessexw

I intend to convert a bricked up fireplace in my Victorian ground floor flat back in to a fireplace again and install a gas fire in the fireplace. I don't want to install a functioning fireplace - ie have the chimney open to the sky as there would be too much messing with the flat upstairs and I'd need freeholder permission and all that, but I'm not sure if a gas fire needs venting in any way? Is it possible to install a gas fire in a closed off fireplace?

Thanks!

ormus

do you mean a functioning gas fire or not?
if yes, then there are very stringent rules about gas fires and flues/chimneys. as well as incoming air vents.
carbon monoxide is a killer.

Gloomendoom

You can get flueless gas fires. They are ideal for soaking your room in condensation. You will still need to provide for incoming air.

I wouldn't touch one with a barge pole.

Owain_Moneysaver

Some modern electric flame effect fires are amazingly realistic nowadays.

chimney_kev

wessexw wrote: »

I intend to convert a bricked up fireplace in my Victorian ground floor flat back in to a fireplace again and install a gas fire in the fireplace. I don't want to install a functioning fireplace - ie have the chimney open to the sky as there would be too much messing with the flat upstairs and I'd need freeholder permission and all that, but I'm not sure if a gas fire needs venting in any way? Is it possible to install a gas fire in a closed off fireplace?

Thanks!

Hi
You can have a gas fire but it must be a flueless fire if there is no open chimney
Cheers kev

gas4you

Flueless gas fire are death traps waiting to happen. I wouldn't fit one if I was paid thousands of pounds. Also to do it properly you would need specialist equipment to test it.

Steer well clear.

Have you tested your chimney yet? It could be open and working apart from at your fireplace.

Mankysteve

I wouldn't bother with flue-less as you need to make sure you've got a set level of fresh air flowing though defeating the hold purpose of having a fire. Metal chimney liner properly attached at the top would be your best solution should be able to do with little disturbance to the upstairs flat..

wessexw

I don't know the condition of the chimney at all yet until I actually start work on it - I'm just checking out my options for now. So I think it's looking like I might just go for an electric one as Owain suggested if the chimney isn't suitable - don't want to risk killing myself!!

Thanks everyone

ormus

a friend had a flueless gas fire some yrs ago. (modern detached house). it was useless. poor heat and expensive to run. plus other problems.
she ripped it out and fitted a proper balanced flue type.
the whole exercise cost her a small fortune.

dander

Would a fire have to vent through the top of the chimney though? Could one be fitted that just sent a flue through an external wall like a gas boiler does?

I have an electric flame-effect fire in my fireplace - it's obviously not as realistic as the actual flames you get with a gas one, but a huge advantage is that you can have it on the flame effect without turning the heat on, so in the winter you can have a lovely warm fire look in the room without adding much cost or worrying about the room over-heating. When I installed it, I thought it was a temporary measure, but actually the flexibility and on-off at the flick of a switch functionality have completely won me over and i wouldn't get a gas fire now. If you are prepared to stump up for a top-notch fire, you can get some very impressive electric flame effects.