open fires

darren_clarke

does any one here have a open fire or dog grate fire basket, are they smokey, as have had back boiler removed, so fire place is open, there is already a flue there, which is clear from debris, but when we started up the dog grate, the living room was a bit smokey, have got the flue warm so the draft is going up there, just wondering if this normal was only burning kindling, to see how it went

muckybutt

A very common problem to start off with.

You touched on warming it up, I don't think you have got it warm enough by the sounds of it, a little bit of kindling wont be sufficient to get heat into the chimney to get it drawing well.

What you need to do is light the fire with plenty of kindling and a few good sized chunks of coal, gradually adding to it to get a good hot fire going this will take a few hours to get it going well.

You might have to persist with these fires for a few days to get the chimney warmed up properly so as to get a good draw.

Atmospherics and surrounding area can also have a huge impact on chimney draught, tall trees in the surrounding area can wreak havoc with airflow over the chimney tops, combine that with wind from a certain direction and you will get smoke coming back.

Last thing you did say it was clear ? and you also mentioned a flue ? I am hoping that it wasn't a gas fire you have had removed and the flue is the liner that was left behind ? If that's the case DO NOT LIGHT A FIRE. Gas flues for one are not intended for use with open fires. You will have to remove the flue if that is the case. I had a customer a few years back that did exactly that, removed a gas fire and started lighting fires in the open fire place :eek: it wasn't long before he was getting smoked out. The flue wont be big enough as well so you really do run the risk of Carbon Monoxide poisoning as well.

jonewer

This can happen without a throat on the fireback, even with very tall chimney with a really good pull.

The throat creates a venturi effect that sucks air and smoke in and up the chimney.

By the way, I find the best way of lighting a coal fire is to lay a bed of coal, then light a load of kindling on top of it.

darren_clarke

be removed a back boiler and a gas fire, the flue that is there was the one what went in to the top of the back boiler, so this is no good for a open fire, what if i attach it to a log burner will this be ok, or do i need to remove it completely or replace it,

muckybutt

darren_clarke wrote: »

be removed a back boiler and a gas fire, the flue that is there was the one what went in to the top of the back boiler, so this is no good for a open fire, what if i attach it to a log burner will this be ok, or do i need to remove it completely or replace it,

Under no circumstances should you light a fire or attach that liner to a stove.

Gas and solid fuel liners are completely different and one should never be used on the other. You will need to completely rip the old liner out if you want an open fire or stove in there.

darren_clarke

cheers, after looking at everything, we will have to spend a fortune, just to make to do is, so are going to put a gas fire back in there, as pipes and ele supply are already there