Fitting a wood burner.

MCMXCV

Hi guys, a few years ago I came here asking questions about my fireplace and a few users recommended I get a wood burner. I'm now in a position to have one fitted in a pre-existing fireplace and am looking at a few refurbished cast ones. The thing is having it fitted. I thought I'd be able to just stick it in the fireplace with a bit of flue going into my existing chimney, light the thing and allow nature to do the rest but a friend tells me that I need a flue going right out of the stack. Is this true? If it is then a it's going to be a fire in the grate for the next few years I imagine.
Thanks guys.

megela

Not an expert, but we've just had our huge black one replaced with a gorgeous cream enamel one and our new flue only goes up a few inches into the chimney.

We were told it was recommended to line the chimney but not absolutely necessary if chimney was sound. It was my choice.

The people who fitted ours gave me a free quote for fitting. Might be worth looking at - I'm in Northants if you want a recommendation.

BTW you don't want a huge big black wood burner by any chance?

MCMXCV

Thanks, not sure I have the room for a HUGE wood burner though. I hope what you have said is correct as I don't have the money to have a the stack fully lined at the moment...

Ectophile

Unless you particularly want carbon monoxide poisoning, get it properly installed. See Building Regulations Part J (http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/buildingregulations/approveddocuments/partj/).

Depending on the condition of your existing chimney, that may mean a lining all the way up, or else a proper joint using a register plate to ensure that the fumes go up the chimney and not down into your room.

And don't forget the carbon monoxide alarm.

alleycat`

Inspection of the chimney condition by a sweep is probably the first thing to do.

They should give you an honest appraisal of the chimney condition and if lining is necessary or not.

As Ecto says make sure whomever installs it does it properly (lined or not) and that it is correctly signed off.

A CO alarm is a very good investment at not much more than a tenner on ebay.

suisidevw

You don't NEED a flue out the top of the stack, but there are many positives and cost to doing this. You WILL need to get it signed off by Building Control or fitted and self certified by a HETAS 'engineer'.

When sorting my house insurance this year, this was a stated fact. If the above weren't in place and my house burnt down, I'd receive nothing.