Cheapest way to install an open fire?

foreign_correspondent

Hi folks,

I'm looking for advice, my back boiler recently died, and after having it removed, there's a gaping hole, and I'm looking at options for using the fireplace.

My first thought was an insert multifuel stove, but I've been quoted the best part of £1k to fit one, which is beyond my means.

The chimney is currently lined with a flexible metal liner thing for a gas fire/back burner, but until about 2002 was used for solid fuel on a daily basis and worked fine, so I'm hopeful it's not too bad.

I will post photos of the empty fireplace - I quite like the tiled mantlepiece and hearth, and am just trying to find out what I would need to buy, and what would be the cost of installation to make it into a working open fire.

If anyone can help I'd be most grateful!

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Robwiz

I would get more quotes for installing a multi fuel. With the liner already in place, there's no justification for charging £1k. The installer only has to put the stove in place, attach the liner to it, commission and smoke test it, which should be a simple job.

fobbedoff

If the liner is for gas it's not suitable for solid fuel and relining is expensive. The tiled hearth and surround may be OK but you do need deeper hearth for solid fuel. Also space around stove needs to be lined with suitable material and a closure plate installed.

Greenfires

As fobbedoff said - that liner isn't for use with solid fuel if it's a gas liner - and no proper stove installer would connect a stove to one. It's also not sufficient in diameter to serve an open fire - and the fact that it's been used with one in the past wouldn't do any good if any issues arose that meant insurance companies got involved. If you're going to do it - do it right - people always see wood fires as harmless - but carbon monoxide is the same whatever it's coming from - they're all just as good at killing you!

Robwiz

I missed the fact it was a gas fire. In that case, why not install another gas fire? Wouldn't that be cheapest?

foreign_correspondent

fobbedoff wrote: »

If the liner is for gas it's not suitable for solid fuel and relining is expensive. The tiled hearth and surround may be OK but you do need deeper hearth for solid fuel. Also space around stove needs to be lined with suitable material and a closure plate installed.

I agree, the liner was put in with the gas fire and back burner, about 12 years ago I think... before that the unlined chimney was used with a solid fuel burner and a back boiler. Therefore I know that it the hearth, chamber and (then unlined) chimney worked fine with a solid fuel fire then...

Greenfires wrote: »

As fobbedoff said - that liner isn't for use with solid fuel if it's a gas liner - and no proper stove installer would connect a stove to one. It's also not sufficient in diameter to serve an open fire - and the fact that it's been used with one in the past wouldn't do any good if any issues arose that meant insurance companies got involved. If you're going to do it - do it right - people always see wood fires as harmless - but carbon monoxide is the same whatever it's coming from - they're all just as good at killing you!

Absolutely, the liner was never used with solid fuel, it was installed at the same time as the gas fire, and I've always assumed it'd need to come out...

However, what I didn't realise it that an insert stove is so expensive to install, they seem to be a lot dearer than installing a freestanding stove, so I'm now looking at whether an open fire would be a better bet and cheaper to install... that's all.

I honestly have no interest in carbon monoxiding myself to death, and had no intention of leaving the current liner in....

Robwiz wrote: »

I missed the fact it was a gas fire. In that case, why not install another gas fire? Wouldn't that be cheapest?

I'd prefer not to, I just don't like them, and I'd like to be able to light a fire on the chilliest nights of the year.

Greenfires

The thing with open fires is that they're so inefficient you can actually end up cooling the house down overall as they pull so much cold air in from outside to replace what's going up the chimney.

rustyboy21

The fireplace looks fine for an open fire.


As said above the liner needs to come out, but be ready for the flue itself to be condemned as it may have created leaks in it, in the intervening years. Get a good accredited chimney sweep in who has all the correct qualifications to do all the checking.


If he passes it for you, the simplest form of using it, would be to fit a concrete fireback, throat lintel and get a stool, ashpan and fret fitted into the opening. The chimney sweep may be able to do that for you, or put you in touch with someone. The hearth is fine, was designed for solid fuel anyway.


I do have to say, it will be as cheap to get a gas fire put in and utilise the liner that is there. It will cost you a bit to get the liner pulled out. Have a good look at gas, they have changed a lot, some look as good as an open fire and easier to control.