Flue Dilemma

CGORST

My chimney has no chimney; it has a gas flue liner but no closure plate/register plate (I don't know what it is called), which led to the Gas Safe engineer condemning the chimney. As a result I haven't had a fire for the past couple of years. I decided to bite the bullet this year and get it fixed but I am so confused I feel like bursting into tears with the frustration of it.

One company came to take a look and said that if I want a new gas fire I have to have the whole chimney relined, because chimneys should be relined when gas fires are replaced, even though it passed the smoke test. This will cost £900 but then I will also need a new gas fire. If I want a real fire it will cost £1900 to have the chimney relined not including the cost of hearth and grate etc.

Another company came out and although they haven't sent the quote yet, they too said the whole chimney needs relining because it has to be relined when the gas fire is changed.

Another man who came out, who isn't HETAs or Gas Safe registered said I could just have a closure plate fitted for "a couple of hundred pounds". As he isn't registered I would then need somebody from the council to check the work, which would cost another couple of hundred pounds!

I contacted an expert from a national newspaper who said there was no legal requirement to have the whole chimney relined when replacing a gas fire. He also said that the Gas Safe engineer had no right to remove my gas fire and condemn my chimney without my permission!

As you can tell, I am confused. I really want a fire before winter. I can't afford to run electric but at the same time, I don't know if any of these prices sound fair or expensive. I live in a small town and I am having difficulty finding people who can do the job or even give me a quote. Companies that are further afield don't want to come out this far. I'm not in the back of beyond but nevertheless finding enough companies to give me a quote so I can compare them is proving elusive.

If anybody to relay the cost of any similar work they have had done, I would really appreciate it.

southcoastrgi

rustyboy21 will be able to answer this for you

rustyboy21

OP
Difficult one, as you are down to getting an engineer who is prepared to install a gas fire for you, onto an existing liner.

Any idea how old the liner is that is there? It would have been fitted, either because you used to have a back boiler fitted, or you have an issue with the flue. Have you had a Gas safe registered chimney sweep out, to check for soundness and give you a certificate?

As far as I am concerned, if a liner is not ancient ( like 20 years) and is sound( no cracks/leaks etc) then all they would need to do is to plate off the inside of the chamber, so no fumes can go around the liner and then install a fire for you. You should not have to pay £900 for a 5'' copex flue liner, which is all you need for the majority of gas fires these days, you would be looking at more like £400 for it +fire and fit.

Don't go down the route of solid fuel, it will cost a fortune in install and the liner, this needs to be a new top whack liner installed which leads me to think that they are trying to pull a fast one on you by giving you a price for a solid fuel liner, then fitting a gas fire onto it.

A chimney sweep can fit a copex liner for you, most likely at a cheaper price than the shop would. I wont fit liner for my customers, I always get a sweep to do it. They have the equipment to do it and my lads are scared of heights! lol.

I really think that you need to get a sweep to fit a new liner if necessary or give you a certificate for soundness on your old one and then shop around in different shops to get what you want. I think they are giving you a high price, as they don't want the messing about. They could fit 2 to 3 fires in the same time and make more profit from them.

CGORST

Ahhhh Rustyboy21, I think your answer might have solved all my problems!!

The liner was fitted in 1999, because the chimney stack was removed when a brick fell out of it! Funnily enough, I had a chimney sweep out to sweep the chimney in the back room and he was very reasonable but I didn't actually realise he could fit a liner if he wasn't registered with HETAs or something. This is how confused I am because I know that HETAs is just for solid fuel isn't it? I am really glad I posted the question now! I know just the man to contact I think - it's the one who sweeps and lines NOT the one who also sells fires and woodburners!!

Thanks so much for your help!!

rustyboy21

The shop will do it, but ( and this is coming from someone who owns a fireplace shop!) they will charge you more usually for doing it. As said above, I don't do it, beacause the lads could do 2 extra fire fits, whilst struggling with a liner.


Just remember that if you are staying with a gas fire, then you only need a 5''( 125mm) copex flexible liner fitted. Get him to fit a register plate at the top of the chamber in your room and seal it in properly. Don't get sucked into getting top end solid fuel grade liners fitted, you need the cheapest type you can get.


When you then go shopping for your fire, tell the shop you have a class 1 lined flue with a 125mm liner fitted. They will guide you in the right direction for a fire. If you can measure the depth of the fire chamber too and take it with you, with a photo of what is there, you will tick all the boxes and be able to buy your fire there and then with no issues whatsoever.


Good luck. If you have any questions on brands of fires to look at, get in touch with your choices and I will try to advise on what is good, what is not so good.

CGORST

Thanks so much Rustyboy21 - you are an absolute star! I have driven myself mad fretting about this for ages, especially with all the conflicting advice!! I have telephoned a chimney sweep today and he is going to come out in the next couple of days, so I will keep you informed.

Thanks for your help with the info I will need when buying a fire. I am going to print it off and take it with me when I am looking, otherwise I will completely forget!! :A