Wood burner installation

treecol

We have a bungalow built in 1968 with a chimney. The hearth has the most inefficient inset gas fire which we plan to have removed & the gas capped off. Just wondering of your experiences of doing this in a similar age property. As the opening is 16"x22", not sure if we can get a multi fuel stove in there. Apparently, building regs at the time would mean the chimney has a liner, we plan to have an open fire in there until we get someone out to sort a stove.
So can we just put a fire grate in & off we go (after checking chimney is lined)
Can a stove stand in front of the opening on the marble hearth with an elbow flue on the back?

suisidevw

No. You need to remove the gas liner that was attached to the gas fire. Then get it swept and checked over by someone competent so they can offer their assessment. They will then advise if it's suitable (probably will be) and you can install fire to building regs and get signed off by the Council or have a HETAS installer install and self certify. This may be necessary in the case of the house burning down for insurance!

Why not increase the opening size?

treecol

From what I can see from the fire instruction manual, there is no gas fire flue. The gas fire is inset into the fireplace & has a series of holes at the top through which most of the heat & presumably fumes go.
We will have the fireplace size increase, but of course at this time of year no one can come out. So we just wanted a quick fix for this winter, hence just an open fire for now.

muckybutt

You really need it checking over by a competent chimney sweep before you go lighting any fires in there. If there is a gas liner then YOU CANNOT light any fire in there until it is removed.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) kills ! its that simple get it checked before you do anything !

Ectophile

16"x22" is tiny for fitting a wood burner - I'm not sure you could get one small enough. My fireplace is about 22"x24" and just big enough for a 5kW burner, once you allow for a ventilation gap all round. if you have room, you may be able to sit a burner in front of it, with the flue coming out the back. All that would have to be done properly, with a fireproof hearth for the burner to sit on.

A 1968 house may well have been built with a lined chimney - mine was. If that's the case, then get it checked out by a qualified sweep, and if they are happy then you're good to go.

Cathb2009

The first step is a chimney sweep who will tell you how good your chimney is. I did this after 20 years in a 1950 flat in inner London and living with a hole in the wall for as long. To my great surprise, the chimney passed all the tests and I went on to buy a wood burner. I love it!