Condemning a woodburner

redlady_1

Our local pub has two old but working woodburners. They have their chimney swept annually by a guy who also sells woodburners. They booked him for a sweep and he came out and condemned the two burners. Under what conditions would a woodburner be condemned? I thought that whilst parts need to be replaced they would go on pretty much forever.

martinthebandit

I would be employing a different chimney sweep, one who doesn't sell woodburners.

firefox1956

My thoughts entirely......

redlady_1

Um, thank goodness its wasn't just me thinking along those lines. Could a woodburner ever be condemned?

thozza

Yes, it is quite possible for a woodburner to be condemned, the sweep will presumably have given a reason, possibly the stoves themselves are damaged or the flues are leaking, usually any sign that the stove may be in danger of leaking fumes is sufficient. As others have said, get a second opinion.

Ectophile

That may depend on what you mean by "condemned".

If the flue is leaking, and that would include where the flue meets the stove, then it shouldn't be used until it's fixed. A really cheap and nasty stove could even leak between the panels of the stove.

A._Badger

In in that rare and happy position of agreeing with everyone!

There has to be a question mark over a stove seller condemning two stoves. Then again it is perfectly possible for a stove or a flue to leak, or even be corroded through in places.

A stove installer I trust told me that some of thee cheap and nasty Chinese stoves he has been asked to install don't even fit together properly and I've noticed some distinctly dodgy looking stoves in country pubs in my area!

rustyboy21

If the stove has been over fired, this can create hairline cracks in the stove body, which will let dangerous fumes into the room. This especially happens with cast iron stoves.

If they are in the pub, then you dont know if patrons have been lobbing carp in it, like crisp packets etc, which could cause issues. Over loading it can cause it too.

redlady_1

How would you know whether or not it was leaking fumes or had hairline cracks if you were there to sweep a chimney and therefore the woodburner wasn't on? This has really made me curious about it as I have two myself.


Oh and he is getting a second opinion it would seem.

thozza

redlady_1 wrote: »

How would you know whether or not it was leaking fumes or had hairline cracks.

Normally a smoke test.

Gloomendoom

We have a antique Franklin type stove in our dining room that is full of gaps. I check the CO meter in the room regularly and it has never recorded anything above zero.