Empty fireplace - before fitting an electric fire

[Deleted User]

We did have a gas fire - no longer working. As we now have a much better central heating system, we don't really need a fire anymore, so I would like to replace it just with an electric fire to put on only when the weather is really bad. But I was surprised that when the guy removed the gas fire, he also took away the fireback, and we are now left with a completely empty brick fireplace (soot and all). Before we buy an electric fire to sit in it (it will be partly inset) what do we need to do to the fireplace. Will I need to get a builder in ? (Sorry if this is an ignorant question).

Thanks a lot.

Furts

I am puzzled by your reference to soot, but I assume years ago there was a coal fire that produced this soot? My gas fire was removed after 20+ years but there was no soot - just old mortar droppings, spiders and bird droppings

I would be cleaning it out then making good and pointing and jointing in the wall and getting it well sealed. I do not know what condition your chimney is in, but it could be a good time to get it swept if you so wished. A huge soot build up in there is not good news.

I sealed my chimney above the fire opening with Fibreglass/Rockwool in a sealed bag. I put this in around 500+mm above the top of the fire. My electric fire is only 3kW and fans the heat forward so there is no heat risk here imho.

force_ten

when our fireplace was closed off and a gas fire fitted the fire place was fitted with a Flue Gas Collector Box and the chimney was lined with a flexible flue liner

sounds like yours gas fire was just fitted to the bare fire box and open chimney, was the gas fire and inset fire or was it the type that stood on the hearth and vented gasses into the firebox through a closure plate