Flue Lining required for Gas Fire?

tellme_why

Hello Forum,
I have a perfectly sound Chimney and Flue in my two storey house.
Wish to install a hole in the wall gas fire and some say I would need to put lining in the flue.
They initially said the reason is Carbon Monoxide could get in the bedrooms. I said I would test the flue and confirm it's sound.
Apparently the second reason is "since the flue is quite big (originally the flue was built for solid fire in the sixties) the gas fire exhaust may not go up to the chimney nicely and the gas fire may not work".
Installing lining would reduce any risk of gas fire not working.
Now apparently the Flue Lining can only be installed by an Hetas technician (despite being just a pipe) and being quoted £ 1000

This would be added to the gas fire installation - £ 900, on top of the Gas Box itself £ 2000.

Total four grand!

thescouselander

Personally I'm not convinced it's necessary unless the existing arrangement is leaking. People have been using chimneys without liners for donkey's years without issue so I reckon the more recent requirement for liners is a nice little earner for the industry.

I should point out I'm in no way an expert on any of this though so better DYOR.

Crinkmeister

Your Gas Safe installer will be able to advise. Without seeing the job, my guess would be that a liner would be required, but get professional advice.

Ectophile

HETAS for a gas fire flue? HETAS is the body that regulates solid fuel appliances. I would expect a gas fire to be installed by a Gas Safe fitter.

konark

None of my gas fires go into linings and I would think this is common. The installer will test your chimney with a gas bomb, if it doesn't leak you;re good to go.

I do know that there are 2 types of flue; one for gas fires the other for solid fuel. The solid fuel flue is double-skinned and must be installed by HETAS approved installer. Gas is single-skinned and you can do it yourself. Lot of confusion over flue liners and tradesmen are taking advantage, telling people they must have one or they will be breaking the law etc. Basically doing what tradesmen do best, talking bollox.

What is a gas box? Do you mean a meter cupboard, approx £50 from all good suppliers.

tellme_why

konark wrote: »

None of my gas fires go into linings and I would think this is common. The installer will test your chimney with a gas bomb, if it doesn't leak you;re good to go.

I do know that there are 2 types of flue; one for gas fires the other for solid fuel. The solid fuel flue is double-skinned and must be installed by HETAS approved installer. Gas is single-skinned and you can do it yourself. Lot of confusion over flue liners and tradesmen are taking advantage, telling people they must have one or they will be breaking the law etc. Basically doing what tradesmen do best, talking bollox.

What is a gas box? Do you mean a meter cupboard, approx £50 from all good suppliers.

Thank you Konark; I meant the fire inset ..

tellme_why

thescouselander wrote: »

Personally I'm not convinced it's necessary unless the existing arrangement is leaking. People have been using chimneys without liners for donkey's years without issue so I reckon the more recent requirement for liners is a nice little earner for the industry.

I should point out I'm in no way an expert on any of this though so better DYOR.

Thank you thecounselander.. Did some more research and it may well be that some hole in the wall manufacturers design their equipment to be installed for both 1) Liner 2) Conventional Flue without liner.
I may be wrong:
- fire inset with fume exit from top (cylinder shape) can only work with liners connected to; without liner the fumes may "return" in the burner and cause flame not to work well.
- fire insert with option of removing back panel or similar thus creating a wider open area around the burner, can discharge fumes into a large chimney breast with no need of liner?? This would also explain why this arrangement leads to lower efficiency..

Back to my quote it may well be the seller only has fire inset without option 2) above, hence is statement that liner is required to make the fire work properly. This would be true .. but not the full story!:cool: