Ventilation for open fire?

Smiley_Dan

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

I am really confused by all this.


We have an open fire(love it to bits).


We have no additional ventilation.


Not had a problem in 20 years.

You do have a problem - your house is like a seive. But that seive is providing enough air for the fire to run, so as long as you don't mind using many times more energy than you need to to run your house, happy days.

Paradigm

Smiley_Dan wrote: »

You do have a problem - your house is like a seive. But that seive is providing enough air for the fire to run, so as long as you don't mind using many times more energy than you need to to run your house, happy days.

It's only a problem if you're not happy, seems like the poster is perfectly happy to have a house "like a sieve", it runs the fire they love perfectly well

Furts

Smiley_Dan wrote: »

Yes, but the air has to get into the house somehow, and air exits as a result, complete with the energy you have added to it to make it warmer.

All uncontrolled permeability in the building fabric is a bad thing. All uncontrolled ventilation (including vents for fires, air bricks etc) into the thermal envelope is a bad thing (in the sense that it neither ventilates correctly, nor does so in an efficient manner), because by its nature uncontrolled means unmeasured, finger in the air nonsense that our building regulation writers seem content with.

Open fires are a bad thing.

Build tight, ventilate right.

It is for OP to decide on the open fire but Smiley Dan is spot on with their comments. Without any doubt the mantra "Build tight, ventilate right" should be ingrained into the mindset of all home owners. I believe in it, I preach it, and further, I have put this into practice to the best of my somewhat limited ability. Sadly, the vast majority choose to ignore it. Equally the vast majority raise the topic of their energy bills every now and then!

POPPYOSCAR

Smiley_Dan wrote: »

You do have a problem - your house is like a seive. But that seive is providing enough air for the fire to run, so as long as you don't mind using many times more energy than you need to to run your house, happy days.

I doubt it.


We had our house built to a good specification and it keeps very warm.


All the windows are doubled glazed so where would the 'sieve' be exactly?

keith969

The house I grew up in (built c. 1958) had an open fire in the living room, and a couple of underfloor ventilation ducts that led from outside to the fireplace where there was an adjustable slotted grill.

Result - no draughts but plenty of ventilation for the fire.

wrightk

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

I am really confused by all this.


We have an open fire(love it to bits).


We have no additional ventilation.


Not had a problem in 20 years.

Heres the thing; everyones house isn't like yours. Every house is different, so what might be suitable and work fine for you might be completely unsuitable/damn right dangerous for someone elses home.

Im no fan of overly opressive regs but with open fires and solid fuel systems there are so many variables, the location of the fire, the construction of the house,the rating of the fire,what fuel is used,Even direct supply vents are impossible in the majority of houses unless your fire is cited on an external wall or you have underfloor options

The advise on ventilation is there as guidance as there are so many variables even an air permeability test is guesswork to a certain extent as outside conditions change constantly. You can see why it is such a minefield and why bodies like hetas cant provide greater clarity other than guidance