Unsolvable gas fire smell.

Clairabella

Almost a year ago we had a Gazco Logic, balanced flue gas fire installed, along with a new, limestone, fireplace in our timber framed house. The fire had to be a 'slimline' one due to the depth of the cavity.

The fire gives off an unpleasant smell after about twenty minutes being on high. The fitters and Gazco have both been to the fire numerous times. Initially we were istructed to repeat a burn off, this we tried with the windows open and the fire on full for eleven hours. The fire was replaced with a factory tested, smell free, fire but this has not resolved the problem. The box they built around the fire has been replaced with an even more insulated one. The mantle of the fireplace has been replaced with a solid piece of limestone in case was smell from glue. None of these have resolved the issue.

We are at a loss what to do now. The fireplace supplier has offered to replace the fire with an electric one but I really prefer a gas fire for both running cost and aesthetics. Other houses on this estate (built 1992) have similar fires with no issues.

It's hard to describe a smell, it's not pleasant, similar to the initial burn off smell and it is not carbon monoxide though I don't know if it is toxic or not. I'm wondering if anyone else has had this issue or has any suggestions.

billn

I know this is no help to you but please update if you get an answer, you seem to have a similar situation to us ours is a Gazco gas log effect burner.

We have found that the smell (which is seems like a chemical type smell) only lasts about 10 minutes, we don't use the fire very often but when we do the smell tends to get less and less the more we have the fire on.

I have come the possible conclution that it may be the sealer that has been used on the limestone but this is just a guess.

Clairabella

billn wrote: »

I know this is no help to you but please update if you get an answer, you seem to have a similar situation to us ours is a Gazco gas log effect burner.

I have come the possible conclution that it may be the sealer that has been used on the limestone but this is just a guess.

We actually had the top of the limestone fireplace replaced in case the smell was from any glues or sealant used. We now have a solid limestone fire surround but still have the smell.

billn

Ours is a solid limestone surround its the only thing I can think that is causing the smell, we haven't had anybody look at ours mainly because it started over a year after it had been fitted.

Frank99

Get a Carbon monoxide detector just to make sure there is non in the room.

Clairabella

Thanks. Both the fitter and the Gazco engineer tested the air (negatively) for carbon monoxide but, I agree, we should get one anyway.

Furts

I owned a pre 1992 house and it too had smells coming from the gas fire. The solution was painful - either live with it or get remedial works done to the chimney which would have meant an insulated flue liner being installed in the chimney.

In theory the house had been built to receive the fire but in reality it did not work like this. The reason was the chimney construction was cold, and the heat losses and poor insulation in the home made matters worse. After the fire had been switched on the chimney would gradually heat up and the smells would start to dissipate. Which meant using the fire on maximum whether the heat was wanted or not.

Your home is an early generation timber frame so alarm bells ring. If built in Scotland your home may be OK, but if in say in Southern England I wonder about the chimney detailing. Regardless, it is likely that your insulation is woeful by current standards.

Clairabella

Furts wrote: »

I owned a pre 1992 house and it too had smells coming from the gas fire. The solution was painful - either live with it or get remedial works done to the chimney which would have meant an insulated flue liner being installed in the chimney.

In theory the house had been built to receive the fire but in reality it did not work like this. The reason was the chimney construction was cold, and the heat losses and poor insulation in the home made matters worse. After the fire had been switched on the chimney would gradually heat up and the smells would start to dissipate. Which meant using the fire on maximum whether the heat was wanted or not.

Your home is an early generation timber frame so alarm bells ring. If built in Scotland your home may be OK, but if in say in Southern England I wonder about the chimney detailing. Regardless, it is likely that your insulation is woeful by current standards.

Thanks Furts. We are in NE Lancs. Our builder did actually receive an award for the energy saving features in the house so hopefully it is well insulated though, I agree, perhaps not up to current standards. We do not, however, have a chimney. The fire vents straight out of the wall through the integral flue.

Something is getting hot and giving off fumes be it within the fire or the cavity, I am hoping someone else may have managed to solve this problem and can enlighten me.

George_Michael

I realise that it's no help but at least you seem to have chosen a company that offers very good service and isn't trying to dodge the issue.

Furts

Clairabella wrote: »

Thanks Furts. We are in NE Lancs. Our builder did actually receive an award for the energy saving features in the house so hopefully it is well insulated though, I agree, perhaps not up to current standards. We do not, however, have a chimney. The fire vents straight out of the wall through the integral flue.

Something is getting hot and giving off fumes be it within the fire or the cavity, I am hoping someone else may have managed to solve this problem and can enlighten me.

A long shot, but might your flue positioned be exposed and cold? Are there strong winds, or drafts pushing the flue gas back into the fire? Are these drafts getting up into your cavity and causing a cold spot? Is the flue fully sealed around and into the walls and insulated where it passes through the cavity?


It would be prudent to carefully check these items, if nothing else so you can rule them out. Then logically if they are ruled out then a finger of blame could be directed at the fire.

Clairabella

Thanks again Furts. The fitters are open to any suggestions as they are completely out of ideas how to rectify the issue. I'll mention this to them.