can;t install gas fire due to downdraft? help!

Legacy_user

We had a gas fire in our living room which stopped working a couple of years ago,couldn't afford
to replace it till now.
So brought new fire called in our regular plumber but he couldn't install due to downdraft into room.
He suggested we get chimney sweep which we did,no problems.
chimney sweep suggested that we try a taller chimney pot and new cowl to prevent downdraft.
He said he couldn't guarantee it would work and it didn't as when plumber came out again and did smoke test it failed.
the chimney is on an external wall which could be causing problems as it just very cold and obviously hasn't been used for a few years.
plumber said to have chimney re pointed, roofer who did pot said don't bother!.
any help please!

Aylesbury_Duck

How badly do you need or want a gas fire there? Can you return the new fire for a refund? You could spend time and money trying to fix the draught problem and not getting anywhere. Have you considered an electric flame-effect fire in its place, for example?

Furts

Your plumber saying the chimney could be swept and that this could help reduce a down draft is odd, and to me totally illogical. Which in turn makes me wonder about competence.

A gas fire into a chimney is a problem area - it has been historically with my home. Here the problem was typical - a chimney is built for real fires. So your gas fire may need a flue liner going up the chimney. Basically you cannot assume your gas fire is suitable for your chimney without considering additional work done to your chimney. Obviously this will cost, and clearly money has been tight. But I would have expected your plumber to have discussed this with you. Again, perhaps a competence issue?

I would abandon your idea and get another way of heating. Much like Aylesbury Duck's comments I ended up with a decorative electric fire in my fireplace. By combining this with insulation upgrades everywhere it now performs a roll - occasional heating when I need a bit of back up.

System

I do want a fire in my room,it can get a little chilly when cold as we have a wood floor and sometimes i don't want to heat the whole house.
The sweeping was to check there was nothing blocking the chimney as we hadn't used it for some time.
There was a gas fire there when we brought the house 10 years ago and worked when we moved in.
we aren't able to take it back as past the return period.
A flue liner was mentioned,but as said added cost, not got a quote for a liner so have no idea.

Furts

toomuchmess wrote: »

I do want a fire in my room,it can get a little chilly when cold as we have a wood floor and sometimes i don't want to heat the whole house.
The sweeping was to check there was nothing blocking the chimney as we hadn't used it for some time.
There was a gas fire there when we brought the house 10 years ago and worked when we moved in.
we aren't able to take it back as past the return period.
A flue liner was mentioned,but as said added cost, not got a quote for a liner so have no idea.

An insulated liner is likely to be an answer but normally one goes to a fire company and says "this is my requirement, so supply and fit a fire to meet this. Give me quote". The fact that you already have a fire means some installers may be less keen to get involved. All this is safety regulated work - think flue gases, carbon monoxide and fire risk. Which again is why most folks go down the supply and fit route to a suitable company. That means all issues and problems belong with the fire supply company which keeps matters simple - there can be no buck passing or excuses.

Even your pot/terminal may be unsuitable, and if a new pot is required this might mean work to the chimney, which will also incur scaffolding costs. It can all become a bit of a minefield.

Aylesbury_Duck

Could you sell the new fire - unused and boxed, presumably? It may be galling that you will lose money on it but the alternative seems to be an open-ended budget to try and make it work with no guarantee that it will anyway.

suki1964

Do you have a liner in the chimney? Im pretty sure thats a requirement ( could be wrong )

I liked in a house converted into flats in the 80s, all with gas fires going in to the one chimney, I got carbon monoxide poisoning .Apparently the clay liner had eroded over the years. All the fires were disconnected until a steel liner was installed

EssexExile

It's not a requirement to have a liner, the surveyor is supposed to do smoke tests to check flue for leaks.

MX5huggy

Can you fit it with a horizontal flue straight out back through the wall?

System

I have thought of selling the fire,but hoped for a way round this, but if needs be i will.
there is no liner there, maybe i'll get a quote.
We also have to get a new roof before the winter some how so if we were to go down the liner route, i would tie it in when we have scaffolding up for that.
no one has mentioned a flue going straight out and couldn't tell you myself if that was an option.

Furts

suki1964 wrote: »

Do you have a liner in the chimney? Im pretty sure thats a requirement ( could be wrong )

I liked in a house converted into flats in the 80s, all with gas fires going in to the one chimney, I got carbon monoxide poisoning .Apparently the clay liner had eroded over the years. All the fires were disconnected until a steel liner was installed

Wow, sorry to hear that. Carbon monoxide poisoning from bad building makes me wince.

Clay liners were popular 30 years ago and they are almost infinite on their lifespan. Unfortunately many a bricklayer was not meticulous with the bedding of them, plus the surrounding was frequently (all too frequently!) never done. Even if it was done the wrong materials were almost certainly used.

I doubt any research has been done but it is almost a certainty that any clay flue chimney from this era will be sub standard on building. Goes with the territory unfortunately.