Open plan kitchen - downside.

pinkshoes

We have an open plan kitchen/dining room which is much better than having them as two separate rooms.

I would never consider opening the living room into a kitchen though. That is what they do in "small" properties to give an illusion of space, but in reality very annoying.

We are planning on putting a sofa in the corner of our kitchen as it is a lovely room to vegetate in, but will always keep our separate living room.

OP - can you not just replace the fire with an oil filled radiator? Or a portable one that you can move round the house when it gets really cold?

missile

no1catman wrote: »

I don't, but the gas engineer does - so that the coals can be re-laid in the correct position.

Don't have the option to use the fire - engineer turned it off.

Fire's ok, serviced know, BUT because the extractor fan in the kitchen - when on full - 'draws' the fire into the room it's not safe to use.

What nonsense, you lay the coals back as you found them or any which way - it makes no difference.

good

Get a closed gas fire. There are many to choose from. see here

happyandcontented

If you know the model number look online for the manual.

silvercar

Do you actually use the extractor fan?

One option would be to remove the connections for the extractor and have it as a decorative piece alone. Then your fire would be legal.

no1catman

happyandcontented wrote: »

If you know the model number look online for the manual.

Yup, done that already, but no luck with the front room - any search for 'Lancashire Fire Ltd.,' comes up with references to the Fire Service!

no1catman

missile wrote: »

Get a closed gas fire. There are many to choose from. see here

Thanks, but puzzled - if it's 'closed' where does the heat go? Open gas fire heats the air around which spreads around the room, it also radiates heat to people/surfaces nearby.
Interesting to see how efficient they are. Can it just fit in the space of the old one? Will I need any special chimney trunking?

Davesnave

Davesnave wrote: »

Depends on the property but the answer, if siting is possible, is to go for a through the wall gas fire that's room sealed. .

no1catman wrote: »

Interesting, can you tell me more about this please.

What you should be considering is balanced flue heaters/fires. They're like most boilers, taking air from outside and sending exhaust gases outside too, usually through a wall rather than up a chimney. The heat is convected hot air from a heat exchanger, but some have a flame effect too.

no1catman

Davesnave - not practical - live in a traditional 30s semi - gas fires connect to a central shared chimney, with four pots my side and four next-door.

This closed gas fire has possibilities - I'll have to find out more (certainly before spending £400+), could scrap the front, and when installing the new one in the rear, move the old one to the front - it has an automatic pilot light as well as a manual!

katejo

SG27 wrote: »

I personally hate open plan kitchen/diner/ living rooms. I would much rather a separate space. I looke at a 3 bed semi on rightmove recently that had the entire ground floor open plan. It was one giant room with a kitchen area in one corner, a dinning table in another and a living room area in another. Very odd.

I am happy to have a large kitchen/diner provided that I have a separate living room. i would never have all 3 in one. While I am relaxing on the sofa, I don't want to view the dirty dishes by the sink or have cooking smells. I can't comment on the gas fire aspect of this question.

no1catman

missile wrote: »

Get a closed gas fire. [/URL]

Visited a couple of places today who do them:
-1st one understood what I meant, checked with engineer, who seemed to think it would help - but wouldn't say 'yes, it's the answer'. I left while they contacted maker for their opinion - rang me back later - basically said no guarantees at your own risk.

- 2nd, again spoke to an engineer - though he referred to me as having a 'powerful' extractor fan (no, just a normal one) - recommended a (free) gas survey.


So, depending what the survey says, I can 1) fit an electric one, 2) fit a new closed gas fire, and if it works great, or if it's still affected by the fan - block off the external vent to the fan,
and 3) retain exist fire, but block off external vent to the fan.