Want to fit a log burning stove - questions...

swebb

We want to fit one in our kitchen. We have a chimney. I believe the chimney will need blocking around where the flute enters... Is that a big job/how can this get done?

Is there anything else to consider/need to be aware of?

Thanks.

autismmum

it will need to be swept, and you should d o a smoke test, because carbon mon oxide can escape through the cracks in the chimney breast or into your loft, so a smoke test will show if there are any leaks. also how is your pointing on the chimney??? soot can be acidic when rain meets it so it can weaken your pot and stack. hope this helps, we are also doing this, and its so worth it, unfortunetly i need a liner... now thats expensive

Poppycat

When we had ours fitted, the guy who fitted them said that 9/10 chimneys will need a liner which isn't cheap, now some would say he would say that to make more money?

It will need a plate (blanking plate) to fit on the chimney and the burner and possible a cowl on the chimney, ours did as the old one needed replacing. It also needs good ventilation so you may also need a air brick.

Now log burners are great when on, but bare in mind the cost, it costs us 2.5k in all for a medium burner 8k output and we have so far spent £155 on seasoned logs and it doesn't keep the whole house (semi) warm so will need additional heat when its cold

swebb

2.5k! Crikey. We want one for more cosmetic purposes in the kitchen. I've some for around £380 as the cheapest on the net. It will be a small one due to space. We will see if we can get a second hand one somewhere locally.

The chimney used to be used a number of years ago. We did get it cleaned a couple years ago now as we were going to use it as an open fire, but decided against it in the end.

moonrakerz

I think there may be rules about the surface on which the stove stands. It has to be non-combustible and project so far in front of the stove.
Have a word with your local council building regs people, they are usually very helpful.

Pennylane

Someone I know had a woodburner installed recently and she had to have a liner fitted too. I also seem to recall her saying that for INSURANCE purposes it all had to be done professionally and to a certain standard.

She's abroad at the mo. so can't ask her but it does make sense when you think about it. Not really a job for a cowboy builder and I can undertsnad an insurer being cautious.

Lewis_Gerolemou

You should only use woodstoves in chimneys with lined flues. Woodsmoke may condense in the chimney and the resulting tar/soot will weaken the mortar between the bricks. Its not such a problem with open fires because more heat goes up the flue so no condensation.

swebb

How much does it cost to line a chimney and how would this get done?

Poppycat

I think ours costs about £1200 with stainless steel liner this is for a 3 bedroom 1930 semi

elisamoose

We moved in to a renovated period house and were told the chimney was ok to use --firstly fitted a gas fire for a few years then decided to go for an open fire or log burner.
Lit a fire and whole top floor filled with smoke! turned out was a leaky old chimney and needed to be lined.As our house is 3 storeys was a big job with scaffolding etc and total bill was 3000 including the stove .
As an aside this explained my daughters headaches (which had resulted in MRI scans and various treatments)--we now think that the chimneys had leaked carbon monoxide into her room from the gas fire .This had been regularly serviced but the co test is done at appliance level not 20 foot above !

A cautionary tale --get your chimney checked out first !