Flueless Gas Fires?

[mark66]

We have a traditional gas fire place in our living room, but due to a loft conversion done by the previous owners, the chimney stack was removed to make way for an en-suite bathroom. The gas supply still works, but if we light the fire we will probably die as the chimney doesn't vent!

So instead of going through another winter staring at a fireplace that should be heating us, I would like to come up with a solution!

First thoughts were to get the flue re-routed to join the chimney in the dining room, however I suspect this will be quite an expensive option, if possible at all?

So I have started to look at flueless gas fires, the tradtional looking type. However a bit of Googling reveals warnings that these are potential death traps, apparently banned in some states in the USA.

So I would like to hear from anyone that either owns or has considered a Flueless Gas fire? Perhaps there are some gas fitters on here, in which case I would very much like to hear your views!

Cheers

Mark

 

[DBT85]

I wouldn't touch a flueless gas fire with a 10ft barge pole with a paedophile on the end. I don't own one and never have, but have read similar things that you mention about safety concerns.

Running a vent to the other stack is probably doable but sods law dictates that if you wanted to put it in the floor space then the joists would all be running the wrong way which would mean it would have to go in one of the rooms and look ghastly.

No idea on the regulations for such a thing though.

I assume its on a party wall?

 

[mark66]

I wouldn't touch a flueless gas fire with a 10ft barge pole with a paedophile on the end. I don't own one and never have, but have read similar things that you mention about safety concerns.

LOL, ok it does seem like the flueless solution isn't the best way forward. I also read the heated air leaves via the very top of units and can damage the wall / plaster / picture etc that may be above it.

Running a vent to the other stack is probably doable but sods law dictates that if you wanted to put it in the floor space then the joists would all be running the wrong way which would mean it would have to go in one of the rooms and look ghastly.

No idea on the regulations for such a thing though.

I assume its on a party wall?

Indeed both stacks are on the party wall of our 1930's semi. I spoke to a chimney guy earlier and he advised to find the builder that did the loft conversion and see if he could help, as the would know the details of what they did to the old stack etc. Would be a big job though, opening up the two stacks on the first floor and and loosing some of the interior.

Perhaps we'll have to just live with our 'Do Not Use!' fire

 

[DBT85]

LOL, ok it does seem like the flueless solution isn't the best way forward. I also read the heated air leaves via the very top of units and can damage the wall / plaster / picture etc that may be above it.

Indeed both stacks are on the party wall of our 1930's semi. I spoke to a chimney guy earlier and he advised to find the builder that did the loft conversion and see if he could help, as the would know the details of what they did to the old stack etc. Would be a big job though, opening up the two stacks on the first floor and and loosing some of the interior.

Perhaps we'll have to just live with our 'Do Not Use!' fire

Unfortunately this is one of the things that comes with removing a stack without fully thinking it through. While it might make a room bigger or offer more space for something I find it makes rooms look boxy and as you have found, there is still a demand for a stack.

If you really need the heat then get an electric one put in or extend/expand the CH system.

Theoretically there is no reason you couldn't punch into the neighbours stack and use their chimney. I would imagine there are rules and regulations about that and I doubt the neighbour would be willing.

 

[Tefal]

could it go up the remaining chimney then straight out the wall sideways (half way up house)?

or would that leave a sooty build up on the wall of the house?

 

[DBT85]

could it go up the remaining chimney then straight out the wall sideways (half way up house)?

or would that leave a sooty build up on the wall of the house?

The fireplace is on the party wall so they'd have to run a duct from the stack from there to either the front or the back of the house. Would look pants in whatever room it was in.

 

[mark66]

Unfortunately this is one of the things that comes with removing a stack without fully thinking it through. While it might make a room bigger or offer more space for something I find it makes rooms look boxy and as you have found, there is still a demand for a stack.

The previous owner that put the loft conversion in had their living room and dining rooms the other way around to us, so what is now our living room was their very formal dining room. Therefore as it wasn't used regularly and had a large curved radiator in the bay window, they weren't overly bothered about loosing the gas fire. We didn't like this setup and so swapped them around. The bedroom above still has the stack, so no room is left looking unusual, we have just gained an ensuite in the loft.

Theoretically there is no reason you couldn't punch into the neighbours stack and use their chimney. I would imagine there are rules and regulations about that and I doubt the neighbour would be willing.

LOL we did consider this last night, but I don't think I could even propose such an idea to them! Would certainly be the easiest way though!

could it go up the remaining chimney then straight out the wall sideways (half way up house)?

I have no idea about flue regulations. but suspect that they must be of a certain angle and not horizontal. I guess we could break into the stack in the bedroom above at floor level and then route diagonally across the back wall to the front of the house and then out and up into the roof creating a new mini-chimney?!

Got a different chimney guy coming over tomorrow night, so will see what he has to say!

Cheers all for the inputs though