Flue lining for gas fire

[linc1464]

Dear all,

My wife and I are replacing a woodburner with a gas fire. It's a long story but the woodburner was a bad idea. We have used the woodburner for only 4-5 months (one winter). Now that we are having the gas fire fitted, the engineer says that we need a new chimney lining because it's not allowed to use a gas fire with a liner that was previously used with a woodburner. Obviously, we're a bit annoyed with this and I wanted to ask whether this rule is hard and fast or if there is anything at all that we can do to get round it such as getting someone to vigorously clean our existing liner. Otherwise, I guess there's nothing else for it but to replace it. This isn't my area at all so I'm not going to be able to do any of it myself.

Cheers
Steve

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Sorry to say no there made to different spec

 

[Scott_1979]

Where is the fire situated? What's the condition of the original builders opening? You may be able to just remove the liner and use the original flue system depending on condition

 

[linc1464]

The fireplace is in the living room, which is part of an extention. I've no idea what original flue system there was. The new one is a double walled flexible liner (insulated with vermiculite, which I'm worried will cause a right mess when drained out). There was an old gas fire in place when we moved in so perhaps there is something there. It just seems a bit of a waste to have to remove a perfectly good (and expensive) lining for this. The lining that we have can, in theory, be used for gas but it's just this rule that is preventing things from going forward. That's why I wondered whether it could be cleaned to get around this regulation?

 

[justlead1]

Its likely the existing (Woodburner liner) liner is of a larger dia than that the proposed gas boiler liner? Worth checking as it could save money and mess.

 

[linc1464]

I think the current liner is 5 inches. Is it possible to run a gas fire of a liner with lower diameter than this?

 

[justlead1]

There are to many unknown's. You better off asking the guy thats removing existing and fitting new gas fire, as the responsibility is with the fitter.

 

[RayW]

Install one of these ... Burley Ambience 4121 Flueless Gas Stove | Flames.co.uk

 

[linc1464]

Many thanks to everyone for your advice - it really is appreciated. As gas safe fitters yourselves, would you insist on the flue being replaced before fitting. As I said above, I was thinking of getting it professionally swept and certified and wondered whether this would suffice for fitting or whether this would still go against the regs. I've checked the spec of the flue with the person that originally fitted it and it would be fine for use with gas.

 

[firemant]

As far as I am concerned, and I have fitted hundreds of fires,if the spec if the flue is suitable,then the regs say that a flue previously used for SF must be swept, so it will be okay.
The potential sticky point will be the terminal.Gas terminals are different to SF, so that will have to be changed. A compliant terminal MUST be fitted when used with a 5" liner.

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