You got a wood burner?

[K.S.H]

I've got 3 large bags of wood here if its any good to you, its not clean but its not painted, some have got nails in, been in my loft for nearly 100 year (I didn't put it there before anyone asks ) some small stuff about 1" x 0.5" up to 3" X 2" and a few planks, all been sawn down to max length of about 2 foot. It's going to the tip tomorrow unless someone wants it.

[derekgas]

The local hetas registered installer may be interested, if not, he will know people who are, havnt got his number to hand, but the company is flusafe, the owners name is steve.

[entwisi]

Derek, perhaps you can anser a quick Q I have.

We have a living flame gas fire ( open front grate thing with those coals that glow). Its fitted in a marble in built fireplace and we had it fitted about 8 years ago. the chimney has a gas 'cap' if that means anything. the surround bit had a 'slit' rather than a full open flue at the top.

Basically, I have access to as much wood as I would ever want for nothing. is the surround bit and chinney likely to be suitable or am I looking at big work to switch to wood burning?

[glasgow guy]

I cant answer the gas question as thats dereks domain...
but you may have to change your hearth if looking to burn solid fuel as it burns hotter and could/can crack/melt your hearth as it cannot expand due to the heat thats put out...
most folk get a hearth thats been slabbed in cement and cut into 3 to allow for expansion when looking to burn coal/wood.. - we do alot of them in work just now cos quite a few folk are changing from gas to this given the prices of gas at the mo..
and obviously you would change your fire.
the problem you could have is that if you were to change you hearth it may be a hassle trying to get it out without breaking the fireplace...
and a burning wood fire is lovely and cosy etc but not half messy...

[derekgas]

Originally Posted by entwisi

Derek, perhaps you can anser a quick Q I have.

We have a living flame gas fire ( open front grate thing with those coals that glow). Its fitted in a marble in built fireplace and we had it fitted about 8 years ago. the chimney has a gas 'cap' if that means anything. the surround bit had a 'slit' rather than a full open flue at the top.

Basically, I have access to as much wood as I would ever want for nothing. is the surround bit and chinney likely to be suitable or am I looking at big work to switch to wood burning?

Stoves are the popular thing atm Ian, but as GG says, the hearth is likely to need changing and the fireplace 'slabbing' (addition of vermiculite and cement on the back for a normal fire opening), most people open the fireplace up to create in 'inglenook' effect, because the stoves need quite a bit of clearance around them from the nearest surface, you would also need a air vent in the room with a woodburner, there is a multifuel stove which is very efficient, you can burn anything, even in a smokeless zone, because it burns completely, you also get a certificate to say it is suitable for a smokeless zone, with normal stoves, we would make sure the purchaser does not live in a smokeless zone, but most retailers would just sell the stove without informing the customer that they cant legally use it, finally, your chimney 'cap' (I think this is probably a cowl), would have to be taken off/changed.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by derekgas

finally, your chimney 'cap' (I think this is probably a cowl), would have to be taken off/changed.

What about flue liners Derek, can you use a wood burner with a liner? Don't most gas fires use a liner as well now, especially in newer houses?

[derekgas]

Originally Posted by Neil

What about flue liners Derek, can you use a wood burner with a liner? Don't most gas fires use a liner as well now, especially in newer houses?

If the chimney is ok, the flue liner can come out, if not, it has to be replaced but will be a different size, and maybe twin walled, it is suggested that liners be used for gas fires, but not a requirement, many installers will tell you to install a liner 'to be certain' but imo it is more about getting more money out of you, I recently tested a chimney on 4 different days because the customer had been told the chimney was unsafe (there was apparently smoke coming into the next room) I suspect the installer had let a second smoke pellet off in the other room just to scare the customer into having the liner installed, engineers who work for companies are paid commission to sell liners, this inevitably leads to false claims about chimneys, and even cheating, just for the record, if one of my engineers made false suggestions, they would be out of work very quickly.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by derekgas

and maybe twin walled

Why twin walled

[glasgow guy]

buying twin wall liner will cost an arm and a leg...depending on the size..5" or 6"maybe in the £500 + bracket..its expensive stuff..

[entwisi]

OK, thanks guys

[derekgas]

Originally Posted by Neil

Why twin walled

It is because of the heat.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by derekgas

It is because of the heat.

I am surprised by that as old houses like mine have unlined chimneys made of brick and they used to burn whatever they wanted under them.

Am I right thinking that the content in the smoke/fumes can over time come through the brick work and show up as marks on the wallpaper or is that an old wives tale?

[derekgas]

It is more likely to come through where the joists sit in the chimney breast, or where pipes were fitted for the back water circulators, or cracks in the pointing in the loft, the feathers in the chimney could be down (the dividing flue walls) so the smoke can go up one chimney and down the next one, flue liners put a stop to that.

[John_Timmins]

anyone know what happened to my post in this thread??? disappeared with no comments or pm why???

[Neil]

Originally Posted by John_Timmins

anyone know what happened to my post in this thread??? disappeared with no comments or pm why???

Did it say something like "Len is hung like a donkey"? If so it might have been deleted