I have a currently disued fireplace in the lounge,
which I want to have a gas fire fitted to, but
I have a few questions first.

The fireplace has a brick chimney, I've scraped out
the dodgiest of the mortar and replaced it with new stuff
(It's not what I'd call a perfect job though). There
are some sound but unnattactive tiles around the front of the
fireplace which I'd like to change.

Can I just tile over the existing ones, or would it be better
to remove the old tiles first? Do I need special heat-proof
tiles?

Also, I've noticed that in winter I do get some dirt coming
down the chimney when it's windy, though not a huge amount.
Would I need to get the chimney swept before I had a gas fire
installed?

There's already a gas point for the fire. Thanks for any tips.

wrote in message 
news:1125752352.805105.274750@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

>I have a currently disued fireplace in the lounge,
> which I want to have a gas fire fitted to, but
> I have a few questions first.
>
> The fireplace has a brick chimney, I've scraped out
> the dodgiest of the mortar and replaced it with new stuff
> (It's not what I'd call a perfect job though). There
> are some sound but unnattactive tiles around the front of the
> fireplace which I'd like to change.
>
> Can I just tile over the existing ones, or would it be better
> to remove the old tiles first? Do I need special heat-proof
> tiles?
>
> Also, I've noticed that in winter I do get some dirt coming
> down the chimney when it's windy, though not a huge amount.
> Would I need to get the chimney swept before I had a gas fire
> installed?
>
> There's already a gas point for the fire. Thanks for any tips.
>

Not sure about this but I've a feeling current regs require a liner
to be fitted to the chimney where a new installation is taking place.
This will not be cheap. Of course, I suppose if you had a gas fire
there before, then in real terms nothing will change if you put another
in, even if not strictly within the regs. I believe it is something to do 
with
the possibility of a carbon monoxide leak through a possibly leaky
brick chimney.

As to the dirt, I imagine sweeping would be best, though I have
chimneys that date from the '30's, with lime mortar used in the
construction, and there is a small but steady rain of small particles
of sooty lime mortar in my disused fireplace, so sweeping the
chimney won't necessarily prevent dirt from accumulating.

Andy.

"Andy"  wrote in message
news:4319b085@212.67.96.135...

>
>  wrote in message
> news:1125752352.805105.274750@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> >I have a currently disued fireplace in the lounge,
> > which I want to have a gas fire fitted to, but
> > I have a few questions first.
> >
> > The fireplace has a brick chimney, I've scraped out
> > the dodgiest of the mortar and replaced it with new stuff
> > (It's not what I'd call a perfect job though). There
> > are some sound but unnattactive tiles around the front of the
> > fireplace which I'd like to change.
> >
> > Can I just tile over the existing ones, or would it be better
> > to remove the old tiles first? Do I need special heat-proof
> > tiles?
> >
> > Also, I've noticed that in winter I do get some dirt coming
> > down the chimney when it's windy, though not a huge amount.
> > Would I need to get the chimney swept before I had a gas fire
> > installed?
> >
> > There's already a gas point for the fire. Thanks for any tips.
> >
> Not sure about this but I've a feeling current regs require a liner
> to be fitted to the chimney where a new installation is taking place.
> This will not be cheap. Of course, I suppose if you had a gas fire
> there before, then in real terms nothing will change if you put another
> in, even if not strictly within the regs. I believe it is something to do
> with
> the possibility of a carbon monoxide leak through a possibly leaky
> brick chimney.
>
> As to the dirt, I imagine sweeping would be best, though I have
> chimneys that date from the '30's, with lime mortar used in the
> construction, and there is a small but steady rain of small particles
> of sooty lime mortar in my disused fireplace, so sweeping the
> chimney won't necessarily prevent dirt from accumulating.
>
> Andy.
>
>


We have just had a new gas fire fitted, the sort with imitation coal. It was
a gas fire with a back boiler before. The people fitting the fire insisted
on taking out the liner and sweeping the chimney. I don't think there was
anything wrong with the liner and they had not seen it before saying it had
to be removed.

          Simon

thanks for the info, I'd never even heard of chimney liners before!

will check out prices next I think

On Sun, 04 Sep 2005 01:43:57 -0700, floopythecat wrote:


> thanks for the info, I'd never even heard of chimney liners before!
> 

In which case I strongly recommend that you get some professional help
with this installation. 

It is mandatory that the chimney is swept if the chimney has been used
for any other fuel before it is used for gas. It's a good idea anyway. 

The chimney will need to be examined, the terminal, smoke tests performed.
Including checking for smoke into the roof space, other rooms and other
chimneys. Whilst plain round open pots are acceptable you may need
something to keep that keeps rain and/or fauna out.  

Liners are required for back boilers. Liners may/must/must-not be used on
gas fires according to the manufacturers instructions for the fire. If a
liner is used it will come down to a register plate or a purpose made box.


-- 
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk 
Gas fitting FAQ  http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html

Ed Sirett wrote:


> On Sun, 04 Sep 2005 01:43:57 -0700, floopythecat wrote:
> 
> 
>>thanks for the info, I'd never even heard of chimney liners before!
>>
> 
> In which case I strongly recommend that you get some professional help
> with this installation. 
> 
> It is mandatory that the chimney is swept if the chimney has been used
> for any other fuel before it is used for gas. It's a good idea anyway. 
> 
> The chimney will need to be examined, the terminal, smoke tests performed.
> Including checking for smoke into the roof space, other rooms and other
> chimneys. Whilst plain round open pots are acceptable you may need
> something to keep that keeps rain and/or fauna out.  
> 
> Liners are required for back boilers. Liners may/must/must-not be used on
> gas fires according to the manufacturers instructions for the fire. If a
> liner is used it will come down to a register plate or a purpose made box.
> 
> 


I thought that all new installations for gas fired appliances needed a 
liner.

Which sort must NOT be used with a liner, and why?

"The Natural Philosopher" <A@b.c> wrote in message 
news:1125830925.21049.0@doris.uk.clara.net...

> Ed Sirett wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 04 Sep 2005 01:43:57 -0700, floopythecat wrote:
>>
>>
>>>thanks for the info, I'd never even heard of chimney liners before!
>>>
>>
>> In which case I strongly recommend that you get some professional help
>> with this installation. It is mandatory that the chimney is swept if the 
>> chimney has been used
>> for any other fuel before it is used for gas. It's a good idea anyway. 
>> The chimney will need to be examined, the terminal, smoke tests 
>> performed.
>> Including checking for smoke into the roof space, other rooms and other
>> chimneys. Whilst plain round open pots are acceptable you may need
>> something to keep that keeps rain and/or fauna out.  Liners are required 
>> for back boilers. Liners may/must/must-not be used on
>> gas fires according to the manufacturers instructions for the fire. If a
>> liner is used it will come down to a register plate or a purpose made 
>> box.
>>
>>
>
> I thought that all new installations for gas fired appliances needed a 
> liner.
>
> Which sort must NOT be used with a liner, and why?


I would be interested in knowing that too. I haven't done much research into
the subject yet but I need to install a living flame gas fire for my old mum 
one of these
days, and the work/expense in getting a liner installed first has put me off 
it.

If I could get a gas fire that was OK to exhaust into a brick chimney, with 
just a
preliminary sweep and smoke test, that'd be good news indeed. I could
afford to get one in for Christmas. I shall do some searching and let people
know if I find any relevant info.

Andy.

On Sun, 04 Sep 2005 16:03:45 +0100, Andy wrote:


> 
> "The Natural Philosopher" <A@b.c> wrote in message 
> news:1125830925.21049.0@doris.uk.clara.net...
>> Ed Sirett wrote:
>>
>>> On Sun, 04 Sep 2005 01:43:57 -0700, floopythecat wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>thanks for the info, I'd never even heard of chimney liners before!
>>>>
>>>
>>> In which case I strongly recommend that you get some professional help
>>> with this installation. It is mandatory that the chimney is swept if the 
>>> chimney has been used
>>> for any other fuel before it is used for gas. It's a good idea anyway. 
>>> The chimney will need to be examined, the terminal, smoke tests 
>>> performed.
>>> Including checking for smoke into the roof space, other rooms and other
>>> chimneys. Whilst plain round open pots are acceptable you may need
>>> something to keep that keeps rain and/or fauna out.  Liners are required 
>>> for back boilers. Liners may/must/must-not be used on
>>> gas fires according to the manufacturers instructions for the fire. If a
>>> liner is used it will come down to a register plate or a purpose made 
>>> box.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> I thought that all new installations for gas fired appliances needed a 
>> liner.
>>
>> Which sort must NOT be used with a liner, and why?
> 
> I would be interested in knowing that too. I haven't done much research into
> the subject yet but I need to install a living flame gas fire for my old mum 
> one of these
> days, and the work/expense in getting a liner installed first has put me off 
> it.
> 
> If I could get a gas fire that was OK to exhaust into a brick chimney, with 
> just a
> preliminary sweep and smoke test, that'd be good news indeed. I could
> afford to get one in for Christmas. I shall do some searching and let people
> know if I find any relevant info.
> 

Off hand I can't think of any examples which are forbidden to use with a
lined chimney, there are models which are not suitable for use with a
pre-cast block flue system. 

Many of the grate burner and inset live fuel effect type are suitable for
use with an unlined  Class I chimney in good order. 

-- 
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk 
Gas fitting FAQ  http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html

"Ed Sirett"  wrote in message 
news:pan.2005.09.04.18.08.30.591394@makewrite.demon.co.uk...

> On Sun, 04 Sep 2005 16:03:45 +0100, Andy wrote:
>
>>
>> "The Natural Philosopher" <A@b.c> wrote in message
>> news:1125830925.21049.0@doris.uk.clara.net...
>>> Ed Sirett wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Sun, 04 Sep 2005 01:43:57 -0700, floopythecat wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>thanks for the info, I'd never even heard of chimney liners before!
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> In which case I strongly recommend that you get some professional help
>>>> with this installation. It is mandatory that the chimney is swept if 
>>>> the
>>>> chimney has been used
>>>> for any other fuel before it is used for gas. It's a good idea anyway.
>>>> The chimney will need to be examined, the terminal, smoke tests
>>>> performed.
>>>> Including checking for smoke into the roof space, other rooms and other
>>>> chimneys. Whilst plain round open pots are acceptable you may need
>>>> something to keep that keeps rain and/or fauna out.  Liners are 
>>>> required
>>>> for back boilers. Liners may/must/must-not be used on
>>>> gas fires according to the manufacturers instructions for the fire. If 
>>>> a
>>>> liner is used it will come down to a register plate or a purpose made
>>>> box.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> I thought that all new installations for gas fired appliances needed a
>>> liner.
>>>
>>> Which sort must NOT be used with a liner, and why?
>>
>> I would be interested in knowing that too. I haven't done much research 
>> into
>> the subject yet but I need to install a living flame gas fire for my old 
>> mum
>> one of these
>> days, and the work/expense in getting a liner installed first has put me 
>> off
>> it.
>>
>> If I could get a gas fire that was OK to exhaust into a brick chimney, 
>> with
>> just a
>> preliminary sweep and smoke test, that'd be good news indeed. I could
>> afford to get one in for Christmas. I shall do some searching and let 
>> people
>> know if I find any relevant info.
>>
> Off hand I can't think of any examples which are forbidden to use with a
> lined chimney, there are models which are not suitable for use with a
> pre-cast block flue system.
>
> Many of the grate burner and inset live fuel effect type are suitable for
> use with an unlined  Class I chimney in good order.
>

Interesting, I'll look into it, there was a radiant gas fire feeding my 
chimney until
five years ago, it's encouraging that I may be able to replace it with a 
living
flame gas fire without too much palaver and clinging to the rooftops!

Andy.

"Andy"  wrote in message 
news:431b4743@212.67.96.135...

>
> "Ed Sirett"  wrote in message 
> news:pan.2005.09.04.18.08.30.591394@makewrite.demon.co.uk...
>> On Sun, 04 Sep 2005 16:03:45 +0100, Andy wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> "The Natural Philosopher" <A@b.c> wrote in message
>>> news:1125830925.21049.0@doris.uk.clara.net...
>>>> Ed Sirett wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On Sun, 04 Sep 2005 01:43:57 -0700, floopythecat wrote:
>>>>>
<snip>

>>> If I could get a gas fire that was OK to exhaust into a brick chimney, 
>>> with
>>> just a
>>> preliminary sweep and smoke test, that'd be good news indeed. I could
>>> afford to get one in for Christmas. I shall do some searching and let 
>>> people
>>> know if I find any relevant info.
>>>
>> Off hand I can't think of any examples which are forbidden to use with a
>> lined chimney, there are models which are not suitable for use with a
>> pre-cast block flue system.
>>
>> Many of the grate burner and inset live fuel effect type are suitable for
>> use with an unlined  Class I chimney in good order.
>>
> Interesting, I'll look into it, there was a radiant gas fire feeding my 
> chimney until
> five years ago, it's encouraging that I may be able to replace it with a 
> living
> flame gas fire without too much palaver and clinging to the rooftops!
>


It should be OK. BG installed a gas coal-effect fire (replacing a radiant 
one) for us with a visual examination and a smoke test with no need for a 
liner. (The fact that we found it a complete white elephant, never used it 
and later converted it back into a proper fire for logs/coal using a 
Jetmaster firebox, which has been excellent, is a different story!).

Bob Mannix