do i need a chimney liner for an open fire?

It may be an essential part of your installation. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Then we will be introducing Read More…, HETAS has been providing industry-leading training for installers of solid fuel and biomass appliances for decades with our MHCLG approved competent persons scheme in place since 2002. The chimney liner should never be undersized for any appliance, especially to accommodate insulation around the liner. This chimney project is for an open fire. Installing a flexible chimney liner or complete twinwall system is a larger job and may involve ladders or scaffolding if external access to your roof is needed but is still technically straightforward. Furanflex flue liners are the newest chimney lining technology. Chimney liners are mandatory if you have a wood-burning fireplace, gas fireplace or open fire fireplace. If the room has a suspended wood floor with air bricks round the outside of the house, then a simple floor grille cut into the floorboards to one side of the hearth or chimney breast is a good solution. To check the flue way is clear of blockages and birds’ nests. Sounds like you could have secondary fire in the chimney itself. We had the sweep round recently and he told us off for burning damp wood (which apparently makes lots of soot and can eat through the brickwork) but he didn't mention getting it lined. However, modern wood burning or multi fuel stoves are 75% or more heat efficient - meaning that only 10% or so of the heat is going up the chimney and is … Chimney systems that predate 1965 liner may not be suitable for other fuels). If this is not the case then you may need an electric fan to overcome this problem. GL20 8HD A gas fireplace liner is much more compact than that of an open fire fireplace. At this point it is worth reminding ourselves that modern day wood-burning stoves are 80% efficient which means that only 20% of the heat is lost up the chimney. For example, if you have an electric or gas fire-suite, a chimney liner is not always necessary. Metal chimney systems are commonly made of either aluminium or stainless steel, and are used for wood or multi-fuel burning stoves and open fires. what3words: ///firepower.awake.uncouth If there is any risk that the chimney could leak fumes in to the house they must line it with a suitable re-lining material. It is one of the first questions anyone asks when they start thinking about installing a wood-burning stove: do I need to line my chimney? Flue gases contain acidic fumes such as sulphur dioxide, that combine with water from rain or condensation, to form strong acids. © Copyright 2021 HETAS. Severn House The next consequence of not lining your chimney is it more likely that you will have a chimney fire. For an open fireplace to function properly and for the chimney to draw, the ratio between the chimney and fireplace needs to be exactly right. Chimney flue lining for an open fire. Need any further help you can email us info@chimneyproductsdirect.co.uk Most British open fires were and still are designed to burn coal at up … E: info@hetas.co.uk. Undersized liners will not allow the appliance to vent properly. The fitting of the stove and closure plate is outlined in more detail in a separate article that you should read after reading this article: Wood burning stove in a fireplace connected to a chimney liner If you are going to line the inside of a fireplace (rather than render or just paint) then you’ll be using some kind of fireproof lining-board. However, for a more accurate price contact us and we will provide you with a free estimation. This can cause smoke to pour out of the stove and it can also cause gas and oil appliances to fail. You should also use a chimney lining for an open fire, as this produces waste gases too. For homes with a Class 1 Chimney there doesn’t tend to be many restrictions on the type of fireplace but it is important that the chamber itself has enough room to house the fireplace. However, a liner is not always necessary. Most of our clients come from the following areas in London: Camden, Royal Borough of Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith, Fulham, Islington, Royal Borough of Kensington, Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, City of Westminster, Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Sutton, Waltham Forest, and surrounding areas. Green Lane The “flue” is the passageway through which the smoke and combustion gasses travel from the fire place to the outside air, usually via a chimney, this flue needs to be in good condition and must not leak, if it does the chimney flue will require relining. Chimney liners are mandatory if you have a wood-burning fireplace, gas fireplace or open fire fireplace. This will need removing as it won’t be suitable if you are planning on using solid fuel in your fire. It is mandatory if you are building a new property or perhaps you have an older property both require you to have chimney liners. One of the most common questions asked on the HETAS Consumer There are quite a few choices of system and the most popular is the flexible stainless steel type. Will a gas engineer be able to buy the model i like or do I have to go to a gas fire shop. Insulated liners keep the flue gases warmer, increase the upward speed of those gases and help prevent condensation. However, if you're not using your fireplace and your chimney acts solely as a vent for your furnace or water heater, you may not need to have a liner installed. Always consult a HETAS Registered Installer prior to undertaking any solid fuel installation work. Doing it later will incur extra costs. When an installer checks your chimney they may find that the only way to provide you with a compliant and safe installation is to line the chimney. The Ready to Burn certification scheme will underpin The Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020 and comes into force in England from May 2021 for most Read More…, HETAS Ltd If any work undertaken on the chimney, including installation of a new liner, is done in conjunction with the installation of a heating appliance, then that work is a controlled service and must be undertaken by a competent person, such as a HETAS Registered Installer or approved by your Local Authority Building Control department. In any case, a cowl is a good idea for eliminating blockages and downdraughts which can cause problems with your wood-burning stove. badly installed flue liners and need further attention. A chimney liner is obligatory if you are installing a woodburning stove, gas fire or open fire in a new build property to comply with Document J of current Building Regulations. Fitting, altering or replacing an external flue or chimney or installing a new woodburning stove all fall under the Building Regulations, although they are not typically tasks that require planning permission. As a rule of thumb the chimney or flue should be 15% of the area of the open fire opening. If you have an older flue liner our professionals can check the condition by carrying out a CCTV inspection. Working together for a cleaner and safer environment. Search the HETAS Product list for suitable chimney systems and liners. The ideal flue size is … Other possible solutions are to reduce the fireplace opening or install a canopy to reduce the opening. Due to the size and weight of the flue liner, it is advisable to have scaffold in place. It is mandatory if you are building a new property or perhaps you have an older property both require you to have chimney liners. Traditional open fires are inefficient with a high smoke velocity. Chimneys are lined for a number of safety reasons. It makes no sense to install a chimney liner against a dirty chimney and run the risk of a chimney fire. Class 2 liners When an installer checks your chimney they may find that the only way to provide you with a compliant and safe installation is to line the chimney. These are briefly as follows: FLUE – The flue is the void or passageway through which the products of combustion are removed from the fire to the outside. However, a gas fireplace will require a much smaller flue liner – you are able to use a flue liner that is only 5 to 6 inches in diameter. Regulations state that open fires need a minimum flue diameter of 200 mm (eight inches). The British Flue & Chimney Manufacturers’ Association is Britain’s only Trade Association for factory-made chimney products and works closely with HETAS, Government, public bodies and other organisations to further the interest of the chimney & flue industry. A chimney fire is more likely (far less likely if lined and would also be contained within the metal tube) if you do not fit a chimney liner. There is a regulation that says your installer must satisfy themselves that the chimney is free from defects and suitable for its intended use. Do I Need a Flue Liner for My Chimney? For special projects we also offer our services in all of the UK. Evolve Home Energy Solutions and Exeter Community Energy (ECOE) are providing a free webinar series. I had to get a liner fitted to my own chimney as when I bought the house someone has fitted a stove with just a debris plate with cleaning hatch, you just would smoke myself out of the room trying to get the chimney … If installing the stove into an existing fireplace/chimney and not using a new chimney liner the installation is very straightforward for a person with average DIY skills. Lined Chimneys are Safer. CHIMNEY – A chimney is the structure surrounding one … There are three main reasons for fitting a flue liner. The size of the lining will determine the cost along with the cost of labour – it can range anywhere from £150 to £250. Do I need to line my chimney? It makes sense to drop a liner down the chimney and fit a decent cowl whilst you have the scaffold in place. However, a liner in the chimney further reduces the risk of a leak or problem developing. If you have an older flue liner our professionals can check the condition by carrying out a CCTV inspection. Related Questions. Most liner manufacturers give a ten year guarantee and having your chimney swept prior to installing the liner is one of the conditions. This all depends on the kind of appliance and chimney inside your property. chimneys may require relining to suit the fuel type being used (a gas flue We have an open fire in our Victorian terrace and I'm pretty sure the chimney isn't lined. There are appropriate tests to determine whether or not a chimney is ‘sound’ and does not leak, these are referred to as … If there is any risk that the chimney could leak fumes in to the house they must line it with a suitable re-lining material. If you had a gas fire previously, you might find the gas liner coming through the chimney. 5. Compare this with an open fire which is only 15% to 20% efficient with … … This is a very popular question and the ... all stoves must be installed with a suitable CO alarm. 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