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Due to some inspiration from here, we are quite keen to go this route. Some of the more contemporary models that were on a thread here some time ago (which I can no longer find!) looked great.
However, if we have a small open fire place (we do) does it necessarily mean that a log burner could be installed? Is it as simple as 'you have a working chimney therefore a log burner will work'?
If it helps, the house is 20 years old so not an old style big fireplace.
Thanks
It would be best to have your chimney/flue checked by someone who knows.
Remember there are log burners and multi-fuel stoves. Multi-fuel have controls that allow you to burn other things if necessary. We chose the MB but have never burnt anything but logs though.
Morsô do some lovely contemporary stoves.
Two main things to consider
1. Chimney - yes you have one, but it may be better lined (6" pipe)
2. Hearth - you need a structural hearth to take the weight and deflect the heat. Some stoves are rated to not need a structural hearth (Morso I think fall into this category)
In simple terms, you should be good to go. If you are in England or Wales get a HETAS fitter out.
2nd the advice about getting a HETAS registered fitter, double check they are registered too with HETAS 😉
My property which is also 20 years old had a fireplace and a bricked outside chimney with a concrete square liner in place, think mine was built mostly to accommodate a gas appliances, might be the same with yours too, gas outlet one side and air brick the other?
Had to remove the old hearth, which would not have been large enough to comply with building regs with a log stove. Took out the fire brick and sand packing which opened up the fire place quite a bit and gave me a larger space to fit the burner, fitted lintels to support the concrete liner and we fitted a new stainless liner cowl and top plate.
All in all its worth having it done properly, there are some real cowboy fitters out there, be warned.
Edit - Morso are very nice 😉
In England and Wales, the work now comes under [url= http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/buildingregulations/approveddocuments/partj/approved ]Part J of the Building Regs[/url] which gives you an idea of spacings etc.
Generally stove manufacturers recommend lining the chimney (generally a 6" liner) to ensure a good, but not too enthusiastic, draw. If your chimney cross-sectional area is too large, the flue fumes may stall in the chimney and you won't get a good flow of air (bad for combustion and risk of flue gases getting into your living space).
In addition to the hearth, consider the stove size in relation to the recess opening. We had a very small open fire (about 10" x 8") which opened to an original chimney recess of only 24" x 16". Not many stoves fit in that size gap with sufficient surrounding space for ventilation and without coming too far forwards to fit the stove pipe to the flue liner vertically.
If you simply want to place a stove in front of the existing fireplace and put the flue (stove pipe) up the chimney, blocked off by a register plate, I would suggest getting a HETAS engineer to calculate the draw (whether or not you need a flue liner) and advise on the hearth you would need.
I'd suggest if the house is only 20 yrs old and has a true fireplace and chimney it'll be a class one flue installed and will not need lining as it'll have a clay flue the whole way up! Get a torch and get your head up her!!
All what they said - also check if you are in a smoke control zone and then start looking for an apprpriate stove.
You do realise the path you are embarking on here..... 😉
You do realise the path you are embarking on here....
Next month....
[i]Show me your log stores[/i]
(Then we can all hate McMoonter just a little bit more...) 😉
Next month....Show me your log stores
(Then we can all hate McMoonter just a little bit more...)
lol
Also, multi fuel here great in winter to be able to light her in the morning bang some coal on, leave her nicely ticking over then return 4 hrs later and just open up the vents and watch it burst back into life! I do use smokeless tho as its not as aggresive to the flue liner.
Thanks all!!
HETAS it is and McMoonter isn't real - its a sad little bloke in a maisonette searching the interweb for things he'd wished he'd done with his life...
Or is that me?
Read Part J as per the link above. That tells you everything you'll need to know about clearances and structural hearths.
Any chimney sweep will be able to carry out a smoke test to check the draw of your chimney. If it's sufficient, you may not need to line the chimney.
You don't have to go through HETAS - the quotes I got from HETAS installers in my area were eye-watering. An alternative route is to submit a building notice to your local building control department. They will send someone out to inspect what you have done and sign it off. Worth having a conversation with them - they may want to witness the smoke test if you're not planning to line the chimney.