On Mar 20, 8:45*am, Jim K wrote:
On Mar 19, 5:24 pm, The Natural Philosopher
wrote:





Jim K wrote:
On Mar 19, 12:32 pm, The Natural Philosopher
wrote:
sweetheart wrote:
Both the fireplaces in our house were blocked up long before we got here.
However OH has drilled a large hole ( dinner plate size) in the bedroom
flu / fireplace because a bird got trapped and was flapping around in
there.
So, to the question, when he drilled through he found *that the flue
seemed very small . It has been filled to its entirety with a six inch
deep block. Can someone throw any light on how a flu could be so small?
Its a 1950's build bungalow . In the country in Cornwall - so although
its 1950's build may be more akin *to 1920's/30's even.
What kind of fire could have been fitted in such a small opening?
A small one

Not that we are opening it up but we have one in the study which also is
blocked and another in the kitchen which we thought once housed a boiler
and OH had considered opening one of those two and putting in solid fuel
central heating or wood burners or something, but if they are
constructed like the bedroom one, he may be stumped ( he says).
Anyone know?
You need about 9" to fit a proper wood buring capable liner.

although if the flue is straightish and not too long you may find a
standard 6" flexible solid fuel flue liner will make it through...

I would not use a flexible flue in a *suspect old stack.

Wood burners can burn VERY hot.

Jim K

it's what they are designed for....

Jim K- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Before you decide to fit a liner, examine the exterior chimney with
binoculars.You are looking for crumbling bricks and bad pointing,
damaged/displaced flashing but most of all for vertical cracks,
(indicating lighning strikes, or more likely, a chimney fire).
This would need to be put right.
Wood burners are not as hot as coal. The problem arises fron tar
deposites which can easily catch fire and seriously damage a chimney
or even burn the house down.
This is due to wet wood, cold chimney or oversized chimney. You need a
liner for a wood burner. It will cost as much as your stove.
Wood burning is not a cheap option unless your wood is free.