"Stephen Jones" wrote in message
om...
I have a gas fire in a fire place but need to know what would be the
best type of chimney pot to use to allow the fumes to be drawn up the
chimney (no liner). The house is a 1950s chalet bungalow and it it has
a
square chimney with a concrete slab on top with a approx 6" hole in
it,
also the bricks on two sides below the slab are removed. When we have
bad
storms water is coming down the chimney and I wondered if there is
anything
we can add to stop this. Would it be simpler to have a liner and pot
fitted and the holes in the chimney sealed, this is what next doors
appear to have done

Thanks
____________________
|___________________| Slab
|____| |_____|
|____| |_____|
|____|________|_____|
|__|____|____|______|
|____|_____|__|_____|

Have you had the chimney checked for leaks? Why were the bricks removed
from either side, under the concrete slab? Why don't you already have a
rain cowl over the 6'' hole in the concrete slab? Is the gas fire suitable
for any chimney type?

A liner may not be needed if the chimney is fully sealed and intact from top
to bottom. The need for the holes under the concrete slab to be sealed is
obvious, but the hole through the slab should already have some kind of rain
cover, usually in the form of a metal cowl or hood, to stop the weather
getting in.

A smoke test up the chimney would be my first advice on this. Seal all the
holes up top, then place a PH smoke test pellet in the fire place opening.
If the chimney is working properly you should see smoke anywhere else in the
house, that includes up in the attic / loft space.

Now you can remove the cover over the hole in the slab and repeat the smoke
test to see if the air is being drawn properly up the chimney. The smoke
test must be done with the room sealed, as in closed doors and windows, to
make sure the room has enough ventilation to remove the flue gases from the
room properly. If you see any sign of the smoke being drawn back into the
room while the doors and windows are closed tightly, then you need to
install a proper constantly open vent to fresh air for the fire not to
poison you.

All the smoke must go up the chimney with the room sealed.

When you satisfy all the above tests, and all seems well and good, you can
begin installing your gas fire. After you have the CORGI installer in to do
it for you safely, he / she should do a spillage test on the fire again to
prove that all the flue gases are being drawn away from the room, and that
the fire isn't going to kill you and your family while you sleep in front of
the tele'.