We are looking at having a new gas fire fitted in our lounge. It
already has central heating and so is more of a feature than a heat
source. There is no chimney breast to mount it in. The current gas
fire is a "free standing" one on a 15" marble hearth. I really like the
Style of ths fireplace :
http://www.magiglo.co.uk/Products/Fi...uites_Main.htm

which is extends 10" back from the front facia. As our walls are
probably only 1/2" of plasterboard and 4" blocks we have been told that
the best way to install is to build a false chimney breast as this
minimises heat loss into the wall cavity as ony the flue goes through
the cavity not the whole fire box.

I have two questions:
1) Does this type of fire require more work to fit than a traditional
floor level fire and mantlepiece affair that has the same depth behind
the facia? The floor level fires are the same depth but are mounted on
the "front" of the fireplace so extend back into th eblockwork less but
as the fireplace only adds a couple of inches surely both would extend
right into the wall cavity. I want to try and avoid loosing heat into
the cavity.
2) Do I still need a hearth? If I need a false chimney breast and a
hearth it will intrude into the room too much.

The fitter giving us a quote suggested building a false chimney breast
10" deep out of 2"x2" and plasterboard to house the new fire which would
break up an otherwisefairly plain wall so I've nothing against this
other than it adds to the cost. This would also hide the gas pipework.
Having put up stud walls before I think this is something I could do but
I'm not sure if there are any special arrangements required to allow a
fire to be fitted.

Is it possible to put vents in this false chimney (on the sides) to
recover the heat from this space back into the room?

We have a plumber coming in to fit a new boiler so I could ask him to
cap off the gas for me to remove the existing fire.

Anybody got any thoughts?

In article ,
ChrisJ wrote:
We are looking at having a new gas fire fitted in our lounge. It
already has central heating and so is more of a feature than a heat
source.

Before you do - we recently removed our gas fire because its presence made
furniture arrangement very limited. far better without! ;-)

--
John Cartmell john@ followed by finnybank.com 0845 006 8822
Qercus magazine FAX +44 (0)8700-519-527 www.finnybank.com
Qercus - the best guide to RISC OS computing

On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 12:30:00 +0000, ChrisJ wrote:

We are looking at having a new gas fire fitted in our lounge. It
already has central heating and so is more of a feature than a heat
source. There is no chimney breast to mount it in. The current gas
fire is a "free standing" one on a 15" marble hearth. I really like the
Style of ths fireplace :
http://www.magiglo.co.uk/Products/Fi...uites_Main.htm

which is extends 10" back from the front facia. As our walls are
probably only 1/2" of plasterboard and 4" blocks we have been told that
the best way to install is to build a false chimney breast as this
minimises heat loss into the wall cavity as ony the flue goes through
the cavity not the whole fire box.

I have two questions:
1) Does this type of fire require more work to fit than a traditional
floor level fire and mantlepiece affair that has the same depth behind
the facia? The floor level fires are the same depth but are mounted on
the "front" of the fireplace so extend back into th eblockwork less but
as the fireplace only adds a couple of inches surely both would extend
right into the wall cavity. I want to try and avoid loosing heat into
the cavity.
2) Do I still need a hearth? If I need a false chimney breast and a
hearth it will intrude into the room too much.

The fitter giving us a quote suggested building a false chimney breast
10" deep out of 2"x2" and plasterboard to house the new fire which would
break up an otherwisefairly plain wall so I've nothing against this
other than it adds to the cost. This would also hide the gas pipework.
Having put up stud walls before I think this is something I could do but
I'm not sure if there are any special arrangements required to allow a
fire to be fitted.

Is it possible to put vents in this false chimney (on the sides) to
recover the heat from this space back into the room?

We have a plumber coming in to fit a new boiler so I could ask him to
cap off the gas for me to remove the existing fire.

Anybody got any thoughts?

The info shows that these appliances need a flue. The chimney will
need to be real even if the chimney breast is false!






--
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 Wed, 23 Nov 2005 12:30:00 +0000, ChrisJ wrote:

We are looking at having a new gas fire fitted in our lounge. It
already has central heating and so is more of a feature than a heat
source. There is no chimney breast to mount it in. The current gas
fire is a "free standing" one on a 15" marble hearth. I really like the
Style of ths fireplace :
http://www.magiglo.co.uk/Products/Fi...uites_Main.htm

which is extends 10" back from the front facia. As our walls are
probably only 1/2" of plasterboard and 4" blocks we have been told that
the best way to install is to build a false chimney breast as this
minimises heat loss into the wall cavity as ony the flue goes through
the cavity not the whole fire box.

I have two questions:
1) Does this type of fire require more work to fit than a traditional
floor level fire and mantlepiece affair that has the same depth behind
the facia? The floor level fires are the same depth but are mounted on
the "front" of the fireplace so extend back into th eblockwork less but
as the fireplace only adds a couple of inches surely both would extend
right into the wall cavity. I want to try and avoid loosing heat into
the cavity.
2) Do I still need a hearth? If I need a false chimney breast and a
hearth it will intrude into the room too much.

The fitter giving us a quote suggested building a false chimney breast
10" deep out of 2"x2" and plasterboard to house the new fire which would
break up an otherwisefairly plain wall so I've nothing against this
other than it adds to the cost. This would also hide the gas pipework.
Having put up stud walls before I think this is something I could do but
I'm not sure if there are any special arrangements required to allow a
fire to be fitted.

Is it possible to put vents in this false chimney (on the sides) to
recover the heat from this space back into the room?

We have a plumber coming in to fit a new boiler so I could ask him to
cap off the gas for me to remove the existing fire.

Anybody got any thoughts?

The info shows that these appliances need a flue. The chimney will
need to be real even if the chimney breast is false!
--
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

The flue would go out the wall directly behind the fire (it is an
outside wall) just as it would without the false chimney breast. I
wanted to install the chimney breast to minimise the hole in the inner
block wall of the house which would be reduced to just the flue pipe
rather than the hole of the back box of the fire. Putting the hot back
box of the fire in the cavity between the house inner and outer walls
will loose a lot of heat directly into the cavity, putting hte fire in
the room (albeit in the faux chimney breast) and just the flue in the
cavity a) reduces heat lost from the box to the cavity when the fire is
on and b) reduces heat lost from the room when the fire is not through
the lack of cavity where the fire is.

Any thoughts?

CJ

On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 15:33:03 -0800, ChrisJ wrote:


Ed Sirett wrote:
On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 12:30:00 +0000, ChrisJ wrote:

We are looking at having a new gas fire fitted in our lounge. It
already has central heating and so is more of a feature than a heat
source. There is no chimney breast to mount it in. The current gas
fire is a "free standing" one on a 15" marble hearth. I really like the
Style of ths fireplace :
http://www.magiglo.co.uk/Products/Fi...uites_Main.htm

which is extends 10" back from the front facia. As our walls are
probably only 1/2" of plasterboard and 4" blocks we have been told that
the best way to install is to build a false chimney breast as this
minimises heat loss into the wall cavity as ony the flue goes through
the cavity not the whole fire box.

I have two questions:
1) Does this type of fire require more work to fit than a traditional
floor level fire and mantlepiece affair that has the same depth behind
the facia? The floor level fires are the same depth but are mounted on
the "front" of the fireplace so extend back into th eblockwork less but
as the fireplace only adds a couple of inches surely both would extend
right into the wall cavity. I want to try and avoid loosing heat into
the cavity.
2) Do I still need a hearth? If I need a false chimney breast and a
hearth it will intrude into the room too much.

The fitter giving us a quote suggested building a false chimney breast
10" deep out of 2"x2" and plasterboard to house the new fire which would
break up an otherwisefairly plain wall so I've nothing against this
other than it adds to the cost. This would also hide the gas pipework.
Having put up stud walls before I think this is something I could do but
I'm not sure if there are any special arrangements required to allow a
fire to be fitted.

Is it possible to put vents in this false chimney (on the sides) to
recover the heat from this space back into the room?

We have a plumber coming in to fit a new boiler so I could ask him to
cap off the gas for me to remove the existing fire.

Anybody got any thoughts?

The info shows that these appliances need a flue. The chimney will
need to be real even if the chimney breast is false!
--
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

The flue would go out the wall directly behind the fire (it is an
outside wall) just as it would without the false chimney breast. I
wanted to install the chimney breast to minimise the hole in the inner
block wall of the house which would be reduced to just the flue pipe
rather than the hole of the back box of the fire. Putting the hot back
box of the fire in the cavity between the house inner and outer walls
will loose a lot of heat directly into the cavity, putting hte fire in
the room (albeit in the faux chimney breast) and just the flue in the
cavity a) reduces heat lost from the box to the cavity when the fire is
on and b) reduces heat lost from the room when the fire is not through
the lack of cavity where the fire is.

Any thoughts?

I followed the link and it lead to a page showing fires using Class I and
Class II flue systems. No mention of balanced/powered flues.


--
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
Thanks for your thoughts on this one. The fire is now ordered and I'm
going to build an 8" (ish) "chimney breast" from teh metal stud wall
stuff and "fireboard".

My next related question is :

Is there any way to stop teh drafts coming in the flue when the fire is
off? Can you get a valve or something similar that closes when the air
flows into the house but opens when the fan is blowing out? Our flue
will be "upstairs in the gap between us and next door and the wind rips
through the gap.

On a similar not is there a way to "quieten" the wind noise on the
flue? Our current one has a tendency to "whistle" when the wind is
strong. Again with it being upstairs (house on a hill (going down to
the back), lounge at the back at "first" floor level.

Any help appreciated.

ChrisJ

On Sun, 04 Dec 2005 15:33:48 -0800, ChrisJ wrote:

Ed
Thanks for your thoughts on this one. The fire is now ordered and I'm
going to build an 8" (ish) "chimney breast" from teh metal stud wall
stuff and "fireboard".

My next related question is :

Is there any way to stop teh drafts coming in the flue when the fire is
off? Can you get a valve or something similar that closes when the air
flows into the house but opens when the fan is blowing out? Our flue
will be "upstairs in the gap between us and next door and the wind rips
through the gap.

On a similar not is there a way to "quieten" the wind noise on the
flue? Our current one has a tendency to "whistle" when the wind is
strong. Again with it being upstairs (house on a hill (going down to
the back), lounge at the back at "first" floor level.

Any help appreciated.

I'm really confused as to what type of fire you are trying to install.
In particular what type of flue is required with it.

I suggest strongly that you get professional help at this point.


--
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