Hi,

We've recently moved into a house built in 2000, with a decorative effect
gas fire in the living room. Firstly, we've noticed a cold draught coming
into the room from down the flue. Secondly, after using the fire for fifteen
minutes or so, there's a smell in the room. The smell isn't gas, or what I
would consider fumes. But it's not pleasant.

There's no chimney as such on the house, more like a metal tube coming out
of the roof space which is about a third of the way up the roof from the
guttering. The house next door isn't very far away, probably about three
metres from our external house wall to theirs.

Can anyone shed any light on 1, what's causing the cold draught into the
room and how to stop it. And 2, what's causing the smell from the fire and
how do we stop it?

Many thanks in advance.

Jon

On Sun, 07 Jan 2007 17:59:33 GMT, J wrote:
Hi,

We've recently moved into a house built in 2000, with a decorative effect
gas fire in the living room. Firstly, we've noticed a cold draught coming
into the room from down the flue. Secondly, after using the fire for fifteen
minutes or so, there's a smell in the room. The smell isn't gas, or what I
would consider fumes. But it's not pleasant.

Could the smell be due to a dead bird/animal in the flue? As the fire
warms it up, it starts to whiff. Normally any smell would go up the
chimney, but it may be your downdraught blows the smell into the room.

Pete
--
.................................................. .........................
.. never trust a man who, when left alone ...... Pete Lynch .
.. in a room with a tea cosy ...... Marlow, England .
.. doesn't try it on (Billy Connolly) .....................................

There shouldn't be a draught coming down the chimney, normally the warm air
the the house wafts up and away via the chimney. Your 'chimney' sounds like
its in a bad place - it should clear the top of the roof, or wind and
pressure effects can blow air back down the chimney. Does this fire have a
fan to blow the fumes up the flue, and if so is it working?

I wouldn't keep using the fire if you're getting a smell. You eed to
ascertain the flue is clear if possible.

Andy.

"J" wrote in message
.uk...
Hi,

We've recently moved into a house built in 2000, with a decorative effect
gas fire in the living room. Firstly, we've noticed a cold draught coming
into the room from down the flue. Secondly, after using the fire for
fifteen minutes or so, there's a smell in the room. The smell isn't gas,
or what I would consider fumes. But it's not pleasant.

There's no chimney as such on the house, more like a metal tube coming out
of the roof space which is about a third of the way up the roof from the
guttering. The house next door isn't very far away, probably about three
metres from our external house wall to theirs.

Can anyone shed any light on 1, what's causing the cold draught into the
room and how to stop it. And 2, what's causing the smell from the fire and
how do we stop it?

Many thanks in advance.

Jon

"Peter Lynch" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 07 Jan 2007 17:59:33 GMT, J wrote:
Hi,

We've recently moved into a house built in 2000, with a decorative effect
gas fire in the living room. Firstly, we've noticed a cold draught coming
into the room from down the flue. Secondly, after using the fire for
fifteen
minutes or so, there's a smell in the room. The smell isn't gas, or what
I
would consider fumes. But it's not pleasant.

Could the smell be due to a dead bird/animal in the flue? As the fire
warms it up, it starts to whiff. Normally any smell would go up the
chimney, but it may be your downdraught blows the smell into the room.

Looking at the top of the chimney, it's only a vent in design, rather than
being open topped and I doubt anything could get down there. Saying that
though, my Dad found a dead sparrow under the bath once, and we cound't find
any way for it to have got under there!

Thanks for your reply.

"J" wrote in message

We've recently moved into a house built in 2000, with a decorative effect
gas fire in the living room. Firstly, we've noticed a cold draught coming
into the room from down the flue. Secondly, after using the fire for
fifteen minutes or so, there's a smell in the room. The smell isn't gas,
or what I would consider fumes. But it's not pleasant.

There's no chimney as such on the house, more like a metal tube coming out
of the roof space which is about a third of the way up the roof from the
guttering. The house next door isn't very far away, probably about three
metres from our external house wall to theirs.

Can anyone shed any light on 1, what's causing the cold draught into the
room and how to stop it. And 2, what's causing the smell from the fire and
how do we stop it?

Top posting removed.

Try a smoke "bomb" (if they still make them.) Try one in each flue if
you have mre than one. Don't expect the flue pipe to have been
installed correctly but I don't have a clue how to check that it has
been apart from tugging on a bit and see if it comes out easily.