Hi All,

I've come across a bit of a problem with the flue on my gas fire and
just wanted to pick a few brains as to what to do.

I live in a modern house, built around 2000, it has an open gas fire
i.e. one that has fake coals in the base, the flame come through them
and up the flue above. The flue then goes up the wall into the loft and
out the roof. It finishes in a chrome chimney pipe, for want of a better
expression :-)

I just happened to be sitting in front of a few days ago while it was
cold a windy and realised that I'm getting a draft come down the flue
and into the lounge. Although it isn't something I would DIY, gas is the
only thing I don't touch, it is going to be as simple getting somebody
to install some form of anti-downdraught device? Or does it get very
complicated when messing around with flues?

Many thanks for any advice & tips.
Ryan

Have any changes been made to the building, maybe a kitchen extractor
fitted? There sounds to be something very wrong if combustion fumes
could fill the room.

The Buildings Regs Part J has a lot to say about the design of flues
and chimneys, particularly that the design is adequate to avoid
downdraughts.

You can go and read the approved docs yourself he

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/eng...000000503.html

Or get a gas installer to compare your installation with that required
by the building regs.

But I would be suspicious that if a modern chimney has a downdraught,
that it's not compliant with the regs (or some other change has been
made that upsets the deisgned airflows).

And if the original build isn't compliant, I would expect a FOC fix
from the building company (then shop them to the HSE).

Ryan wrote:

Hi All,

I've come across a bit of a problem with the flue on my gas fire and
just wanted to pick a few brains as to what to do.

I live in a modern house, built around 2000, it has an open gas fire
i.e. one that has fake coals in the base, the flame come through them
and up the flue above. The flue then goes up the wall into the loft and
out the roof. It finishes in a chrome chimney pipe, for want of a better
expression :-)

I just happened to be sitting in front of a few days ago while it was
cold a windy and realised that I'm getting a draft come down the flue
and into the lounge.

With the fire ON or OFF?

Its perfectly normal to have a downdraught into an unlit hearth..


Although it isn't something I would DIY, gas is the
only thing I don't touch, it is going to be as simple getting somebody
to install some form of anti-downdraught device? Or does it get very
complicated when messing around with flues?

Many thanks for any advice & tips.
Ryan

"Ryan" wrote in message
...

Hi All,

I've come across a bit of a problem with the flue on my gas fire and just
wanted to pick a few brains as to what to do.

I live in a modern house, built around 2000, it has an open gas fire i.e.
one that has fake coals in the base, the flame come through them and up
the flue above. The flue then goes up the wall into the loft and out the
roof. It finishes in a chrome chimney pipe, for want of a better
expression :-)

I just happened to be sitting in front of a few days ago while it was cold
a windy and realised that I'm getting a draft come down the flue and into
the lounge. Although it isn't something I would DIY, gas is the only thing
I don't touch, it is going to be as simple getting somebody to install
some form of anti-downdraught device? Or does it get very complicated when
messing around with flues?

I would block the flu and buy a fake electric fire, it will be cheaper to
run.

In fact I wouldn't be surprised if a 32" LCD TV playing a fireplace DVD
wasn't cheaper and you can have that in the summer without having to put the
AC on.

With the fire ON or OFF?

Sorry I always miss something important in my posts :-( It was with the
fire off. When I had the cavity walls filled a while ago the flue test
which was performed afterwards showed no problems.


Its perfectly normal to have a downdraught into an unlit hearth..


Ah didn't know that. Only noticed it because I had paperwork spread over
the floor and my back to the fire. Normally I'm sitting the opposite
side of the room!!

Ryan wrote:

With the fire ON or OFF?

Sorry I always miss something important in my posts :-( It was with the
fire off. When I had the cavity walls filled a while ago the flue test
which was performed afterwards showed no problems.


Its perfectly normal to have a downdraught into an unlit hearth..


Ah didn't know that. Only noticed it because I had paperwork spread over
the floor and my back to the fire. Normally I'm sitting the opposite
side of the room!!

I you are really worried, get a man with a CO detector and test while
the fire is lit and the wind blowing.