Open fire, chimney needs lining...
Discussion
Just had our chimneys swept and the one for our open fire is apparently falling apart a bit inside. (There were chunks of mortar dropping down when he swept.)
The sweep said fitting a liner as-is would necessitate ripping apart the fireplace to fit a flue gather. Does that sound right?
He suggested we get an inset log burner instead along with a liner down the chimney, which apparently would be less invasive.
I did come across a 'ceramic' slurry lining system called Eldfast, but it almost sounds too good to be true.
Thoughts? Just give in and get the log burner, or is it worth considering alternatives?
I know open fires are horribly inefficient but we do love the aesthetic.
Here's a non-recent pic of the dog enjoying it:
The sweep said fitting a liner as-is would necessitate ripping apart the fireplace to fit a flue gather. Does that sound right?
He suggested we get an inset log burner instead along with a liner down the chimney, which apparently would be less invasive.
I did come across a 'ceramic' slurry lining system called Eldfast, but it almost sounds too good to be true.
Thoughts? Just give in and get the log burner, or is it worth considering alternatives?
I know open fires are horribly inefficient but we do love the aesthetic.
Here's a non-recent pic of the dog enjoying it:
I doubt they would fit a woodburner without a flue liner now. We have one with and one without and the one with heats up faster and burns better. Something to do with the lower volume of cold air to shift in the liner v the whole chimney.
But they'll want to do a pressure check on the chimney to make sure there aren't any cracks, apparently a camera inspection only shows big things, or so our sweep said.
Either way it isn't going to be a cheap option but a modern stove and a lined flue should give much better results.
But they'll want to do a pressure check on the chimney to make sure there aren't any cracks, apparently a camera inspection only shows big things, or so our sweep said.
Either way it isn't going to be a cheap option but a modern stove and a lined flue should give much better results.
A woodburner and twin wall liner would certainly be the simplest and cheapest.
For an open fire you would need a grouted liner with a gather (as your sweep confirms), this often involves having to break into the flue at intervals to install spacers for the 'sausage' - generally an open fire needs a larger diameter flue too and there may be insufficient space to get the correct wall thickness of grouted liner into the existing flue whilst achieving the correct cross sectional area.
A stove is much more efficient too - you could run it with the doors open if you like the open fire effect.
For an open fire you would need a grouted liner with a gather (as your sweep confirms), this often involves having to break into the flue at intervals to install spacers for the 'sausage' - generally an open fire needs a larger diameter flue too and there may be insufficient space to get the correct wall thickness of grouted liner into the existing flue whilst achieving the correct cross sectional area.
A stove is much more efficient too - you could run it with the doors open if you like the open fire effect.
LooneyTunes said:
Is the concern carbon monoxide leakage? We have quite old chimneys and the sweep s advice was to install monitors rather than stress too much about re-lining.
Long-term, I guess – the concern right now is it's simply disintegrating. It's a party wall too (we're mid-terrace) so potentially could impact the neighbour as well. The sweep told my wife something to the effect of 'if you don't sort this soon then you may need to do more comprehensive repairs, rather than just bunging a liner up there'.
One of my neighbours had one of his chimneys lined with a slurry type system a few years ago.
He takes great pride in telling us about it and how fantastic it is. He's 91. I've heard the story a lot. It takes a long time for him to tell it. I've learned to tune out and can't remember any of the extensive detail he has shared.
He takes great pride in telling us about it and how fantastic it is. He's 91. I've heard the story a lot. It takes a long time for him to tell it. I've learned to tune out and can't remember any of the extensive detail he has shared.
MajorMantra said:
Long-term, I guess the concern right now is it's simply disintegrating. It's a party wall too (we're mid-terrace) so potentially could impact the neighbour as well.
The sweep told my wife something to the effect of 'if you don't sort this soon then you may need to do more comprehensive repairs, rather than just bunging a liner up there'.
That wording sounds quite strong, sounds like the right thing to look into it sooner rather than later, especially as its a party wall. It would be a shame to lose the fireplace in that room, it looks great. The sweep told my wife something to the effect of 'if you don't sort this soon then you may need to do more comprehensive repairs, rather than just bunging a liner up there'.
I cant help with any info on the gather, but it you go the woodburner route, I'd aim for quite a small one set back if you can, less intrusive in the room.
Simpo Two said:
You say open fires are very inefficient but... I have a stove, and if I open the door a lot more heat comes out into the room...
- a lot more radiant heat comes out into the room...
Mr_J said:
One of my neighbours had one of his chimneys lined with a slurry type system a few years ago.
He takes great pride in telling us about it and how fantastic it is. He's 91. I've heard the story a lot. It takes a long time for him to tell it. I've learned to tune out and can't remember any of the extensive detail he has shared.
This doesn't help my decision, but it did make me laugh.He takes great pride in telling us about it and how fantastic it is. He's 91. I've heard the story a lot. It takes a long time for him to tell it. I've learned to tune out and can't remember any of the extensive detail he has shared.
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