Cost for connecting a gas fire?

[Fastra]

Last year we had a new combi boiler fitted, which meant ripping out the exising back boiler (behind the chimney breast in the living room). In doing so we also had the old gas fire removed to and replaced it with an electric fire.
BIG mistake!
These are no more than a glorified fan heater. Yes they put out some heat but you try listening to the TV at the same time too.

Anyway we want to swap to a gas fire and was wondering how much a fitter would charge to fit one.
The old flue is still there and the gas supply was simply capped off.

[Shaw Tarse]

I'm guessing where you live may affect the price?
There was a time when a British Gas bloke would fit one while he was servicing your boiler.

[B17NNS]

Assuming your chimney is in good order and drawing effectively, surround in place and a supply already there I'd assume no more than an hour or so's work.

I had one done a year or so ago. Think I paid £85. I'm in Staffs.

[Ferg]

That isn't an easy question. The chimney will have a flue liner which will need to be either terminated somehow 'gastight' or possibly connected to a fire-box of some sort. Or possibly even removed.

[Fastra]

I realise it's pretty much 'how long is a piece of string' thing but I was thinking about the £70 - £100 mark.
There is a flue liner in, but as you say, I have no idea of its condition other than to say it was working prefectly well 9 months ago and there is a gas supply ready to hand.
We have a British Gas maintenance contract so it may be worth giving them a call - never thought of them really, apart from 'big bucks'.

[Ferg]

Fastra said:

There is a flue liner in,

The issue is that gas fires are not designed to be connected to a flue liner. There's not really a way of doing it. If you could seal it to the flue with a register plate it might be OK, but you run the risk of it flueing up the outside without you knowing the condition of the chimney. You need a decent flue flow test and spillage test on the installed appliance to be sure.

[Shaw Tarse]

Fastra said:

I realise it's pretty much 'how long is a piece of string' thing but I was thinking about the £70 - £100 mark.
There is a flue liner in, but as you say, I have no idea of its condition other than to say it was working prefectly well 9 months ago and there is a gas supply ready to hand.
We have a British Gas maintenance contract so it may be worth giving them a call - never thought of them really, apart from 'big bucks'.

BG may be expensive, but if one of their chaps were there for another reason he may fit a fire for you?
I did not pay £10 including parts for a gas hob to be fitted some years ago

[Fastra]

Ferg said:

Fastra said:

There is a flue liner in,

The issue is that gas fires are not designed to be connected to a flue liner. There's not really a way of doing it. If you could seal it to the flue with a register plate it might be OK, but you run the risk of it flueing up the outside without you knowing the condition of the chimney. You need a decent flue flow test and spillage test on the installed appliance to be sure.

Ahhhh, thanks.

The flue liner must have been connected to the back boiler that was there. Looking at it it seems to have been quickly hacked off when the boiler was taken out.

Shaw Tarse said:

BG may be expensive, but if one of their chaps were there for another reason he may fit a fire for you?
I did not pay £10 including parts for a gas hob to be fitted some years ago

...come to think of it there's a BG fitter that lives up the road from me. He's going to be my new best friend.

[Ferg]

Fastra said:

The flue liner must have been connected to the back boiler that was there. Looking at it it seems to have been quickly hacked off when the boiler was taken out.

That's right. The liner will have been secured and fire-cemented onto the top of the boiler draught diverter and the fire spigot will slot into that.