Flueless gas Fire Smelling

Annie Apple1

Hi I was wondering if anybody can help me. I just installed a flueless gas fire that had not been in use for a few weeks. It came from a friends house and when i turn it on there is a strong smell of paraffin coming from the fire. I know that if the fire has not been in use for some time it can gather dust and give off a smell but a smell of pariffin?? any body any experience with this problem.

Carlow52

Do u mean what we used to call a 'superser' gas fire
http://images.google.ie/images?hl=en&num=10&lr=&ft=i&cr=&safe=images&q=superser&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

If in doubt dont use it.

It could have wrong type of gas cylinder fitted: it is also a v expensive source of heat

Joey the lips

No fluless gas fire is correct. I have no faith whatso ever in fluless gas fires. I refused to sell them and cannot offer any advice but the following

1. Never close off any vents in the room

2. Have a carbon monoxide detector fitted!

3. Never fall asleep with the fire on in the room( Easier said than done)

4. Ring the manufacturer first thing tomorrow and ask for advice on the smell.

Annie Apple1

Thanks Guys for the advise

Stratocaster

Annie Apple1 wrote: »

Hi I was wondering if anybody can help me. I just installed a flueless gas fire that had not been in use for a few weeks. It came from a friends house and when i turn it on there is a strong smell of paraffin coming from the fire. I know that if the fire has not been in use for some time it can gather dust and give off a smell but a smell of pariffin?? any body any experience with this problem.

I think what you have there is a Catalytic Gas Fire. I wont go into the technical jargon of how they work but they are 100% safe to use once installed correctly. Maybe you have a free standing stove/fire surround.

Sometimes a gas fire which has been used seldom since new can give off a smell. This smell is the paint, metal and coals settling in and getting used to the heat. It happens regularly with brand new gas fires and sometimes it can take a few weeks of use to burn off that "new smell".

Not sure about the paraffin smell your talking about? But make sure the fire is set up for the right gas family. You cant use a LPG fire with Natural Gas and visa versa. If you have any doubt which Gas family its set for do not use it and shut off the supply. Call a Bord Gas agent to look at it as poorly installed gas fires can cause deaths.

After connecting a new appliance to an existing natural gas supply you must re test the entire supply and issue a certificate of soundness to Bord Gas. This can only be done by a Bord Gas agent. If you have installed this fire to a natural gas supply you are not covered by Bord Gas should some accident occur.

I am not fully sure on the regulations of LPG but again general members of the public should not be tampering with gas supply's for obvious reasons.

fmcc

regs afaik are the same for nat gas or lpg. 2 vents one at high level one at low level both 4" permanently open. CO detector for about E12 would be a worthwhile investment.

batman2000

I have a flueless gas fire, There are 2 vents, one high one low (plus the window vents) I was told to run the gas fire for 6 hours to burn in the fire. Hope this helps. It seem similar to Stratocaster was saying. However, as the house is timber framed, I have little need for the fire as the heat retention is really good !

Stratocaster

batman2000 wrote: »

I have a flueless gas fire, There are 2 vents, one high one low (plus the window vents) I was told to run the gas fire for 6 hours to burn in the fire. Hope this helps. It seem similar to Stratocaster was saying. However, as the house is timber framed, I have little need for the fire as the heat retention is really good !

Timber framed buildings are great for heat retention, also doesn't take long to heat up a timber framed house. The term "concrete house is a better built house" is a term build up by struggling concrete manufacturers as they know people are finding having a timber framed house more beneficial heat wise. That's how I see it. I do know it takes a long time for a newly built concrete house to build up that "lived in heat". A timber framed house will give a "lived in heat" in no time.

I read the rules charter for all DIY posts and it seems boards is covered from any liability that can occur due to miss given advice taken from this DIY section. That's understandable. It does worry me to see a gas related subject in a DIY section all the same.

blackbird98

Just found this thread and looking for suggestions. I have had a bulk LPG tank for many years. Today, when wifey had had a saucepan on the gas hob, I got a very strong "paraffin" type of smell. Also, a couple of hours ago, we lit the gas fire, and got the smell again. It is quite strong and is definitely only when the gas is being used. So strong, that we had to turn the fire off

I should also say that I had been painting this morning, undercoat, on doors & skirting, but the smell from the paint is different.

Is it possible that there is some reaction with the gas and paint fumes??

I'll phone Calor in the morning, buy just wondering if anybody else has experienced this?

aujopimur

I'd say it's a reaction with paint, or if your tank is running low it tends to stink a bit.

blackbird98

thought it might br the paint. tank is nearly full

Vote 4 Pedro

I have a Flueless gas fire fitted in my Timber framed Bungalow,
It's great, best gas fire ever, heating the room in no time and very efficient to run.
We have a carbon monoxide detector in the room just to be sure, It's a very good quality digital sensor and it was fitted because of us having no flew but the fire never caused a problem.
We used to have a gas fire with a flue but it was rubbish compared to the flueless fire.
They use way less gas, maybe because you don't run them as long, they give out so much more heat,

The smell you are getting my be the gas tank is very low,
That's the only down side of them. they do give a smell as the gas runs out, other than that no problems.

Vote 4 Pedro

Joey the lips wrote: »

No fluless gas fire is correct. I have no faith whatso ever in fluless gas fires. I refused to sell them and cannot offer any advice

You might be missing out on something,
When fitted and used properly they are a great fire.

JonnyK

Hey guys,

I bought a balanced flue gas fire (Flavel Cailbre) and it gives off a strong sort of 'sweet' smell. I have lit it for over 20 hours and it's still there and quite strong.

Shop I bought it from sent engineer who said he can't find any issues but got the smell. Any ideas? Driving me mad as it cost 1400 quid.

Another gas fire fitter looked at it and thought maybe it's the surrounding fireplace. It's cast iron surrounded by wood which gets hot when fire is on for a while.

I've no idea!

Thanks,
Jonny.