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New Build - Alternative to Chimney

  • 11-10-2013 11:07am
    #1
    Old Jim
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 178 ✭✭


    I am at the planning stage of a new build. I am looking at the feasibility of building without any chimney. The house will be well insulated, airtight, MHRV etc.
    What would be the cost saving of not building a chimney?
    What are the alternatives if I wanted some type of flame-effect fire/stove in the living room for occasional use? I am thinking of things like electric, gas (both with and without a flue) bio-ethanol stove. Anything else I should consider?
    Has anyone any experience of living without a chimney?
    Thanks for any help


Comments

  • #2
    grazeaway
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,079 ✭✭✭grazeaway


    Old Jim wrote: »
    I am at the planning stage of a new build. I am looking at the feasibility of building without any chimney. The house will be well insulated, airtight, MHRV etc.
    What would be the cost saving of not building a chimney?
    What are the alternatives if I wanted some type of flame-effect fire/stove in the living room for occasional use? I am thinking of things like electric, gas (both with and without a flue) bio-ethanol stove. Anything else I should consider?
    Has anyone any experience of living without a chimney?
    Thanks for any help

    you can still put in a stove in your living room with out a chimney. You can brign the flue straight and out through the wall to the outside. With your MHRV system you will need to use a sealed stove. these suck teh air in from the outside as opposed to the room. If you go this way all you need to do is core 2 hole in your wall, one for the flue and one for the airintake.


  • #3
    Old Jim
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 178 ✭✭Old Jim


    Thanks grazeaway. If I take a flue out through the wall does it then have to go vertically above the roof line? Through wall is ok but going up the full height of house would not look good IMO.


  • #4
    Eoghan Barra
    Closed Accounts Posts: 286 ✭✭Eoghan Barra


    This topic was discussed only a few days ago here:

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057054548


  • #5
    josip
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭✭josip


    When we got our house we blocked up the fireplace and installed MHRV. We haven't missed the fireplace and there's never been an "a fire would be nice now" moment since.

    We also have a bit more flexibility in the room about where we put the furniture and TV.

    Blocking the fireplace was essential for the MHRV. If we want to put in a sealed fire/stove in the future, we'll need to run a flue and an air supply pipe up the existing chimney.


  • #6
    BarneyMc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,504 ✭✭✭BarneyMc


    josip wrote: »
    When we got our house we blocked up the fireplace and installed MHRV. We haven't missed the fireplace and there's never been an "a fire would be nice now" moment since.

    We also have a bit more flexibility in the room about where we put the furniture and TV.

    Blocking the fireplace was essential for the MHRV. If we want to put in a sealed fire/stove in the future, we'll need to run a flue and an air supply pipe up the existing chimney.

    How did you block it up Josip? Are there an draughts around the fireplace?


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  • #7
    BryanF
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 10,146 Mod ✭✭✭✭BryanF


    grazeaway wrote: »
    you can still put in a stove in your living room with out a chimney. You can brign the flue straight and out through the wall to the outside. With your MHRV system you will need to use a sealed stove. these suck teh air in from the outside as opposed to the room. If you go this way all you need to do is core 2 hole in your wall, one for the flue and one for the airintake.
    why wouldn't you take it internally to roof level? the OP is at design stage. having an external flue up the side of your house may not look the best and you loose the bonus of radiant heat of the internal flue


  • #8
    josip
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭✭josip


    BarneyMc wrote: »
    How did you block it up Josip? Are there an draughts around the fireplace?

    What fireplace :D ?
    Our builder plywooded, then plasterboarded and skimmed the chimney breast.
    He capped off the chimney pot outside so that stuff can't fall in and also to keep the cold air out in the winter.


  • #9
    MicktheMan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,880 ✭✭✭MicktheMan


    Old Jim wrote: »
    I am at the planning stage of a new build. I am looking at the feasibility of building without any chimney. The house will be well insulated, airtight, MHRV etc.
    What would be the cost saving of not building a chimney?
    What are the alternatives if I wanted some type of flame-effect fire/stove in the living room for occasional use? I am thinking of things like electric, gas (both with and without a flue) bio-ethanol stove. Anything else I should consider?
    Has anyone any experience of living without a chimney?
    Thanks for any help

    Build a false hearth and put a small flatscreen telly in it and play a dvd with a fire on the telly:D


  • #10
    grazeaway
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,079 ✭✭✭grazeaway


    BryanF wrote: »
    why wouldn't you take it internally to roof level? the OP is at design stage. having an external flue up the side of your house may not look the best and you loose the bonus of radiant heat of the internal flue

    That would be what I would suggest, keep as much heat inside if you can.


  • #11
    fclauson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,691 ✭✭✭fclauson


    josip wrote: »
    What fireplace :D ?
    Our builder plywooded, then plasterboarded and skimmed the chimney breast.
    He capped off the chimney pot outside so that stuff can't fall in and also to keep the cold air out in the winter.

    This might cause a problem as you might get condensation into the chimney and hence mould.

    Did he stuff the chimney with insulation at the level of the insulation in the roof ?


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