Please help re open fire

shelly24

So we bought a house before Xmas, it was built in 1999.
The gas was disconnected so we had to get gas networks ireland out to reconnect it, while he was there he did a smoke test (we had a gas fire) and it didn’t pass so he disconnected the fire.
We got a chimney sweep and then called an RGi registered gas man who preformed another smoke test, it passed and he turned back on the gas fire.
There was no heat so we decided to turn it into an open fire, we got the gas man back out and he capped the gas fire and removed it.
Last night we lit our open fire and quite a bit of smoke came into the living room. We decided to quench it and later I went up to my bedroom which is above be fire and there was smoke in the bedroom.
The fire was out at this stage so we opened all the doors and windows and the smell left everywhere except our bedroom. It’s still quite strong.
The chimney sweep is coming back tomorrow but I don’t even know if that’s the right person?
We’d love a stove at some stage but it’s not in our budget this winter

Effects

Is it suitable for an open fire/stove? Perhaps it was only designed to have a gas fire, and not for the smoke and exhaust gas from burning solid fuel.
Have your neighbours any similar issues?

shelly24

Effects wrote: »

Is it suitable for an open fire/stove? Perhaps it was only designed to have a gas fire, and not for the smoke and exhaust gas from burning solid fuel.
Have your neighbours any similar issues?

The house was originally built with an open fireplace and we went to a neighbour who has an open fire last night and she doesn’t have any problems

upupup

shelly24 wrote: »

The chimney sweep is coming back tomorrow but I don’t even know if that’s the right person?
r

There are chimney sweep's that have camera's to check the flue so this is who you need to find out what is causing the problem.

It may have just been a down draught or the chimney construction may be poor.ie too many bends

RobbieMD

shelly24 wrote: »

So we bought a house before Xmas, it was built in 1999.
The gas was disconnected so we had to get gas networks ireland out to reconnect it, while he was there he did a smoke test (we had a gas fire) and it didn’t pass so he disconnected the fire.
We got a chimney sweep and then called an RGi registered gas man who preformed another smoke test, it passed and he turned back on the gas fire.
There was no heat so we decided to turn it into an open fire, we got the gas man back out and he capped the gas fire and removed it.
Last night we lit our open fire and quite a bit of smoke came into the living room. We decided to quench it and later I went up to my bedroom which is above be fire and there was smoke in the bedroom.
The fire was out at this stage so we opened all the doors and windows and the smell left everywhere except our bedroom. It’s still quite strong.
The chimney sweep is coming back tomorrow but I don’t even know if that’s the right person?
We’d love a stove at some stage but it’s not in our budget this winter

Smoke coming back into the room would suggest that maybe there wasn’t a good enough draw on your chimney. Also a flue is at its least efficient when cold on start up and then as it warms up the draw increases.

Is there a vent in that room? Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide alarm in that room and I’d also put one in the bedroom too. It’s possible that your chimney is leaking combustion gases through cracked/broken clay liner. If the alarms go off make sure not to light anymore fires.

As suggested a modern sweep should be able to Cctv survey your flue. We had a crack in ours years ago. We had to bite the bullet and got the flue lined and a stove put in. Haven’t looked back since. Good luck getting it sorted.

shelly24

RobbieMD wrote: »

Smoke coming back into the room would suggest that maybe there wasn’t a good enough draw on your chimney. Also a flue is at its least efficient when cold on start up and then as it warms up the draw increases.

Is there a vent in that room? Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide alarm in that room and I’d also put one in the bedroom too. It’s possible that your chimney is leaking combustion gases through cracked/broken clay liner. If the alarms go off make sure not to light anymore fires.

As suggested a modern sweep should be able to Cctv survey your flue. We had a crack in ours years ago. We had to bite the bullet and got the flue lined and a stove put in. Haven’t looked back since. Good luck getting it sorted.

We have the chimney sweep coming today, there’s still a strong smell of smoke in our bedroom despite windows open pretty much all the time since Monday evening so I’d say there is some sort of crack or something

Wearb

shelly24 wrote: »

We have the chimney sweep coming today, there’s still a strong smell of smoke in our bedroom despite windows open pretty much all the time since Monday evening so I’d say there is some sort of crack or something

There is the possibility-if the room with fireplace isn’t well vented- of air being sucked in through bedroom window. This could include some of the smoke under certain atmospheric conditions.

shelly24

Think it’s sorted now, the chimney sweep came today and immediately saw a big hole so was able to put concrete stuff on it and said we can use it again tonight. We are a bit nervous because our bedroom is still stinking of smoke so we will wait until the weekend and try again!
On another note we were speaking to him about getting an inset stove and the said we don’t need the liner that they install when you are getting a stove... I asked about risk of fire being higher and he said it won’t

upupup

shelly24 wrote: »

Think it’s sorted now, the chimney sweep came today and immediately saw a big hole so was able to put concrete stuff on it and said we can use it again tonight. We are a bit nervous because our bedroom is still stinking of smoke so we will wait until the weekend and try again!
On another note we were speaking to him about getting an inset stove and the said we don’t need the liner that they install when you are getting a stove... I asked about risk of fire being higher and he said it won’t

You do need a liner especially since you have a broken flue....this repair job that was done today may not last.I would suggest reline the flue with a flex flue stove or no stove.
If you want a very warm room then go for a stand alone stove.some of the inset stove's do not give out great heat as the heat goes up the chimney or into the surrouning blockwork

upupup

A hole in the flue should not allow smoke to escape from the chimney at the flue should be surrounded by sand/lime filling.there is a big problem with your chimney...I have built many chimneys over the last 30 years.

Also the room filling with smoke is a different problem to the hole as the hole would not stop smoke from going up and out....I think you need an expert.

RobbieMD

shelly24 wrote: »

Think it’s sorted now, the chimney sweep came today and immediately saw a big hole so was able to put concrete stuff on it and said we can use it again tonight. We are a bit nervous because our bedroom is still stinking of smoke so we will wait until the weekend and try again!
On another note we were speaking to him about getting an inset stove and the said we don’t need the liner that they install when you are getting a stove... I asked about risk of fire being higher and he said it won’t

If getting a stove then you really want to line your chimney. Open fires generally have an 8inch flue. Stoves generally have a 5/6” flue and are more efficient at getting rid of combustion gases. The narrrower flue also allows you to backfill the void with vermiculite insulation to help ensure your combustion gases stay hotter with less risk of them condensing in your flue. I know it’s an extra expense but it’s worth it long term.

shelly24

RobbieMD wrote: »

If getting a stove then you really want to line your chimney. Open fires generally have an 8inch flue. Stoves generally have a 5/6” flue and are more efficient at getting rid of combustion gases. The narrrower flue also allows you to backfill the void with vermiculite insulation to help ensure your combustion gases stay hotter with less risk of them condensing in your flue. I know it’s an extra expense but it’s worth it long term.

Thanks, we will definitely be lining the chimney if we get a stove, we lit the fire again today thinking it was all fixed and our room filled with smoke again.
There must be a crack somewhere, I think the best way to go is a stove with liner?
It would be expensive getting a camera put up the chimney and trying to fix that if we know we want a stove eventually

rightjob!

shelly24 wrote: »

Thanks, we will definitely be lining the chimney if we get a stove, we lit the fire again today thinking it was all fixed and our room filled with smoke again.
There must be a crack somewhere, I think the best way to go is a stove with liner?
It would be expensive getting a camera put up the chimney and trying to fix that if we know we want a stove eventually

Sounds like a pot is cracked somewhere in the chimney stack.
The best way out of this and to guarantee it is safe is to get a stove put in and use a flue liner.

zoe 3619

What sort of fuel are you using?

listermint

You have a cracked flue that needs lining.

You also have no or very poor draw in the room.

You either have no vents in that room or it's been blocked up by someone. Both bad things.

Don't light that fire again until both .

Both these things are sorted.