Fires, Flues & Chimneys: What Can Go Wrong?

Whether your taste is for a cosy inglenook with an open fire or an eye-catching modern stove, the right solid fuel heater can add style and panache not just to the room it’s in, but to the entire house.

For many self builders and renovators, however, it’s not simply about aesthetics. Combined with other technologies, these can be genuine heat sources that form an important part of the overall energy performance strategy for your home.

The basics

As with most elements of a major project, it’s crucial you do your research before finalising the spec. What sort of fire do you want, and will it be used as a primary or secondary heat source? Do you want a formal fireplace and chimney or just a flue, and does the type of structure you’re proposing cater for the installation requirements?

Check back with your local authority, too, as some restrict the use of open fires and the fuel types you can burn.

An important step is to hire a suitably-qualified installer – look for HETAS or OFTEC registration for solid fuel appliances, and Gas Safe for gas. They’ll advise on specifications and, on completion of the installation, will provide a certificate to show that it complies with Building Regulations.

A certification plate is often fixed to the flue to verify testing has been undertaken. A warranty provider won’t usually cover these appliances unless there’s a suitable certificate in place.

Key considerations

Poorly specified and installed products will not only fail to perform effectively, but in some circumstances could be dangerous. So where can things go wrong? The most common causes of warranty claims tend to focus around poor workmanship and detailing. Here are some of the key areas you need to ensure are given full attention during the building process:

1. Adequate foundations The weight of a masonry chimney makes for a considerable point load, so suitable support is vital. The foundation depth for this aspect of your project should usually be the same as for the rest of the structure.

2. Flue position Generally, the more bends are included, the less effective the chimney and/or flue will be. In addition, gas appliance outlets must be away from door or window openings to avoid fumes coming back into the house and, if possible, not too close to structural elements such as lintels (and certainly not within the loading zone).

Pre-formed flue sections should be set correctly within the chimney. If accidentally laid upside-down, this will be costly to rectify – especially if the work has already been completed.