Getting fire going in new flat

schmooschmoo

I moved into a floor of an old Georgian building that has recently been renovated after not being used for some time. The fireplace was presented with the hearth carpeted over and the grates removed but there's a good draught coming down the chimney and soot coming down any time there's rain.

There was a verbal agreement of not requesting later modifications to the house on signing the lease so I'm not in a position to get the landlord to fit the fireplace for me - he had no idea of their condition after only recently purchasing the building. That said, I got the go-ahead to get it going myself if I want to after being told the floor above found their chimney to be good and workable after inspecting it and are now successfully lighting well ventilated fires when originally they were in the same position as us.

The hearth is under the carpet, which I've been given permission to reveal and the mantlepiece is in place. The fire is quite small (66cm tall) and is an old stone/concrete victorian one. I was going to run some ventilation tests of burning some paper in a pan and checking the chimney outside that it's all coming out. I'll also get the flat above (the top floor) to check for any emerging smoke in their room to suggest any give in the lining.

Should that work ok, I'll get a chimney sweep to clean the chimney out and ask their opinion on the condition of the fire while they're out. From there I'll try and source a grate and front and go from there.

Basically, is this an awful idea? I'd love the fireplace to be going for some nights of the Winter. I'm aware I can only be 100% sure of the chimney if I actually get someone out for that sole purpose and, not being too naive, the advice would probably suggest - for peace of mind - getting it relined anyway. I have practically zero budget on this. It's a stretch for me to afford the chimney sweep and I've hoping to source the fireplace bits for free as there must be tonnes of them laying about in sheds.

The fires would be only lit while we were in the room and would be small enough as the fireplace itself is small. That said, I don't want to put us in any silly danger so I'm hoping this is a goer if we kept our wits about us with the fireplace and never sat back and ignored it over the Winter as it lit away.

BryanF

schmooschmoo wrote: »

I moved into a floor of an old Georgian building that has recently been renovated after not being used for some time. The fireplace was presented with the hearth carpeted over and the grates removed but there's a good draught coming down the chimney and soot coming down any time there's rain.

There was a verbal agreement of not requesting later modifications to the house on signing the lease so I'm not in a position to get the landlord to fit the fireplace for me - he had no idea of their condition after only recently purchasing the building. That said, I got the go-ahead to get it going myself if I want to after being told the floor above found their chimney to be good and workable after inspecting it and are now successfully lighting well ventilated fires when originally they were in the same position as us.

The hearth is under the carpet, which I've been given permission to reveal and the mantlepiece is in place. The fire is quite small (66cm tall) and is an old stone/concrete victorian one. I was going to run some ventilation tests of burning some paper in a pan and checking the chimney outside that it's all coming out. I'll also get the flat above (the top floor) to check for any emerging smoke in their room to suggest any give in the lining.

Should that work ok, I'll get a chimney sweep to clean the chimney out and ask their opinion on the condition of the fire while they're out. From there I'll try and source a grate and front and go from there.

Basically, is this an awful idea? I'd love the fireplace to be going for some nights of the Winter. I'm aware I can only be 100% sure of the chimney if I actually get someone out for that sole purpose and, not being too naive, the advice would probably suggest - for peace of mind - getting it relined anyway. I have practically zero budget on this. It's a stretch for me to afford the chimney sweep and I've hoping to source the fireplace bits for free as there must be tonnes of them laying about in sheds.

The fires would be only lit while we were in the room and would be small enough as the fireplace itself is small. That said, I don't want to put us in any silly danger so I'm hoping this is a goer if we kept our wits about us with the fireplace and never sat back and ignored it over the Winter as it lit away.

sounds like there's a few possible issues major issues here! the first one being the condition of the existing chimney, these often give problem in old house especially one disturbed by building renovations.. I know your skint but why look for a second hand stove and get a specialist to install a flue liner down the chimney! safest way imo..

schmooschmoo

Apologies, when I said it was renovated - I don't mean anything serious. I mean the place was replastered, painted and carpeted. There were no structural changes. I couldn't begin to afford a specialist to fit a flue-liner, my 'practically zero budget' wasn't hyperbole.

It looks to me like the fireplace was used recently enough as I've another fireplace in a bedroom that looks like it hasn't been used in a long time and the contrast is striking.

dharn

what about the smoky fuel ban in dublin

BryanF

schmooschmoo wrote: »

Apologies, when I said it was renovated - I don't mean anything serious. I mean the place was replastered, painted and carpeted. There were no structural changes. I couldn't begin to afford a specialist to fit a flue-liner, my 'practically zero budget' wasn't hyperbole.

It looks to me like the fireplace was used recently enough as I've another fireplace in a bedroom that looks like it hasn't been used in a long time and the contrast is striking.

sure ok, that would be my preferred opinion, but maybe get the chimney sweep in (someone with lots of experience and see what they have to say) from your OP it seemed like you already knew you'd got a dodgy situation...

Buford T Justice

Get a smoke pellet and do a smoke test on the chimney - or better still get a registered chimney sweep to give it a clean and the once over, they'll do all the necessary checks.

miketv

schmooschmoo wrote: »

I was going to run some ventilation tests of burning some paper in a pan and checking the chimney outside that it's all coming out. I'll also get the flat above (the top floor) to check for any emerging smoke in their room to suggest any give in the lining.
.

Yes that would be the best idea, I suspect you'll find it probably works perfectly (if its working upstairs). If it does then a chimney sweep would not be any harm, you can rent one or get somebody in.
Post back here after and I'm sure you'll be happy with a nice warm fire.:)

schmooschmoo

BryanF wrote: »

sure ok, that would be my preferred opinion, but maybe get the chimney sweep in (someone with lots of experience and see what they have to say) from your OP it seemed like you already knew you'd got a dodgy situation...

Yes that would be the best idea, I suspect you'll find it probably works perfectly (if its working upstairs). If it does then a chimney sweep would not be any harm, you can rent one or get somebody in.
Post back here after and I'm sure you'll be happy with a nice warm fire

It looks like I'll go with that. We're aware of all the warnings so far and are only doing this with the liklihood that the chimney's fine and with some slow-paced caution. Getting a chimney sweep in is some peace-of-mind that they'll spot any hazards long before I will and I'll get the chimney clear of congestion. Thanks for the words. Will let you know if it works.

schmooschmoo

Small update on this. It took a while to get around to...

First tries of burning smoke in the fireplace sends the smoke shooting up the chimney and it isn't coming back down or leaking into the room anywhere. No complaints from the neighbours upstairs yet either.

I also found out that I could get a decent look up the chimney with a torch and didn't realise the flue is fairly massive. It's unlikely there'll be a problem with air flow or surprises along it - perhaps at the chimney end or structural problems but it seems unlikely for now. Hopefully testing and a sweep will confirm.

I'm sourcing a grate and front for the fire and trying to go the recycling route before purchasing. I've found a potential one that's not far off on the dimensions but I can't imagine not having an exact fit would be a good idea. It's a centimeter or two off on all edges. Any advice on that or, if I can't source an unused one, where would be my best bet in Dublin of sourcing a simple iron one? I'll attach pictures of the fire (before hearth was revealed) and dimensions.