Fume-free gas fires
Discussion
I was having a conversation with a friend last night and she tells me she has a gas fire in her front room with fake logs on, but there is no flue or chimney, just the fire, and all the heat goes into the room, not straight up into the atmosphere. She lives in the USA, not UK, but why don't we have something like that over in England?
There is no flue for the gas cooker in my kitchen, but the fake coal gas fire in the front room has to have annual inspections for safety and fume free-ness. New ones need to have special chimney liners installed, to make sure that 80% of the heat goes up the chimney safely.
What is the score? Does gas give of fumes, and if so, why no flue in the kitchen?
There is no flue for the gas cooker in my kitchen, but the fake coal gas fire in the front room has to have annual inspections for safety and fume free-ness. New ones need to have special chimney liners installed, to make sure that 80% of the heat goes up the chimney safely.
What is the score? Does gas give of fumes, and if so, why no flue in the kitchen?
Gas fumes are never a good idea, but what she has is a Flueless fire with a catalytic converter, readily available here and legal to fit.
They normally have a super sensitive oxy-pilot so that they shut down with oxygen depletion AND must be fitted with a big airvent in the room.
Gas cookers are legal as a fluless appliance, but must only be fitted in a room with an openable window. Comercial catering kitchens must now be interlocked so that the gas will only be supplied when the extractor system is operational.
They normally have a super sensitive oxy-pilot so that they shut down with oxygen depletion AND must be fitted with a big airvent in the room.
Gas cookers are legal as a fluless appliance, but must only be fitted in a room with an openable window. Comercial catering kitchens must now be interlocked so that the gas will only be supplied when the extractor system is operational.
Edited by Ferg on Tuesday 13th October 16:39
King Herald said:
New ones need to have special chimney liners installed, to make sure that 80% of the heat goes up the chimney safely.
Gas fires can still be fitted in an unlined chimney subject to a flow and integrity check.The unfortunate thing about gas fires is that when we had radiants on the front they chucked plenty of heat out. Sadly we wanted them to look nice, so 'form-over-function' dictated that we fitted 'fuel-effect' fires that burn money and don't extract much heat from it.....
I have a flueless, they throw out a bit of heat but they make you think you are warm and cosy because of the dancing flames. Moderate BTUs for the fireplace ones, much higher for the enclosed ones.
If used in a fireplace close the vent/damper. The fireplace needs to cleaned well before instalation or it will smell.
The ones that need a chimney are quite spectacular, think of an old castle of country pub fireplace. Flames in the two foot high range. Yes, you will have a sooty ceiling. The ones I saw were not BTU rated !
They even have glowing embers and crackling sounds to make you think it is real
You guys still ok with BTUs or is all coulombs and joules over there now
ETA I have a carbon monoxide monitor in that room.
If used in a fireplace close the vent/damper. The fireplace needs to cleaned well before instalation or it will smell.
The ones that need a chimney are quite spectacular, think of an old castle of country pub fireplace. Flames in the two foot high range. Yes, you will have a sooty ceiling. The ones I saw were not BTU rated !
They even have glowing embers and crackling sounds to make you think it is real
You guys still ok with BTUs or is all coulombs and joules over there now
ETA I have a carbon monoxide monitor in that room.
Edited by jeff m on Tuesday 13th October 20:25
Ferg said:
The unfortunate thing about gas fires is that when we had radiants on the front they chucked plenty of heat out. Sadly we wanted them to look nice, so 'form-over-function' dictated that we fitted 'fuel-effect' fires that burn money and don't extract much heat from it.....
I recall 25+ years ago nearly all gas fires had that flat upright ceramic element thing on the front, and they pumped the heat out.jeff m said:
I have a flueless, they throw out a bit of heat but they make you think you are warm and cosy because of the dancing flames. Moderate BTUs for the fireplace ones, much higher for the enclosed ones.
If used in a fireplace close the vent/damper. The fireplace needs to cleaned well before instalation or it will smell.
The ones that need a chimney are quite spectacular, think of an old castle of country pub fireplace. Flames in the two foot high range. Yes, you will have a sooty ceiling. The ones I saw were not BTU rated !
They even have glowing embers and crackling sounds to make you think it is real
You guys still ok with BTUs or is all coulombs and joules over there now
I think our little front room would be too small for a raging realistic pub style open log-effect fire. We'd have to sit in the other room. If used in a fireplace close the vent/damper. The fireplace needs to cleaned well before instalation or it will smell.
The ones that need a chimney are quite spectacular, think of an old castle of country pub fireplace. Flames in the two foot high range. Yes, you will have a sooty ceiling. The ones I saw were not BTU rated !
They even have glowing embers and crackling sounds to make you think it is real
You guys still ok with BTUs or is all coulombs and joules over there now
BTU: British Thermal Unit? I think we still use them.
King Herald said:
I recall 25+ years ago nearly all gas fires had that flat upright ceramic element thing on the front, and they pumped the heat out.
BTU: British Thermal Unit? I think we still use them.
Mine is just a regular size fireplace,I don't own a monster mansionjeff m said:
I have a flueless, they throw out a bit of heat but they make you think you are warm and cosy because of the dancing flames. Moderate BTUs for the fireplace ones, much higher for the enclosed ones.
If used in a fireplace close the vent/damper. The fireplace needs to cleaned well before instalation or it will smell.
The ones that need a chimney are quite spectacular, think of an old castle of country pub fireplace. Flames in the two foot high range. Yes, you will have a sooty ceiling. The ones I saw were not BTU rated !
They even have glowing embers and crackling sounds to make you think it is real
You guys still ok with BTUs or is all coulombs and joules over there now
I think our little front room would be too small for a raging realistic pub style open log-effect fire. We'd have to sit in the other room. If used in a fireplace close the vent/damper. The fireplace needs to cleaned well before instalation or it will smell.
The ones that need a chimney are quite spectacular, think of an old castle of country pub fireplace. Flames in the two foot high range. Yes, you will have a sooty ceiling. The ones I saw were not BTU rated !
They even have glowing embers and crackling sounds to make you think it is real
You guys still ok with BTUs or is all coulombs and joules over there now
BTU: British Thermal Unit? I think we still use them.
I cropped a bit of a pic below.
I'm not sure why but there is a small log missing when this pic was taken that covers the gas shut off and the receiver for the remote.
We normally have a black wrought iron fire guard infront too so it looks sorta ok even when not on.
They do look a bit crappy when not on IMO so a fire guard really helps.
They do push out heat but do your chestnuts in the oven.
jeff m said:
Mine is just a regular size fireplace,I don't own a monster mansion
I cropped a bit of a pic below.
I'm not sure why but there is a small log missing when this pic was taken that covers the gas shut off and the receiver for the remote.
We normally have a black wrought iron fire guard infront too so it looks sorta ok even when not on.
They do look a bit crappy when not on IMO so a fire guard really helps.
They do push out heat but do your chestnuts in the oven.
But that is in a fireplace, whereas I'm interested in finding out about the ones that are just open to the room, no chimney, no flue, no hole to take heat outside. That seems to be what my friend is on about in her place in the US. I shall ask her further questions. I am envisioning a sort of camp fire effect at one side of the room. or maybe in the centre if it were a large room. I cropped a bit of a pic below.
I'm not sure why but there is a small log missing when this pic was taken that covers the gas shut off and the receiver for the remote.
We normally have a black wrought iron fire guard infront too so it looks sorta ok even when not on.
They do look a bit crappy when not on IMO so a fire guard really helps.
They do push out heat but do your chestnuts in the oven.
It is in a fireplace but it is flueless. Damper closed. Jetted so as operated with same co as a gas cooker
Try this link
http://www.dreifussfireplaces.com/
Try this link
http://www.dreifussfireplaces.com/
jeff m said:
It is in a fireplace but it is flueless. Damper closed. Jetted so as operated with same co as a gas cooker
Try this link
http://www.dreifussfireplaces.com/
Ah, I see. Sounds okay, so all the hot air does enter the room. We have a carbon monoxide sensor in our kitchen, so I guess you'd be wise having on in the room with the fire too.Try this link
http://www.dreifussfireplaces.com/
King Herald said:
Ah, I see. Sounds okay, so all the hot air does enter the room. We have a carbon monoxide sensor in our kitchen, so I guess you'd be wise having on in the room with the fire too.
Paul,These are the ones I've fitted:
http://www.burley.co.uk/category.php?cid=2
They are an arse to fit, mainly because the pilot is SO sensitive and any drop off in gas pressure (which we do get from time to time) puts them out.
I'd always steer clear from fitting them, but they are very efficient.
Definately have a CO detector in the room.
King Herald said:
I recall 25+ years ago nearly all gas fires had that flat upright ceramic element thing on the front, and they pumped the heat out.
I remember those at school - I believe the white bits were fireclay and once they glowed orange, it was easy to singe your trouser-legs!Ferg said:
King Herald said:
Ah, I see. Sounds okay, so all the hot air does enter the room. We have a carbon monoxide sensor in our kitchen, so I guess you'd be wise having on in the room with the fire too.
Paul,These are the ones I've fitted:
http://www.burley.co.uk/category.php?cid=2
They are an arse to fit, mainly because the pilot is SO sensitive and any drop off in gas pressure (which we do get from time to time) puts them out.
I'd always steer clear from fitting them, but they are very efficient.
Definately have a CO detector in the room.
I'd never even heard of them until yesterday, but sounds like they have been round for years and years.
What sort of ball park figure is a replacement for a standard flued gas fire, complete with installation etc?
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