not get ripped off when buying a wood burning stove?

[Meredith]

In most cases a DIY job will be fine. BUT you have to remember that rules are there for a reason and it has to be belt and braces. If you get a qualified person in to do the job, they have to guarantee that the finished product is safe and to get to a standard of proficiency to be able to do this cost a lot of money. This is why the cost is so high.

I run a business fitting woodburning stoves, amongst other things. I also prepare reports for the Coroner when the fitting of such appliances has been botched.

All I can say is, if in doubt, get it checked and err on the side of caution. Don't only think about the risk to yourself, think about who may use the stove when you are not there. If, to save a bob or two, you find the risk acceptable, then fine, it will probably be okay. If it doesn't turn out to be I may well be preparing the report.

[Tippychooks]

Hello all nd thanks for the replies.

I do have to get a liner I think and just to clarify - I don't have to remove the redundant back boiler if I get a stove - only if I decide to just use the open fire instead. My local sweep is a neighbour and has been a good source of advice but is a bit old school (he is nearly 90!) and just tells me to get a stove, fit it there and various other instructions I can't follow without more technical advice! He also speaks broadest Devon and has a soggy roll-up in his mouth at all times which leads to a lot of nodding and smiling from me but little information sinking in when he speaks to me!

I think I have got the price of the stove OK at around £300 and our local builder's merchant now say around £120 for the chimney bits and bobs. So I just need to find a HETAS man/lady to come and do the biz for me and I have no clue what that'll be. PLus a plasterer to make good the enthusiastic knocking out of the old fireplace

I will update when I get a price. I'm hoping it'll be soon as it's getting cold here and hasn't stopped raining for at least six months (roughestimate)

[pelmetman]

It is a good idea to get a carbon monoxide detector, as we have found when the wind is in a certain direction and our spinner gets stuck! (cheap spinner, hope to fit a better storm guard soon) that the fumes can blow back down the chimney.

[boboff]

Its a personal choice.

To flue or not to flue.

If you have the money, do it, if you don't choose to freeze, run the risk of death, setting fire to your house, killing your neigbours, or say balls to this modern over safety conscious way of life and buy a fire and burn things to keep warm. If it goes wrong it will provide work for the loss adjusters/teeth sucking brigade.

I

[bonniethomas06]

Just thought I would share this, I found a really good DIY website which explains in detail how to fit a flexible flue liner by yourself:

http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/flueliner.htm

And this one which sells all of the kit - to line my chimney will cost me £249:

https://vault1.secured-url.com/chimney/ ... N=SHOWCART

Which means liner and logburner installed for under £500 - plus whatever it costs to get the building reg man to come out with his clipboard.

Would be interested to hear if anyone has tried this themselves?

[boboff]

Fitted my new one today, just done the first burn, and apart from the stink, all seems to be working well.
Left the kids in the room with the windows shut but the CO obviously not bad enough!
Glass is clean still which is immence!

[bonniethomas06]

Left the kids in the room with the windows shut but the CO obviously not bad enough!
Glass is clean still which is immence!

Hehehe

Did you flue or not Boboff?

[pelmetman]

Fitted my new one today, just done the first burn, and apart from the stink, all seems to be working well.
Left the kids in the room with the windows shut but the CO obviously not bad enough!
Glass is clean still which is immence!

Are kids cheaper than canarys now days

Dave

[boboff]

I was lucky enough to already have a flue, and I had an unfortunate accident with my Canary and a pair of Speedo's!

(joke from News 24 Australian corresspondent today, Speedo's=Budgie Smugglers!!! Funny)

[MuddyWitch]

I was lucky enough to already have a flue, and I had an unfortunate accident with my Canary and a pair of Speedo's!

(joke from News 24 Australian corresspondent today, Speedo's=Budgie Smugglers!!! Funny)

Yep, I saw that & giggled too

MW