Fire position

[davecooper]

My gas fire is offset in the chimney breast by some 18" which has always annoyed me. This is because we are a semi with the chimney breasts back to back but with the flues side by side. Therefore there is no way the hole can be widened as there would be a risk of breaking into next doors flue.

I asked my gas installer whether I could fit a much narrower inset fire, pushed to one side if the opening to make it more central. He has told me that this cannot be done as the fire has to be central to the flue, which would make it offset again.

I mentioned that I had been looking at flueless fires. He said he did not really recommend these due to the amount of condensation they can produce. He also seemed uncomfortable with the flueless concept.

Bottom line is, what are my options to allow a centrally mounted fire. He did suggest I could extend the chimney breast one side to even it up. However, I cannot afford to lose the space.

 

[davecooper]

It occurred to me after I had posted the above that someone is likely to mention an electric fire. I have not discounted these completely, however, it would need to have a reasonable heat output, have a convincing flame effect and be flush mounting. How visually effective are modern flame effect heaters?

 

[wotan]

If the gas fire is not central within the chimney breast, why not extend one side of the chimney breast using studing and plaster board, till the fire is central.

Wotan

 

[davecooper]

The alcove on that side is already quite narrow, 18" narrower and it would look very odd. I can't afford to lose that space either.

 

[wotan]

The alcove on that side is already quite narrow, 18" narrower and it would look very odd. I can't afford to lose that space either.

It was just a thought

 

[davecooper]

Thanks anyway. Would have been the ideal fix. If I had a bit more space, I may have done as you suggested but made the extension hollow with doors on the side of the chimney breast. This would at least give me storage space to make up for lost floor space.