I have an early 1950s house. It has a central heating system heated by a Baxi back-boiler gas fire. The CH system has been fitted at a later date, but I guess about 25 years ago (when 22mm copper pipe was joined with swaged ends which fitted over the next length). The chimney has been lined to suit the gas fire flue. I am in the process of updating the CH system, and will be replacing the Baxi boiler with a new boiler in the cellar. The Baxi fire will be removed. My plan is then to replace the fire with an open log fire or (more likely) with a small wood-burning stove. To do this, I must remove the gas flue lining from the chimney. The chimney is not straight up, but has a small dog-leg. Total chimney height, from hearth to top of stack is about 6m.
Question: Will the original chimney be suitable for the log fire? I assume the original heating was from a solid fuel fire, so would the chimney be suitable for log burning? I expect that when I take the old fire out and look up the chimney, I will see the original sooty inside, but are there any tell-tale signs to look for which might suggest a leaky chimney?
Question: Will the original chimney be suitable for the log fire? I assume the original heating was from a solid fuel fire, so would the chimney be suitable for log burning? I expect that when I take the old fire out and look up the chimney, I will see the original sooty inside, but are there any tell-tale signs to look for which might suggest a leaky chimney?
