Flat upstairs says our fireplace needs blocking up

[stuart799]

We live in a conversion flat - the building was built in the late 1800s and was converted into flats 30+ years ago. Apparently our flat and flat upstairs had back boilers in the fireplaces. Ours must have been removed well before we bought and we have just a normal fireplace that we were told was fine to use. The owner upstairs just started renting, and when he went for the gas certificate they told him the flues had been smashed through when the flats were converted and they installed these back burners. Because of that the smoke that would come from our fire has nowhere to go and therefore needs to be blocked up in order to give the gas certificate. My question is surely we can get a liner installed that either hooks into his back burner flue or continues up the chimney. Apparently there's not much room due to his pipes from the back boiler. Does anyone have any tips or advice before I bring someone in to have a look? It would be a shame to lose our fire as it's a really nice feature.

Thank you...

 

[rjm2k]

Shouldn't the freeholder be involved in this?

Anyway, it's your neighbours problem, get him to come up with and pay for a solution that you are happy with.

 

[stuart799]

He and I share the freehold with two other flats. He's blaming it on the previous owner of my flat who would have pulled out the old back boiler and started using the fireplace normally so will not pay to sort it out...

 

[rjm2k]

He'll find it difficult to get his Gas Cert so he can rent then won't he.

 

[Onetap]

There would have been a separate flue for each fireplace when the building was erected.

What he has told you doesn't make much sense, maybe he has misunderstood it. If the flue was blocked off, this should have been spotted when your gas fire was installed, presumably by a CORGI or Gas Safe registered fitter. This shouldn't affect the gas safety certificaate for his flat, unless your fumes are spilling into it.

You must confirm that the flue for your fire is clear and working, or the fumes could kill you.

It sounds more like the flue may have been blocked since your fire was installed, but you'd have to research it to find out what has happened to your flue. Has someone been removing chimney breasts?

 

[mysteryman]

You need a Gas Safe reg person to sort this out for you.

 

[stuart799]

He'll find it difficult to get his Gas Cert so he can rent then won't he.

The tenant's moved in already so I think that's why he's trying to get it sorted sharpish.

There would have been a separate flue for each fireplace when the building was erected.

Apparently there were 3 flues, one per floor, but during the conversion they smashed through so there is only one now.. That's the part that doesn't make sense to me.

You need a Gas Safe reg person to sort this out for you.

Yes, I'll get someone in soon...

 

[DP]

Stuart wrote.

The owner upstairs just started renting, and when he went for the gas certificate they told him the flues had been smashed through when the flats were converted and they installed these back burners

Hard to understand this piece of gem coming from the gas 'engineer'. Back boiler would have been fitted with a flue liner. Liner most likely was removed at some stage which then possibly highlighted collapsed bridge or brick between the two chimneys becoming dislodged. Cannot visualise a stack being 'demolished to instal a backboiler.

Because of that the smoke that would come from our fire has nowhere to go and therefore needs to be blocked up in order to give the gas certificate

Your chimney DOES NOT/ SHOULD NOT communicate with another chimney. When a smoke test is carried out, the RGI is looking for smoke coming from one pot only and that is your chimney pot. If smoke comes from two or more pots, then chimney/ flue needs to be fixed i.e. liner dropped down to the appliance. Anyhow, your (gas) fire should not 'smoke'

Have you had your fire checked? If not might be an idea to have it serviced/ checked for safe operation ASAP.

He and I share the freehold with two other flats. He's blaming it on the previous owner of my flat who would have pulled out the old back boiler and started using the fireplace normally so will not pay to sort it out...

Pulling out a liner should make no difference unless chimney is diffective.

 

[stuart799]

Your chimney DOES NOT/ SHOULD NOT communicate with another chimney. When a smoke test is carried out, the RGI is looking for smoke coming from one pot only and that is your chimney pot. If smoke comes from two or more pots, then chimney/ flue needs to be fixed i.e. liner dropped down to the appliance. Anyhow, your (gas) fire should not 'smoke'

Have you had your fire checked? If not might be an idea to have it serviced/ checked for safe operation ASAP.

Hi there, sorry for the confusion. We have an open fire, not a gas fire.

Does anyone know of any professionals in the Surrey / SW London area? I am having a hard time finding anyone to have a look.