Opening up a Chimney Breast

[Ivor Windybottom]

My honest advice would be to get rid of the chimney. Seriously.

We had a stove, it came with the house and we never used it. But my other half wiped all the soot off the living room walls when we moved in. We were using electric heaters before we got the heat pump heating installed. We could never get the place warm, until I stuffed a pillow up the stove's flue. They have a glass front but loads of vents, you basically have a hole in your roof if you have one. If it's not lit then you'll be cold.

I've since taken down the chimney and roofed over it. I'll keep the chimney breast, will eventually install a flush electric fire into it that we'll probably never use, as the place is plenty warm with the heat pump now I've got rid of the two chimneys.

 

[Craig-H]

I take your point, but I just want one. It's more than heat, they're endearing... inviting. I'll pursue it until I can't and if necessary have a rethink. I'm fairly tenacious... if it can be done - it will be. I hope to make some progress this week.

 

[stuart45]

Where I live a lot of people have them. They can be expensive to run, unless you have access to a cheap supply of firewood. On the plus side, people generally find that radiated heat is more comfortable than convection heat.

 

[Craig-H]

I really enjoyed the fireplace, but it just didn't kick out very much heat. I think they say 80% of the heat from a fire goes up the chimney and apparently only 20% goes up the chimney with a wood burner... That's a 60% gain from last winter and sounds like bliss! Hopefully I can source some local cheap wood.

 

[stuart45]

A lot depends on how much work you want to do with it. For example, a large dumpy bag of seasoned Ash logs delivered could be £120, whereas if you find someone who has just cut one down and are prepared to pick up the logs, split them and season them for 12 months, it can work out a lot cheaper. The key thing is to plan ahead all the time. If you see a tree surgeon cutting one down in the summer, they might tell you the owner would be happy to sell the logs. Some people are happy to give them away just to get rid of them, not realizing how valuable they are. I've just cut an Ash tree down, and my daughter stuck it on her Facebook site. Within 5 minutes she had about 10 messages wanting to buy the logs. Ash is really easy to sell.

 

[Craig-H]

Blimey... I didn't realise how much wood costs. I've never really given it a great deal of thought, just picking up smaller bags when I need them and so you don't really appreciate the cost. I'll keep my eye out - thanks!

 

[noseall]

Blimey... I didn't realise how much wood costs

...and it's bulky to store and it needs a roof.

 

[stevie888]

I really enjoyed the fireplace, but it just didn't kick out very much heat. I think they say 80% of the heat from a fire goes up the chimney and apparently only 20% goes up the chimney with a wood burner... That's a 60% gain from last winter and sounds like bliss! Hopefully I can source some local cheap wood.

Now a better argumane would be: I used to get 20% of the heat into the room now I will get 80% so that's a 400% increase.

 

[stuart45]

Blimey... I didn't realise how much wood costs. I've never really given it a great deal of thought, just picking up smaller bags when I need them and so you don't really appreciate the cost. I'll keep my eye out - thanks!

Buying small bags is even more expensive. Have a look at the heat output and burn time of different woods as well. Oak and Ash are 2 of the better ones. It's not quite so bad if the stove is only used as a secondary heat source for a few hours in the evening. I know a few people who have quite big ones in their cottages. They run them all day and heat most of the house with them. Obviously they have access to really cheap or free wood. It's much easier in rural areas to get hold of cheap wood. I saw some nets of softwood offcuts being sold in Proper Job for about £4, and they are a cheap shop. I know a few chippies who bag up their offcuts and sell them for kindling.
When it comes to removing your chimney completely the problem you have is that next door have their flue running in it as well, so both would need to agree.

 

[Craig-H]

...and it's bulky to store and it needs a roof.

I've got a shed for the oil tank, so I can store quite a bit in there...

 

[Craig-H]

Now a better argumane would be: I used to get 20% of the heat into the room now I will get 80% so that's a 400% increase.

Quite right... It sounds quite enticing when you think of it like that...

 

[Craig-H]

Buying small bags is even more expensive. Have a look at the heat output and burn time of different woods as well. Oak and Ash are 2 of the better ones. It's not quite so bad if the stove is only used as a secondary heat source for a few hours in the evening. I know a few people who have quite big ones in their cottages. They run them all day and heat most of the house with them. Obviously they have access to really cheap or free wood. It's much easier in rural areas to get hold of cheap wood. I saw some nets of softwood offcuts being sold in Proper Job for about £4, and they are a cheap shop. I know a few chippies who bag up their offcuts and sell them for kindling.
When it comes to removing your chimney completely the problem you have is that next door have their flue running in it as well, so both would need to agree.

You've got my brain whirling now... I think I might be able to source some free wood, although I'm not sure what trees are on his plot.

 

[Craig-H]

BTW... I don't have any intention of bricking up the chimney... at worst and from a charm perspective - it will go back to being a traditional fireplace.