Recommisioning fireplace and chimney shedding soot

[alexfromnewport]

Hi

Ok, just taken out a back boiler and unearthed a collosal Victorian parlour range fireplace behind which we have opened up entirely. It's huge. At some point in history has been lined as a 6 inch steel liner is already in place. Got a sweep coming next week. In the meantime, its dropping soot smuts which then bounce into the room. The soot is wet and absolutely stinks, to be honest, like rancid ****. A) is this normal b) will a sweep sort this out before we decide to press on with either a wood burner or open fire?

 

[vinn]

The "steel liner" you refer to, is it a hard wall pipe or a flexi liner?
Typically, the flexi liner must be removed for the flue to be swept.

Perhaps moisture is entering the flue or the liner at the chimney stack terminal.
Given that the flexi liner is best removed from on the roof at the c/stack position then the flaunching and any terminal fixture could be examined at that time for leaking or decay?

Some flues will need a liner for any new fire arrangements but best to get a HETAS qualified sweep to give you a heads up at least.

On the left of the pic there are signs of re-plastering, & some dark (damp?) areas low down.
Whats happened there?

 

[alexfromnewport]

hi

thanks for replying. the liner is the flexi type, six inch diameter. Must all chimneys have one, or could it be whipped out, chimney swept and checked and used as is? The damp replastered bit is just that, we replastered the alcoves as part of the refurb and I took the pic the same day, its the fresh, yet to fully dry top coat.

 

[Lower]

If the chimney itself is in good condition there is no reason why you can't use it with an open fire. However, if you go for a woodburner (and i would have currently got both an open fire and a woodburner in different rooms) i strongly suggest you use a flue liner matched to the woodburner. You'll get much better performance from the woodburner.