Does some sort of wood/coal fire thing actualy exist?

[DominicJ]

I would really like a wood/coal burning fire for my living room.
I already have GCH so its more because I think they look cool than to warm the house, although the living room is pretty big and tends to stay quite cold and gas prices are unlikely to get any cheaper. Anyway, its an old house, either from the early 60's or late 40's, I forget which, it was either built in the 60's, or is 60 something years old.
It has a brick built flue surround in the room, that currently holds a gas fire and goes up to a chimney stack on the roof.
I'm assuming they wont have done something to prevent the gas fireplace being replaced.

Anyway, a few people have mentioned using a wood burning fireplace to provide hot water and central heating, so I'm wondering if it would be possible to provide either under floor heating, maybe run a couple of radiators or run skirting radiators/copper pripes around the wall.

So, does that sound possible, and does anyone want to speculate on costs?

[Clara]

You could have an open fire that had a back boiler, cost would greatly depend on how much work you would need done: gas fire safely removed, fireplace opening and making presentable, cost of back boiler, cost of rerouting pipes or laying new ones. Woodburners are far more efficient and you can get those with back boilers and doors which open fully for when you want to see the fire. You can spend as much as you like on one, though generally you get what you pay for. If you think at somepoint the cost of gas might make you want to move to wood as your main heat source, it would better to install a woodburner and know that you will be burning a lot less fuel (and therefore spending less on it).

You must check that the chimney is not capped or been blocked, when it is open you will also want it swept

Though I think your first consideration must be to find out whether where you live is a smoke-free zone.

[DominicJ]

I do live in a smoke free zone, I hadnt really expected it to be enforced, and have assumed most of my neighbours lack the ability to spell smoke free zone, let alone know they're in one and report me for breaking it...

I'll google wood fire back boiler and see what come sup, thanks for the help

[Clara]

I do live in a smoke free zone, I hadnt really expected it to be enforced, and have assumed most of my neighbours lack the ability to spell smoke free zone, let alone know they're in one and report me for breaking it...

I'll google wood fire back boiler and see what come sup, thanks for the help

It would be a lot of money to spend only to be told not to use it, I mean whether your neighbours report you or not, smoke is smoke, you would stick out like a sore thumb in a smoke free area, it would be visible by anyone passing including council workers. I suspect they would enforce it and there might be a fine too. I think there is such a thing as smokeless fuel, but then again this would probably be coal-based and nonrenewable (therefore having all the attendant environmental problems of fossil fuels and the price rises as they become more rare).

Perhaps if you want a log fire and you´re not so keen on your neighbours it might be easier to move

[DominicJ]

I've had a look and there are "smokeless" wood burners, so that can be dealt with easily enough.
I've found a couple that do what I want, sort of, but seem to want to be attached to the main system, which I dont want.
May just have to settle for a normal fire.

[MINESAPINT]

I have oil CH and 2 open fires which both have back boilers. I have a twin coil hot water cylinder. The oil CH system runs one coil and most radiators and the 2 back boilers run the other coil and 3 radiators. The whole thing works perfectly. When I installed this system I was being encouraged to fit some fancy thing under my hot water cylinder with about 12 inlets/outlets in it. Far too complicated and after studying it I decided it would not work anyway.

[Cheezy]

Hi I'm thinking of putting a wood burning stove in our main living room. Its a cold and draughty victorian house with open fires, which we burn smokeless coal and logs.
When looking into it I knew our town was smokeless, however a bit of research I found out that our council has a grey area if you are burning wood in a stove. In fact I would go as far as saying it's allowed.
Worth a bit of reasearch on the council site.

[snapdragon]

a google for 'multi-fuel stove' might bring up some answers, we have a local shop that sells them from about £600 upwards [last time I went round and looked].
they are Sarsen Stoves - you could check them out for their range and then search for a supplier nearer to you.

[DominicJ]

Its on the back burner for the moment, I think just getting a wood burner will be £2k'ish fitted, so saving up a bit more to get a proper wood burner attached to the GCHCB seems reasonable

[ollybean]

I believe smokeless areas relate to visible smoke and particles so a well seasoned hard wood or a smokeless coal, or alternate fuel such as compressed wood chips etc will be OK.
The flue must be checked first for blockages (eg bird nests or rubble) and for any leakage of fumes into the premises (a smoke test can be done). Also check if the chimney top has a terminal of the correct type for a class one fire (ie solid fuel burning) and not one for gas or other purpose, or is actualy blanked off. I dont think you can just fit a back boiler to the gas central heating especialy if microbore pipes have been used, because of the need for a larger flow of water through bigger pipes. A free standing stove in an alcove with plenty of air around it if it is of a killowattage to suit the room/s to heat will be ok. Remember, are you prepared to cart, chop, store the fuel and do the cleaning out of the ashes etc.
If the flue is not good it can be lined with a flexible metal liner of the right size and type for the stove but of course there is the extra cost.
All above is just my opinion and not given in an advisory or proffessional capacity.

[Smooth Hound]

i have a older version of this type, its very good, and can be used either for wood or coal, with a very simple adjustment on the air inlet direction


http://www.hamletstoves.co.uk/#nogo