Flue In "new Build" House

[grandpajoe]

Our house is "new build" and am thinking (just thinking mind) about installing a wood burning stove in place of the gas fire. Lots of pro s and con s I know and my wife is not too keen. One burning question (pun intended) is whether the present flue would be OK to use for the wood burner??
There is a chimney breast in the living room which accommodates the gas fire but no breast in the bedroom above. Where is the flue?? Is it built into the external wall? If so could it be changed if I had to get a new flue to accommodate the wood burner ? Cheers Chris

[sunny-dave]

It's not a 'balanced flue' straight through the wall to the outside is it - similar to a Central Heating boiler flue?

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Contact a local HETAS registered installer for a free quote and pick his brains.Do you have plenty of storage space for your fuel?If used regularly they will consume tons.Will you have to buy fuel or can you get it free?

[The Builder]

Possibly a "through the wall" flue as Dave says. Just look outside for any terminal.

More likely, the flue is constructed from gas flue blocks. They're sized to bond in with conventional masonry blocks when laid in the usual manner.

The difference is, they're hollow, with a rectangular hole running through them. In the bedroom, it looks just like a normal block wall. Downstairs, a chimney breast has been constructed to give the look of a regular fireplace.

I'm afraid these are not suitable for wood or multi-fuel. You would need either a full height chimney built outside (or inside), or an insulated stainless steel woodburner flue.

[SlackAlice]

I have no idea where you live, but make sure your area isn't a 'smokeless zone'

I'd love to have a woodburner stove but I live in a 'Smokeless Zone'

[grandpajoe]

The flue comes out of the roof in a "chimney" about 3 ft long with a simple fixed "Cowl"/vent cheers

[grandpajoe]

Have come to the conclusion that it's probably not worth the cost, effort and up-upheaval. I just fancy being independent from GAS. Maybe in the future we could build a chimney on the outside of the house but one could buy an awful lot of gas with the cost of changing to solid fuel. Eh?

[jomifl]

Have you considered oil fired heating? an oil tank takes up less space than a woodpile, you can buy oil when it is cheaper and an oil heating system can be automically controlled, so no looking for logs frozen together under a snow drift.,. It is also cheaper than gas.

[Chipchopper]

The good thing about most modern wood burning and multi fuel stoves is that they incorporate 'clean burn' technology which permits them to be used even in smokeless zones.
I wouldn't want to be without mine now!

[grandpajoe]

Thanks All Chris