Emmsy

12 minutes ago, Macpherson said:

I suppose it boils down to how much you want a stove as it sounds like the flue is the main problem, pictures of how bad or otherwise that is would be revealing, like I said the hearth problem is easy sorted, all the best.

I think I've become very cautious and concerned about it all, and as a result I think electric will give me piece of mind. 

2 minutes ago, Macpherson said:

A new twin wall flue straight up from a short  stove pipe and through the ceiling and roof, then , I believe only 50mm clearance required with the correct fittings and as for the Gyproc and wallpaper [ you get fireline plasterboard ]... just strip it off and  line with slate or something incombustible, that might get you 2" a side extra .... your half way there already with the new stove.

 

Sorting the hearth is easy.... did the guy that came round offer to take the stove off your hands ?

 

Sounds like the original fitting was a cowboy job but I don't see the problem as unsortable in a bungalow,  only my opinion of course, cheers.

No, they told me we should sell the stove as we'd get near £600.

On 09/04/2021 at 16:56, Alycidon said:

This is also dangerous,   pipe where is fits into the flue flange on the stove should also be secured with 3 x stainless pop rivets or self tappers to stop an enthusiastic sweep parting the pipes..   The joint above is not all the way home,   probably because someone cut the flue liner to short.

 

A

Thanks all so much for your really useful guidance.

I got a specialist round last week to have a good look. I'm not sure we really established what the smell is, but to summarise the appointment it ended with 'I wouldn't light that ever again!'.

I forget all the things she said were wrong with the set up, but a few were:

• Hearth too short so burner too close to carpet.
• Fibre glass etc falling on top metal plate (blanking plate is it called? where the flue goes through to the loft - made of steel) as not sealed in loft, there's just a big hole - could catch fire.
• Hot metal plate touching right up against wood beams.
• Electricity cable (I think for outdoor lights) running alongside flue in loft and touching the hot pipe.
• Burner too close to side walls - which are made of v thin brick and plasterboard.
• Vertical pipe in living room so close to walls it's the wrong type - should be insulated or something.

There were other things that I've forgotten. The summary was it's dangerous, it could catch fire (in the wrong way!) and I shouldn't light it again.

Unfortunately, to replace it with another log burner requires the removal and replacement of bricks (therefore redecoration), new hearth (therefore new carpet!), new chimney flue, etc etc - in other words, a total fortune and a right mess. Unfortunately, the set-up doesn't allow for a gas installation either, without significant upheaval.

So we're going to go for an electric stove - one that looks similar, and stick an artificial flue on it to give the effect. I'm not happy about it, but it's the only realistic solution.

Unfortunately, the installation was carried out  by the previous owners. Also unfortunately, as we are in Scotland I have been told that there is no legal requirement for installers to be Hetas registered, so there is no paperwork. I do know who the installers were, but I fear it will be a case of one word against another, and as were weren't the original purchases I'm not sure it's a battle I have the energy to fight. I think we'll have to chalk it up as one of life's hurdles, and just pay for the replacement electric stove.

So, crap news. But I'm glad to know the situation - I could have carried on and persevered with the smell, unaware of the significant risks it poses.

Thanks again for all your efforts!!

51 minutes ago, woodland dweller said:

Emmsy,

That Creosote smell is truly horrendous, makes your eyes sting, i will tell you how i know.

In our unused end room we have a stove which is only lit when the weather is really cold, its lined and on an external

wall. When lit the misses would let it slumber all the bloody time (the rows we had over this), anyway hours after it was lit the room was filled with toxic fumes and the only thing to do was to let it out and try again another day.

When i took the time to investigate i found that slumbering it for years their was a deposit of creosote sticking to the 

liner that brushing would not remove, and the mix of condensation during no burn times and being on an outside wall

would build up and when lit would soften the creosote this liquid would run down the inside of the flue and run out of

a hole where the pipes join then run down the outside of the flue and build up on the top surface of the stove, the heat would then cook it and make the smell.

You need to call in the sweep to do a camera inspection of the inside of the liner to check all is ok. Inspect the outside

of the flue yourself to see if their is any sign of gunge escaping. 

We cured ours by opening all the windows and burn it hot for a few days. And urika she now runs all our stoves hot

and never slumbers, we run two.

Maybe the previous owner slumbered the stove and never burnt off the condensation that can build up if a flue is not used for a period of time, especially of an external wall.

Do some research on Google as their is stuff on their about condensation in flues.

This is really interesting and has certainly got me thinking. 

I guess getting a sweep to clean it (as we did) wouldn't solve such a problem. 

I will research it further and suggest it to the person visiting us on Thursday. Hopefully they bring a camera. 

It's not on an external wall, it goes straight in to the loft (bungalow) and out, without a chimney. 

Thanks so much for the useful help!! 

Thanks everyone. 

You're right, it sure doesn't smell like dust. It's so awful. And in any case, I hoover and wipe it thoroughly all the time. 

I've phoned a local company who are going to take a look in Thursday. 

I just need to know it's safe. 

42 minutes ago, pancakedan said:

The smell could be dust (it has a chemical kind of smell when burning off).

I have the problem with one of my burners. I get the smell from the first burn of the season (as expected) and once it’s being used everyday, there’s no smell.

But if it’s not been lit for 3 or 4 days, it gives off a chemical smell until the dust has burned off and then it’s fine again.

Thanks. I keep coming back to it being dust as it's the only thing that makes sense. But we lit it yesterday for the first time in 3 weeks. The smell was truly horrendous - all doors and windows open. Smells almost toxic. Can this really just be dust?! 

18 minutes ago, woodland dweller said:

The smell you are getting, is it a Tary / Creasote type smell that stinks the room out so you have to open a window ?

I know all about those !

Not sure I'd say tary but it's certainly a chemically smell. Really strong, all windows open. Unbearable! 

Thanks everyone - really appreciate your input. 

I do have a CO alarm, and it is positioned correctly and works. 

I have tried to sniff around the stove, and for the life of me can't work out where it's coming from. The chimney sweep checked it all out in October and said it was fine. There is no smell in the loft. 

It was installed by a professional company, so I can only assume building regs all been met. Previous owners did it. However, it smells quite quickly on lighting - the walls don't feel particularly hot when it starts to smell. 

I have burned it really hot (I think - I'll borrow an IR thermometer from work) many times. 

3 minutes ago, Ratman said:

Alright kitchen-creme lovers, back on topic come on!
I think otter may be on to something regards a painted stainless flue, the first joint up away from the stove looks scabby like it has paint loss? Do you know if it has been stainless painted or if they were black to start with?

Yes sir, sorry sir. 

I honestly don't know. I'd say it looks painted. 

Thanks for the 'scabby' comment 😂

1 minute ago, trigger_andy said:

You can buy one at any hardware store for about a tenner. Worth a shot and certainly no need to pay someone to come in and do the same job at 10 times the price. Plus you'll have a handy blow torch kicking around.  

 

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Quite true - always handy for the creme brulees! 

Thanks so much for your help! 

Just now, trigger_andy said:

 

 

Hmmmmmm.  

 

Try heating the liner first, see if that helps. 

It's not the waxlings though that smell. This is very different. 

I will have to get someone in - a blow torch is not in something I own!! 

Very grateful for everyone's time on this!! 

2 minutes ago, otter said:

Paint on flu.  Was originally stainless but now sprayed black,  maybe with wrong paint?

Interesting. No idea, but maybe. 

Wouldn't it always smell though? 

Thanks. 

We light it with waxlings and kindling. 

There is no chimney. The pipe in this pic goes straight in to the loft (bungalow). You can see the pipe in the loft. There is no smell up there at all. 

Thanks all. 

We have tried many different fuels. Seasoned logs, different woods, and all manner of fuel from the WoodFuel Coop. Not cheap, nasty B&M crap.

Nothing makes a difference. 

The smell is quite quick to appear on lighting. Not sure the back wall gets hot enough in this time. Plus wouldn't it smell all at the time, not just after it's not been lit for a few weeks?!

I am not sure where the smell is coming from - the furnace itself at a guess. 

It's driving me mad. 

After advice please. 

Moved in to our new home which has a log burner. It's about a year or 2 old, but I have a feeling it's a reconditioned one. 

First time we lit it, it stank. Oh the smell! Awful chemically, waxy smell - had to open all the windows it's so bad! 

However, if it is lit every day the smell goes away. Over winter it was generally alright. Providing it's used every day. 

Don't light it for a couple of days the smell returns. Not quite as bad, but it's there. 

Don't light it for a couple of weeks and it is back to reeking again. Quite unbearable. 

Had it fully cleaned it October, all was good, but didn't help with the smell. 

Contacted the people who installed it, they just said they had no idea what it was. Wouldn't even visit. 

We burn really high quality compressed fuel. 

I'm at a loss. Do we need a new burner??