Draughty gas fire

[bricks]

We had double glazing fitted during the summer. Tonight we had the central heating on and the doors closed so I was surprised to feel a cold draught circulating around my feet. I discovers it was coming from around the sides and underneath the old glass fronted flame over pretend coal gas fire.
Should there be a draught coming from around the fire or should the fire be sealed in the fireplace (chimney works).
If it has to be refitted I may just replace the fire (Mrs Bricks would like a new one anyway), but which is best, gas. electric, I'd like one with flames but not if it means there will always be a cold draught when its not on.
We mostly use it on chilly evenings when its not cold enought to warrant having the central heating on.

[buildersmate]

It shouldn't be sealed in the fireplace because you have to provide it with a supply of air for combustion. This air either comes from an air brick from the outside at ground level, or from the air supply in the house. This is one reason why you must maintain external ventilation whilst using the fire - to replace the oxygen used up in combustion. Only balanced or fanned flue fires are completely sealed - but these don't vent to the top of a conventional chimney.

[gasman]

Sorry buildersmate but on this occasion i have to dissagree with you as it should be sealed to the back panel of the chimney as the fire gets its air from built in vents in the fire itself and infact i would be very concerned about a flue blowing back into the room as it could be pumping fumes back into the room.

Bricks, you say that it is a glass fronted coal effect fire ??? this should deffo be sealed around the sides and also requires additional ventilation as well to aid the flue. it may have been fine before the new windows as they may have been loose fitting and draughty providing enough ventilation for the flue to be effective. But now the extra ventilation has been taken away it may require additional vetilation providing. If a fire is found to be spilling ( blowing back ) it would be classed as immediatley dangerous; dissconected and condemned. I sugest you get a saftey check done ASAP by a CORGI engineer for your own safety.

[buildersmate]

Fair comment; my mistake. I didn't read the question fully - the bit about glass-fronted. This shows it is designed as a sealed system.

[bricks]

Thankyou for your replies Buildersmate and Gasman.
You are correct before the DG was fitted there was a fair draught from ill fitting crittle windows and french doors.
So the fire needs an airtight fit to the chimney and a vent brick should be added to a wall (There are no vents in the new DG).

Will I then feel a cold draught around my feet from the vent brick or is it not too noticable?

If I replace the fire is there a type of gas fire that doesn't require a "fresh" air supply to be vented into he room?

I've done a bit of research on the web and it looks like a balanced flue gas fire fits the bill or maybe a flueless one. Is this correct?

[gasman]

1, A fluless gas fire uses a catalitic converter and these fires cost about 4 times the price !!! Also they cannot be installed in a room of less than 50cubic meters and requires 100 square mm of porpose provided ventilation as well ( kind of defeating the object realy ).
2, If you buy one of the new types of real flame effect fires under 7Kw then additional ventilation is not required. And is a simple swap.
3, Then we get onto the balanced flue fire, these type of fires can only be installed onto an outside wall and should never be fitted to a chimny breast !!!

So i would recomend the second option B&Q sell them they are called Focal Point fires quite cheap aprox �150 and no extra ventilation is required. I have even installed one in my own home & it has been gr8 4yrs old now and no complaints.

[gasman]

Oh and please DO NOT use your old fire untill you have had it checked for safety.

and in my experiance if you have an air brick installed you will always at some point or another depending on weather conditions be able to feel a draught.

[bricks]

Great reply gasman thanks.

Re the Focal point gas fires, are they open fronted or glass fronted and sealed in. If they are open, wont I get the same draught coming down my chimney, when its not in use, as I do now?

Re the balance flue option my chimney is on an outside wall. Does that mean it would be OK to put the flue pipes through the back of the chimney breast to the outside wall?

[gasman]

If you can get hold of the suitable manufactures flue extension ( some manufactures dont do them ) then yes you could fit the balanced fire to your chimney breast. BUT the old flue/ chimney will HAVE to be sealed off so that there is no pull on the new fire and cause an adverse pressure build up conflicting with the balnced flue. and once again there will be an air vent installed into the live section of the chimney to keep it ventilated and stop damp forming.

The Focal fire is an open one but it fits into a back box and has a small letter box size flue outlet at the top rear of the box and a draught diverter built into it . I have not yet experianced any draught coming from mine.

[bricks]

Thanks again gasman.
Regarding venting the sealed chimney, could that be done with a vent brick on the outside wall of the chimney.

Also, should I be getting this draught down my chimney, is it a clue that there is something wrong in the chimney?