Oil Fired Heating

[MakeAHouseAHome]

Has anyone here got oil fired central heating? We are wondering what the implications are for the fireplace for our new house (house currently just has a hole with brick exposed - no actual fireplace). We believe the chimmney is open all the way and there is a cap on the top.

We obviously can't have a gas ignition fire, and we don't want an electric one (personally preference but we just think they look cheap the way the fire looks so fake etc.). So is our only option a wood burning fire? Has anyone had one of these out in from scratch? Just wondering about mess, the level of work involved and costs!

my woodburner cost around £2000 for a good quality stove and installation (in West Yorks).

I had an independent installer do it for me. He was excellent and considerably cheaper than the local big showrooms (less people needing to take a cut of profit!). He also gave very good advice on what size stove and how to finish the fireplace and what kind of hearth to choose so it would look good with the style of my house.

A local chimney sweep may be able to recommend someone if you don't know anyone near you who has had a recent install.

Op I'd check if you're in a clean air area. Having oil central heating has nothing to do with having an open fire so if a local company told you it wasn't an option it's likely you got confused and the reason is you're not allowed open fires where you are

I also don't think you can plaster a fireplace, I doubt you can get heat/flame proof plaster

I had a big debate in the paint shop as to what paint to use in the alcove round the wood burning stove because of the heat and in the end I used ordinary emulsion. It's been fine . So perhaps you could use that for the fireplace.

Who do i need to contact re the clean air? And what have other people painted the back/sides of their fireplace with?

OP We have oil fired central heating and an open fire in both our rental abroad and the house we own in the UK. In the UK house I also have a woodburner in the second sitting room.

1tisILeClerc Many options are available but UK plumbers tend to still be living in the 1970's and haven't heard of many of the things that are standard in the rest of the world. Mains pressure hot water tanks for example. They've heard of them, but can't understand why people perhaps don't want one. I had a plumber full of bright ideas until he realised that for his ideas to work he'd need to remove the chimney that my oil fired range uses. Hmmm...

Oil heating is usually in rural areas, so unlikely to be under the clean air act .Check with your local authority though.
When I've had open fires I had a fire back made of either ornamental metal work or firebricks. Painting is not something I would do because it all goes black anyway, and fire protection for the wall behind is the most important thing. You need something that can withstand high temperatures.
Your best bet is to get advice from a chimney sweep. They know all the ins and outs of fireplace safety, and some even do fireplace and stove fitting.

Hate combis - low pressure and no backup if they go wrong. hot water tank with a timer every time. Heat for an hour late afternoon and that is enough hot water for evening.bath/showers and washing up until the next evening. Could easily be changed if we were morning wash people.

Immersion as a backup if boiler fails and if a power cut is expected or likely, can have hot water stored.

Oh well, op, feeding the open fire with its huge fuel consumption will keep you warm chopping wood!

Specialsubject my parents combi boiler has mega pressure! Far better than Partners parents or friends who don't have combis.

Really?

Still buggered if it fails though.