Just switched gas fire on for first time - the smell!!

[AwkwardAsAllGetout]

We moved into a property in early spring and the living room has an old fashioned gas fire. We’re renting and know everything has been properly checked as we actually viewed while the engineer was here. I’ve just switched the fire on for the first time after a lot of fiddling and it really smells! Not of gas but just a faintly, hot things burning kind of smell. I’m assuming (hoping) that this is just because it’s not been used for a while and is probably a bit dusty inside? Is it still safe to use? Is there anything I can do to get rid of the smell or will I just have to keep it in til it stops? Picture of the ugly beast so you know what I’m talking about

Do you have a carbon monoxide detector? Is there a flue? I'd probably check that before turning it on again.

The fake coals are a dust trap.

Yes the carbon monoxide detector is in the same room. I’m not sure about a flue sorry, I’ve never had a fire before so not sure how to check. The fire itself is in a fireplace which does have a chimney, and I assume it’s not blocked up judging by how the wind whistles down it!

Could it be dust?

We have something similar (though a bit more attractive!) and it has a pumped flue - so the exhaust gases are pumped out; we don't have a normal chimney. We have to turn ours on separately to the fire. I've not seen this setup elsewhere, but worth checking! Ours smells if we don't turn the pump on.

We have something similar (though a bit more attractive!)

Meow! 🐈

It looks like it has a glass screen over the flames so it should be room-sealed and no fumes should enter the room. Go outside and see if it has a flue going through the wall or if it vents up the chimney.

if the wind whistles down the chimney, it might be blowing fumes down into the room.

Did you see the person who tested it carry out a Smoke Test with a burning pellet?

Have you got a copy of the test certificate? Does it show the company name and address?

Dust. Carbon monoxide has no smell hence the need for a detector. Could be your chimney is cold and a bit damp. This would cause a bit of smell but clear as everything warms up. If it still smells after 10 minutes or so it could be a blocked chimney. ..birds nest/squirrels.

Our woodburner is always very smelly for the first couple of times we use it.... burning off the dust. But we do get our chimney swept yearly. If you've got a CO detector you should be OK and ventilate the room well but if it carries on I'd check it out.

Nah, it’s ugly as son so nonoffense taken. If it was our property, it would have been the first thing to see the sledgehammer. If you think that’s bad, I won’t show you the carpet piglet John, I can’t see a vent, the only one that I know we have is the one for the boiler. I’ve tried to take a picture behind, and it looks like the chimney breast itself is sealed with duct tape?! In which case I’ll probably just switch the central heating on which is what I was trying to avoid.

Should have said, when I turned it on it seemed to cloud up with condensation but that lasted less than a few minutes