Gas fire removal: capping the gas and making the fireplace safe

Can I remove a gas fire myself?

You can take down a decorative surround yourself, but the gas side is a different matter. The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations say no one may work on a gas fitting unless they are competent, and that businesses doing gas work must be Gas Safe registered. A badly capped pipe can leak slowly into a room or under a floor, and a leak is not always obvious until someone smells it.

The practical answer is to let a registered engineer disconnect and cap the gas, then do any of the non-gas work, such as removing the surround or clearing the hearth, yourself if you want to.

If you smell gas at any point, turn off the gas at the meter if it is safe to do so, open doors and windows, do not use switches or naked flames, leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.

What the engineer does

A proper gas fire removal follows a clear sequence. Knowing it helps you compare quotes and check the work was finished.

• Checks what is behind the fire: a simple gas fire, a fire with a back boiler, or a flue liner
• Turns off the gas and disconnects the fire from its supply
• Caps the supply pipe, ideally cutting it back so no long unused section is left in the wall or floor
• Carries out a tightness test on the gas installation to prove there are no leaks
• Removes the fire and any closure plate, leaving the opening clear
• Tells you in writing what was done and where the pipe was capped

Capping at the fire or back at the supply

The cheapest removal caps the pipe right where it enters the fireplace. That is safe when done properly, but it leaves a length of unused gas pipe in place. Where the floor or wall is accessible, many people prefer the pipe cut back to a tee or to a point under the floor, so there is nothing left to disturb when the fireplace is later opened up, plastered or fitted with a new fire.

If you plan to fit a new gas fire or stove in the same place, say so. The engineer can cap it in a way that makes reconnection straightforward. If the fireplace will never have gas again, cutting back is usually the better long-term choice.

Is there a back boiler behind it?

Many older gas fires in London homes sit in front of a back boiler, which provides the central heating and hot water. Signs include radiators and a hot water cylinder with no other boiler in the house, pipes running up from the fireplace, and controls for the boiler hidden behind the fire's front panel.

Removing the fire in that case means removing the boiler too, and fitting a new one elsewhere. Read our back boiler replacement guide before booking anything, because the job, the timings and the cost are very different from taking out a standalone fire.

The chimney and fireplace afterwards

A chimney that is sealed at both ends with no airflow can collect condensation and cause damp patches on the chimney breast. The usual approach is to cap the chimney pot with a vented cap to keep rain and birds out, and close the fireplace opening with a board or panel that has a small vent in it. That lets air move through the flue and keeps it dry.

If the flue has a metal liner that served the fire, it may be left in place or removed depending on its condition and what you plan next. Anything involving the chimney stack itself, such as a new cap or pot, is usually a job for a roofer or chimney specialist.

Some older gas fires contain asbestos in the back panel, rope seals or the fire bed. If the fire is old, ask for it to be checked before it is broken up or cut. HSE guidance explains where asbestos is found and who can deal with it.

What affects the cost of gas fire removal

Removal is usually priced after a quick look at the fire, a photo or a visit. These are the things that make it quicker or longer:

• Whether it is a standalone fire or has a back boiler behind it
• Capping at the fire or cutting the pipe back to the supply
• How easy it is to reach the pipe under the floor or behind the chimney breast
• Removal of the flue liner, closure plate or surround
• Disposal of the old fire and any asbestos checks
• Any making good, capping the chimney or fitting a vented panel

Other things to think about

Removing an unused gas fire takes away one more gas appliance that would otherwise need checking. If you are a landlord, the fire drops off future landlord gas safety records once it has been removed and capped, which is worth doing if tenants are not meant to use it anyway.

Keep a carbon monoxide alarm in rooms with any remaining gas appliances, such as the boiler. Our guide on where to put a carbon monoxide alarm explains placement. If the fire is being replaced with an electric fire, the electrical supply to the fireplace may need an extra socket or spur, which an electrician can advise on.

Book a gas fire removal

Loyal Plumbers works across London and inside the M25 with 10 vans, and our Gas Safe registered engineers carry out all gas work. Call 020 4652 8585 or send an enquiry with a photo of the fire and let us know whether there is a boiler behind it and whether you want the pipe cut back. We will tell you what the job involves before we start, and leave the gas capped, tested and safe.