The boiler is behind the fireplace in the wall. We turned the fire off as it was on when moved in also turned the heating off as was summer. The water we have heated via the hot water tank and turning on heat water button to have hot water, We have now been advised the pilot light on the boiler should never go out or be turned off is this true?

We don't know how to go about doing this and wondered if anyone had previous experience of it. There is currently a whole in chimney brest with NO fire back etc. and an old circular flue hanging down the chimney !. I am looking at purchasing a cast iron fireplace and would dearly like to have a real fire on Christmas morning - any help much appreciated. We don't have huge amount of money to be able to pay someone to do it for us but realize that we may need some professional help along the way.

Or have you updated your heating to Gas or Electric? Thank you for your time.

We are thinking about get a gass fire installed in our house. Do you think this will add value to our house? We aren't thinking of selling anytime soon, given the current state of the U.K. housing market but in the long run what do you think?

I live in a rural area of Cornwall, and we do not have mains gas pipes, hence, no central heating. We rely on a wood burner to heat our little bungalow, which is very nice, BUT the fireplace wall gets hot, and any paint I use quickly discolours (and wallpaper too) I'm fed up with redecorating, and need to find a heatproof paint which will not discolour. Does anyone know of any PLEEEEASE!!! Sex Doctor.... Thanks for your detailed answer, but I think you are missing the point. It's the WALL above the fireplace I am talking about. PLEASE everyone, read the question!!! I don't want to paint anything metal, I just want to decorate a WALL that gets hot, and discolours paint and wallpaper quickly.

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