Gas Fire Smell

We used to live in a house where the fire was served by gas as opposed to solid fuel and we always felt there was a gas/charcoal type smell in the room.We subsequently moved and now have a closed in gas fire with a 2 way balanced flue and low and behold we still think there is a smell in the room.It is not gas per se but it does not make you feel comfortable that it is all ok.We recently got the oil boiler serviced and hope to get this fire serviced next.It is only a year old.The vents in the room seem to be a new type whereby they are over the windows and built in to these.There are three of them.The former owners had stressed the importance of leaving these open when the fire is on and we are only now reading more into this.The same supplier was used for our old house fire and this new one and we did not find them helpful with the last house.We have young children and do not want them breathing in anything unsavioury.Any suggestions would be appreciated.We have recently changed over to a new bottle of gas with the 2 way transfer system.

The last owners were right to stress the need for the vents to be open.

When gas burns correctly its byproducts include CO2, carbon dioxide = 1 element carbon 2 element oxygen. No/closed vent = lack of oxygen so C02 quickly becomes CO, which as Duncan has repeatly told us, is the silent killer Carbon monoxide.

CO entering a room is known as "spillage". signs of spillage include discoluration of the fire place surround (run fingers under mantlepeice to check for soot residue) and signs of ventilation problems include condensation on windows.

If you have any doubt, do not use fire until it has been checked by a Calor/Flo gas reccomended installer. Install a CO detector for the peace of mind once the checks are complete.

B&Q have CO detectors at the moment for less than €20 for Kidde ones. Well worth getting one for that price.

The Fire Angel ones are a few quid more but they all use the same sensor from Honeywell so they are all the same...

Just to add to what Davy said above the vents should be non-closeable type as per regs