Beginner needs advice

Hi FHC, I'm new here, and I'm hoping to get some real advice and helpful tips on how to proceed with my fireplace. Up until now, I have never owned one, so my knowledge is limited. I am, however, an engineer, and have a pretty good technical understanding of how things work in general. My fireplace knowledge/skills are lacking though.

My wife and I just purchased our first house. It's a 1940s home that includes an old fireplace.

The chimney is constructed of brick and doesn't have a liner. Our home inspector told us that he recommends not using it until it is properly inspected. One of the first projects in this house is to rectify the fireplace and make it functional again. I do not foresee us using it as our main heat source (we have a gas furnace), but I would love to use it frequently on weekends and in the evenings and like the idea of being able to heat the house with it if I choose to do so (FYI, I live in SC).

We want to have cast iron doors like you can see in the second picture of the album. I don't know if we need a fireplace insert or a conventional fireplace; frankly, I do not know the difference. But I do think that I would like to have a recirculation fan, which (as far as I understand) is vital to heating the house with it.

Ultimately, we want to frame the fireplace with red bricks (reclaimed from a secondary chimney in the home that is not operational) and add a white wooden mantel as seen in the last picture of the album.

This is where y'all come in: Does this sound like a reasonable plan? Where can I purchase a cast iron fireplace? How much money will this project cost? Can I install it myself or is a contractor necessary? Any tips or advice will be greatly appreciated! Thank you for reading!

 

Good plan.

Add ; get your firewood now so it has a year or more to season.
Dry wood is key to good efficient clean burning

 

Get us some pictures of your fireplace and dimensions if possible; as they'll help the crew here greatly to assess your situation.

 

x2 ... on bogydave comment. Dry wood is a big deal. A (recommended) contractor who does chimney masonry, could help you get started with answers to all of your questions. Is the chimney OK... check measurements of your existing fireplace for inserts, etc. Then, you'll hafta go shoppin'... have fun.

BTW, welcome to FHC. This is a pretty good home on the net for wood burners. Most of us are a little crazy tho... ...

 

Thanks! It sounds to me that a fireplace insert might be a good option. Once the house if officially mine (in 2.5 weeks), I will examine the fireplace more closely.

I picked up on this already. Makes me feel like I can get some sincere advice and not some salesman-talk.

 

The first picture in the post is the actual fireplace that I'm talking about. I will get more pictures and dimensions once the house is officially mine. Unfortunately, I cannot access it at the moment.

 

What's a salesman do? (They'd get run over in this herda hoarders) Congrats on the house!

 

Easiest way to get cast-iron doors and the chimney up to speed would be an insert. It will also make the fireplace an efficient heater. During the installation of the insert the sweep can inspect and repair the flue as necessary. The insert will require a liner in the flue which can be used as the basis of the repair. A good sweep or stove shop can come in, inspect, measure and give you a quotes on what needs to be done. With pictures and dimensions the guys here can give you a good ideas on what to expect but nothing beats an in-person inspection. Once you have spoken to some stove shops we will be glad to offer opinions to help guide your decisions. The guys here can also offer advice in case you want to do the install yourself.

Just to let you know, when I bought my home there were two open fireplaces. One is now an insert and the other is a free standing stove. Both I did myself including the lining of the flue.

KaptJaq

 

Thanks, KaptJaq! Will do

 

That's the caveat though.............................finding a good sweep/stove shop!!!!!! All too often here......and elsewhere..........we've read and seen absolute horror stories of installs, inspections and chimney cleanings by "SO CALLED" PROFESSIONALS in the business!!!!

Do your due diligence and do a lot of reading here and elsewhere before you pull the trigger on doing anything to that existing fireplace.

Just my .02 cents worth.

Sorry for cannibalizing your post KJ.

 

By "They can offer advice... " I meant the guys here on Firewood Hoarders. Sorry, I could have pharased it better.

The OP should get some advice, quotes, & estimates from local sweeps & shops. We can review them and offer him guidance and suggestions.

KaptJaq

 

I don't think an insert is an option here. That's a pretty oddball size opening, and I don't know of any modern insert that will fit in there. Without a liner of some kind, even tile, you can't just add some doors and use it as an open fireplace.

How old is the house? My guess is it used to burn coal.

Depending on your budget, you may consider a complete demo and then install a high efficiency, zero clearance fireplace, like in your second picture.

 

It's certainly the plan to tear down the brick facade and rebuild the fireplace. I'm hoping that I can select the insert before the rebuild in order to determine the correct size needed for the intended brick work "hole"

 

To avoid confusion, an "insert" is installed in an existing fireplace. Unless you plan on rebuilding a masonry fireplace, you want a zero clearance fireplace, preferably a high efficiency unit. You frame in the opening to fit the fireplace, and make it look like you want.

Like Scotty Overkill's
http://firewoodhoardersclub.com/forums/threads/napoleon-nz3000-anyone-else-have-one.7234/

 

There isn't an insert that's going to fit in that skinny fireplace.

 

Jeff,

Let him get in the house and see what is there before telling him what can't be done. A decent mason can work wonders if the flue is in good shape.

KaptJaq