electric fireplaces on clearance image
Tate
I have a zero clearnace fireplace in my home. The room that it is in had some extensive water leaks prior to me purchasing the home. They have since been fixed (new roof/seal/etc)... Come to find out, the ceiling of my fireplace has rotted through.
The fireplace has metal sides and ceiling with a brick back. The chimney is in good condition. I have had several fireplace folks look at it. I am told it's not repairable. I am told the cost to put a new zero clearnace in is ~$4,000-$6,000.
I'm told I can't put a fireplace insert or gas insert in its place. I do not want electric logs or gas logs. Is this all true? Can I get something in there for less than that? Can I have a wood burning insert? Stove?
Answer
Take it to a metal shop and have them weld a new top on it. A small welding shop can fabricate one and weld it on. as long as you can bring it to them and reinstall it. shouldn't cost too much. Good Luck. some units have loose brick that can be removed unless it is a wall. You may also look into placing a wood burner in its place. I put one in my cottage inside the old fireplace and looks and works great.
Take it to a metal shop and have them weld a new top on it. A small welding shop can fabricate one and weld it on. as long as you can bring it to them and reinstall it. shouldn't cost too much. Good Luck. some units have loose brick that can be removed unless it is a wall. You may also look into placing a wood burner in its place. I put one in my cottage inside the old fireplace and looks and works great.
Question for Propane Guy.. heating an unfinished basement? part 2?
Chatter Bo
1st Im sorry, I meant to rate YOUR answer as the best answer, so that reply when i rated was directed to you. 2nd, so ALL the vent free heaters, even the fireplaces arent safe to run 24/7?? how could we vent a vented one from the basement? could it go out a window? does it have to be higher than the top of the house? thats what we were told but we were told that by someone who wasn't educated in heating, i mean it sounds right but I have no clue so I figured I'd ask you.
Im renting the basement off my sister and need heat. come spring when I save enough money Im going to move but until then, Im worried im going to freeze. they dont want anything major installed and they dont want me to tap into their furnace because it costs too much to heat the house never mind adding another floor for them to heat.
would a couple electric heaters work? or a vent free fireplace? i know those are sold for use in homes. could a small pellet stove work and if so, could it be vented out a window?
and yes, one whole side is in the ground, so that 1 whole side is concrete. the other 1/2 of the house is 1/2 concrete and 1/2 insulated foundation. its a walk out basement.
"There are some fireplaces that can be vented using a "snorkel kit". Basically it comes out the basement wall at ground level and up about a foot on the outside wall. They can't be installed unless you have a bit of exposed basement at ground level on the outside."
So could we use a window for the snorkel kit? like keep one window open and then block the rest of the window somehow? even if we had to put a brick foundation under the stove to raise up the stove & make it level to the window? I doubt my sis would let me drill into the wall and speaking with her today, i dont think even electric heaters are an option due to electric bill.
see I cant afford to get someone in here to just look around, id like to have a plan and then have someone come in and do it.
Answer
As you could clearly see from my previous answer, I feel very strongly about vent free heaters. There is a very good reason that they are illegal to operate anywhere in Canada, many other countries and several of the US states. They are putting products of combustion into the air you are breathing. I would certainly never allow one in any home that I or any member of my family live in. They are that potentially dangerous. Especially if you are planning on using it for primary heat.
There are some fireplaces that can be vented using a "snorkel kit". Basically it comes out the basement wall at ground level and up about a foot on the outside wall. They can't be installed unless you have a bit of exposed basement at ground level on the outside. It does not need to be vented above the roofline. These appliances are what is called "direct vent". They take air from outside, burn it with the fuel and expel the burnt gases back outside. The flame does not communicate with the air inside the building that you are breathing. Much safer! Personally I look forward to the day when all appliances are of this design.
Fireplaces are not really meant to be run as a primary heat source either, but if you have a furnace heating the rest of the house then a fireplace for the basement area isn't too bad.
As I said previously, you really need to have someone knowledgable come in and determine the best option for you. Basements can be tricky for venting appliances properly.
Electric heaters would be safer than a vent free gas appliance, but they are very expensive to operate. I would explore a gas appliance first. It will be more expensive to install but cheaper to operate.
What ever way you decide to go, make sure you read the manufacturer's certified installation and operating instructions to make sure the appliance is suitable and legal to operate indoors!
Be warm ,but be safe!
Edit: Yes I have seen a window opening used for a vent before. But you have to block off the entire window. It can not used as a window anymore. A solid panel will have to block the entire opening and be sealed and the vent run through the middle of that. The gas supply line can be routed through there as well as long as the clearances are sufficient.
As you could clearly see from my previous answer, I feel very strongly about vent free heaters. There is a very good reason that they are illegal to operate anywhere in Canada, many other countries and several of the US states. They are putting products of combustion into the air you are breathing. I would certainly never allow one in any home that I or any member of my family live in. They are that potentially dangerous. Especially if you are planning on using it for primary heat.
There are some fireplaces that can be vented using a "snorkel kit". Basically it comes out the basement wall at ground level and up about a foot on the outside wall. They can't be installed unless you have a bit of exposed basement at ground level on the outside. It does not need to be vented above the roofline. These appliances are what is called "direct vent". They take air from outside, burn it with the fuel and expel the burnt gases back outside. The flame does not communicate with the air inside the building that you are breathing. Much safer! Personally I look forward to the day when all appliances are of this design.
Fireplaces are not really meant to be run as a primary heat source either, but if you have a furnace heating the rest of the house then a fireplace for the basement area isn't too bad.
As I said previously, you really need to have someone knowledgable come in and determine the best option for you. Basements can be tricky for venting appliances properly.
Electric heaters would be safer than a vent free gas appliance, but they are very expensive to operate. I would explore a gas appliance first. It will be more expensive to install but cheaper to operate.
What ever way you decide to go, make sure you read the manufacturer's certified installation and operating instructions to make sure the appliance is suitable and legal to operate indoors!
Be warm ,but be safe!
Edit: Yes I have seen a window opening used for a vent before. But you have to block off the entire window. It can not used as a window anymore. A solid panel will have to block the entire opening and be sealed and the vent run through the middle of that. The gas supply line can be routed through there as well as long as the clearances are sufficient.
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Title Post: Zero clearance fireplace has rotted firebox ceiling...?
Rating: 100% based on 99998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thank FOr Coming TO My Blog
Rating: 100% based on 99998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thank FOr Coming TO My Blog
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