Who makes a....Cast Iron EPA ZC fireplace?

Cord said:

I'm looking for a zero-clearance fireplace. I would like it to have a all cast iron front, not just the doors. I'd like for it to have some nice detail work like you'd see on a old Jotul. Painted is OK, enamel would be nice, brass or gold is forbidden. I'd prefer non catalytic. Heating area is around 1,500 square feet. Does anybody make such a animal?

Several companies (Jotul, Morso, Vermont Castings) make such a animal for a fireplace insert. Could we build a firebox, place the insert in it and then use a metalbestos pipe for the chimney?

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If you build a fireplace, you could do that, but if you get that far, you might as well build a masonry heater.

Look at Fireplace Extrordinaire, or Quadrafire, AND Vermont Castings also makes a nice 0 clearance fireplace. Stay away from Majestic.


Here's the links:

http://www.fireplacextrordinair.com/

http://www.quadrafire.com/products/fireplaces/fireplaces.asp

http://www.vermontcastings.com/content/products/productdetails.cfm?id=170


I'm sure there's others also.

Long and short of it is, you can't install a fireplace insert into a combustible framing scenario.

The only stoves you can install into them are ones similar to those that warren posted.

Corie said:

Long and short of it is, you can't install a fireplace insert into a combustible framing scenario.

The only stoves you can install into them are ones similar to those that warren posted.

Click to expand...

I have to go back and look again Corie, but I think VC makes some sort of a metal box to put the WW inserts into. He did say non-CAT so I didn't suggest that. It seems sort of cobbled up to buy a metal box to put an insert into.

The bottom line is that a 0 clearance fireplace is what is really the right option here. In a lot of ways, I'm beginning to think I should have gone that route.

The Sequoia NC by Vermont Castings kind of fits this bill. The Winterwarm Large Fireplace System by VC fits the bill aside from being catalytic.

Warren said:

Corie said:

Long and short of it is, you can't install a fireplace insert into a combustible framing scenario.

The only stoves you can install into them are ones similar to those that warren posted.

Click to expand...

I have to go back and look again Corie, but I think VC makes some sort of a metal box to put the WW inserts into. He did say non-CAT so I didn't suggest that. It seems sort of cobbled up to buy a metal box to put an insert into.

The bottom line is that a 0 clearance fireplace is what is really the right option here. In a lot of ways, I'm beginning to think I should have gone that route.

Click to expand...

I did not know that!

Regardless though, you're sending him down the right path anyway.

And this is related, but I had no idea that big Fireplace Extraordinair Unit was catalytic? That's kinda neat.

make sure its leagle to install the fireplace before you buy the insert.
Get this, this is how crazy my area is. They will not issue a permit for a wood burning firplace with a insert installed in it. There too afraid that once you get the permit approved that you will yank out the insert and burn wood in a open fireplace. So make sure its legal to install traditional open fireplaces before you go that route.
I think BIS makes a cast iron EPA ZC fireplace.

Sorry, BIS does not have a cast iron unit. However, the hammered stell face is rugged. FPX and Napolean also have a hammered steel face. VC is the only one I know of that offers cast iron ZC fireplaces, in the WinterWarm Large, and the Sequoia EPA. I would suggest that is cast iron is paramount than you might want to compromise on catalytic technology. I don't think you'll find a non-cat with cast iron.

Corie said:

Warren said:

Corie said:

Long and short of it is, you can't install a fireplace insert into a combustible framing scenario.

The only stoves you can install into them are ones similar to those that warren posted.

Click to expand...

I have to go back and look again Corie, but I think VC makes some sort of a metal box to put the WW inserts into. He did say non-CAT so I didn't suggest that. It seems sort of cobbled up to buy a metal box to put an insert into.

The bottom line is that a 0 clearance fireplace is what is really the right option here. In a lot of ways, I'm beginning to think I should have gone that route.

Click to expand...

I did not know that!

Regardless though, you're sending him down the right path anyway.

And this is related, but I had no idea that big Fireplace Extraordinair Unit was catalytic? That's kinda neat.

Click to expand...

Hmmmpf... I didn't notice it was catalytic. Interesting. <Edit> Smaller FE unit is also Catalytic.

Odd, isn't it?

I would have never thrown the word catalytic in the same sentence as Travis Industries until I read that manual. Even catalytic though, it seems to have a voracious appetite for wood and it seems to soot the class on low burns.

Corie said:

Odd, isn't it?

I would have never thrown the word catalytic in the same sentence as Travis Industries until I read that manual. Even catalytic though, it seems to have a voracious appetite for wood and it seems to soot the class on low burns.

Click to expand...

What tipped you on it's appetite? Indicating 12 hour burns on a 3.7 cuft firebox... sounds about like what Elk reports out of his big VC or Spike out of his Summit.

Read the reviews here and somewhere else. Every single person said that the stove is a beast on wood. In fact, one of them even used the word voracious.

The problem I think you'll run into is getting the building of a firebox past code. An insert must be able to be removed and the fireplace used pretty much as is. for the wood stove you'll need a Class A chimney, and I don't think that would work for an open fireplace. Not enough capacity for an open fire would be my guess.

I agree the Jotul inserts are very sweet, but they just won't work for you. If you are looking at building a masonry fireplace, you'll be in for a heck of an expense just to then put an insert in.

I'm sticking by my suggestions. Looks like the Quadrafire is the front runner.

Go look at one in person. They look VERY nice when you see them.