Upstairs fireplace... should I install an insert?

[area_man]

The upstairs of my new house has a fireplace. It's got glass doors in a brass (?) face plate and the previous owners used it to heat the upstairs with a combination of wood, junk mail, and paper plates (classy). From reading this form for the last few weeks, it seems as though a fireplace sucks the heat out of a house whether it's in operation or not. I don't know whether that's true. My wife is concerned that our kids' upstairs bedrooms will be cold.

I was thinking about installing a Century 45 in that fireplace to block heat loss and to provide heat to the upstairs. My family resides upstairs for the most part, and my wife and I sleep downstairs where the main wood stove is located.

My understanding is that if I install an insert upstairs that I'll have to run a new stove pipe from the upstairs stove up the chimney.

I'm not opposed to replacing the Orley in the basement with a more modern and efficient stove insert if it makes financial sense, but for right now I need to live with what I have there.

Should I install an insert upstairs with a new pipe, install an insert upstairs and upgrade the existing pipe from the basement with new insulated pipe? I'm new to all this and don't know.

Thank you.

 

[begreen]

Depends on how much area the upstairs stove would be heating and how many sq ft down below. You might be more comfortable with a medium sized insert on each floor.

 

[Jon1270]

How will you feel about hauling firewood up the stairs all the time, and carrying ash back down?

 

[KaptJaq]

I am a fan of having two stoves burning gently rather than one stove working hard to heat the whole house. I have the insert upstairs and a pre-EPA stove downstairs. With both going the house is warm, comfortable, and evenly heated. It also gives me the extra capacity for those bitter cold spells we get a couple of time each winter.

KaptJaq

 

[Michael11]

The upstairs of my new house has a fireplace. It's got glass doors in a brass (?) face plate and the previous owners used it to heat the upstairs with a combination of wood, junk mail, and paper plates (classy). From reading this form for the last few weeks, it seems as though a fireplace sucks the heat out of a house whether it's in operation or not. I don't know whether that's true. My wife is concerned that our kids' upstairs bedrooms will be cold.

I was thinking about installing a Century 45 in that fireplace to block heat loss and to provide heat to the upstairs. My family resides upstairs for the most part, and my wife and I sleep downstairs where the main wood stove is located.

My understanding is that if I install an insert upstairs that I'll have to run a new stove pipe from the upstairs stove up the chimney.

I'm not opposed to replacing the Orley in the basement with a more modern and efficient stove insert if it makes financial sense, but for right now I need to live with what I have there.

Should I install an insert upstairs with a new pipe, install an insert upstairs and upgrade the existing pipe from the basement with new insulated pipe? I'm new to all this and don't know.

Thank you.

I guess you should insert it with an existing pipe from the basement, that will look good.

 

[KaptJaq]

Should I install an insert upstairs with a new pipe, install an insert upstairs and upgrade the existing pipe from the basement with new insulated pipe?

Most new stoves are designed to work with a specific size flue. Open fireplaces usually have a fairly large flue and it is most likely too big for a modern stove/insert. So yes, you will probably have to reline the upstairs flue. As mentioned above, I like two stoves rather than one large one. Moving heat from downstairs is always difficult at best, two stoves will solve that problem. If you have basic DIY skills relining a flue is not a difficult job. Is it a full masonry fireplace upstairs? Clay lined flue? What size? Is the chimney internal (center of the house) or external (outside wall)?

Does the downstairs stove have a fully lined flue (Steel pipe that goes from the stove to the top of the chimney)? Does it have a block-off plate at the bottom and a sealing cap at the top? If not you might consider upgrading the liner on the downstairs stove also.

KaptJaq