Converting gas fireplace to woodburning with some uniqueness...

[brandonw]

Hello!

We currently have a gas fireplace, and I would like to convert it to a traditional wood-burning fireplace. We have an abundance of wood, and I prefer that over gas. I have watched several YouTube videos, and it appears like a wood stove insert with a new liner would be a great solution and one I think I can do myself.

The way this is set up is unique. The face of the fireplace is in a wall that behind we have access to -serving as our storage room.

Let me try my best to explain what is in this image.
A - Backend of the fireplace, huge amount of brick
B - 90 Degree elbow for exhaust
C - Connection point into the chimney
D - The actual chimney stack runs to the top of the house, located dead center in the middle of the house
E - Gas line

What is throwing me off is the distance of offset the fireplace has to the stack. This is very untraditional, and not seen anything else like it online. I am worried that a liner won't be able to make the necessary 90-degree bends (there are two).

I saw that you could buy 90-degree elbows online. I would plan to run the liner down to the first bend, place a 90-degree elbow, then run it a few feet to the actual fireplace, another elbow, and then down to the insert.

All new to me. Does that sound like a solid plan?

Also unsure what to do with the copper natural gas line; I will probably remove that to be safe. Might need to hire a professional to do that?

Thanks!

 

[bholler]

Hello!

We currently have a gas fireplace, and I would like to convert it to a traditional wood-burning fireplace. We have an abundance of wood, and I prefer that over gas. I have watched several YouTube videos, and it appears like a wood stove insert with a new liner would be a great solution and one I think I can do myself.

View attachment 302581

The way this is set up is unique. The face of the fireplace is in a wall that behind we have access to -serving as our storage room.

View attachment 302582

Let me try my best to explain what is in this image.
A - Backend of the fireplace, huge amount of brick
B - 90 Degree elbow for exhaust
C - Connection point into the chimney
D - The actual chimney stack runs to the top of the house, located dead center in the middle of the house
E - Gas line

What is throwing me off is the distance of offset the fireplace has to the stack. This is very untraditional, and not seen anything else like it online. I am worried that a liner won't be able to make the necessary 90-degree bends (there are two).

I saw that you could buy 90-degree elbows online. I would plan to run the liner down to the first bend, place a 90-degree elbow, then run it a few feet to the actual fireplace, another elbow, and then down to the insert.

All new to me. Does that sound like a solid plan?

Also unsure what to do with the copper natural gas line; I will probably remove that to be safe. Might need to hire a professional to do that?

Thanks!

Honestly that contraption should not be used even for gas. I see no way to properly install an insert or stove in that location

 

[brandonw]

Honestly that contraption should not be used even for gas. I see no way to properly install an insert or stove in that location

Thanks for your help and feedback. It certainly is a contraption, probably 50+ years old.

Is there really zero options? Any recommendations on next actions?

Also curious for a second opinion.

Thanks!

 

[bholler]

Thanks for your help and feedback. It certainly is a contraption, probably 50+ years old.

Is there really zero options? Any recommendations on next actions?

Also curious for a second opinion.

Thanks!

If I was onsite I may be able to offer an option or 2 but from what I can see from the pics I don't see any

 

[brandonw]

If I was onsite I may be able to offer an option or 2 but from what I can see from the pics I don't see any

Thank you for your help. I reached out to a local provider and they said the exact same thing. Such a bummer, I can’t believe this passed inspection when we bought the house.

Thanks!

 

[bholler]

Thank you for your help. I reached out to a local provider and they said the exact same thing. Such a bummer, I can’t believe this passed inspection when we bought the house.

Thanks!

Was it just a general home inspection?

 

[brandonw]

Was it just a general home inspection?

Yes, the ones that are necessary before purchasing a home.

 

[bholler]

Yes, the ones that are necessary before purchasing a home.

Yeah those typically don't cover chimneys fireplaces etc well at all. They really usually only catch pretty superficial problems

 

[chrisarrington]

My advice would be not to use that either.