fireplace renovation question

[astrid]

Hi. I hope you can help us where the local fireplace and stove stores can't. We bought a house two years ago that was built in the 1970's. We are remodeling our family room which has a Majestic fireplace. We can't read the model number, but the serial number is 322191. I think the model has a 9" "pipe" (flue?) at the top. It looks like the current models are different.
We would like to MOVE the fireplace. We would like to drop it about a foot (it is now 16" above the floor, with nothing underneath) to allow us to put a flat screen TV above it. Not an ideal situation, but there is nowhere else to put a TV. We would also like to move it 8" to one side as it is not currently centered in the room. We have also considered bringing it about a foot into the room, to allow built-in bookcases to each side.
The local fireplace stores have recommended, sight-unseen, to replace the firebox. It is hard to know whether this is necessary or they want a sale. Would it be possible to move our existing unit? The wall is open right now, and it doesn't look rusted on the outside. On the inside, some of the brick is cracked/chipped. Could we use a couple 30 degree elbows to come into the room a foot and over 8"?
We only make fires about once every two weeks to month, and our goal is ambience, not heating, as we have hydronic radiant heat in the room. We would like to save money, but not at the risk of a fire hazard.
Any advice for us?
Thanks in advance!

 

[jtp10181]

Chances are the dealer cannot get the pipe for the fireplace anymore. Also they probably do not want to take the liability of messing with a old fireplace that may have unseen problems with it. They are playing it safe by suggesting a new unit. Might not be impossible to get the pipe and move the old unit but usually not worth it from the perspective of a dealer with many many customers wanting to buy new fireplaces.

 

[seaken]

At some point the there are diminished returns on investment and it doesn't make sense financially to proceed. This may be one of those cases. 30 years has gone by and it may not be possible to make changes to that installation with a full paper trail and confirmation of safety. You may be able to do it but you won't get the backing of a fireplace professional who has a lot at stake if something goes wrong.

In all honesty, the cost of a new unit of that type is really low. You can buy such a unit at one of the home centers and have your carpenter install it. If you want something nicer a hearth shop would be in order. And again, in all honesty, I would rather sell you a new unit that has passed more modern UL listing standards, and maybe even a nicer unit with more added value, than help you keep that old builder box alive. It's your choice, of course. But there is nothing wrong with us dealers recommending that you upgrade. Your car dealers will usually recommend that you upgrade. So do the TV and appliance shops. And ever try to buy a part for your computer you bought in 1997?