I want to seal up fireplace and use flu for wood stove. HOW?

[copperhack]

I am desperate here. We heat with oil and my gf loves to burn duraflames in the fireplace. She loves the ambiance, I see dollars going up the flu. I wont buy wood, so she sneaks duraflames in when I'm not home. We agreed to convert it to a wood stove as a way to meet half way. I am mechanically inclined and have no problem tackeling this project, I just need to be shown, or where to read the proper way to do this to pass inspection. Fireplace is centered on 16' wall, 14' ceiling above. Typical fireplace with mantle and small hearth. In the end I'd like it too look like flat stone all the way up and a bigger hearth. I just need to know how to knock a hole in the flu and do it right. Also maybe how big to go on hearth so the whole thing takes up as liitle floor space as permitted. (We dont want an insert, just a free standing wood stove) than

 

[Grisu]

Could you maybe give us some measurements of the fireplace and some pictures? How big is your house? Are you inclined on making the stove your main heat source? You may need to decide on a stove first as hearth requirements can differ between stoves.

It sounds like you do not have the wood already. Modern, EPA-approved woodstoves need seasoned wood with a moisture content of less then 20%, however. Unfortunately, that is hard to buy since firewood sellers rarely have the time and space to split the wood and let it dry for a year or better two. If you are sure about getting a woodstove you should take care about the wood almost before fixing up the fireplace.

 

[copperhack]

I can take pics, get some more accurate measurements . I have plenty of wood for outdoor firepit I intentionally left 36"+ long. we had a bad ice storm here in 2008, maybe another 10 years of wood left, so that is what I have to work with. The huge trunk pieces have never been split, in a big pile in woods, not rotting yet, have tarps on all the piles. Thanks

 

[webbie]

Start with the very basics and go from there. Virtually 100% (and more) of the info you need is already here in the forum and in the articles.

https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/articles/installing_a_woodstove
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/articles/install_insert
https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/articles/making_a_block_off_plate/

Read those and then use the total site search in the menu above to learn more. Then, if you have specific other questions, ask away!

 

[DMB]

You probably need to get that wood split and stacked as soon as you can. Different stoves take different sized logs but if you saw to about 18" to 20" you should be safe no matter what stove you select. I have a 20" bar on my chainsaw and use that as a general measurement when I cut.

 

[Grisu]

I can take pics, get some more accurate measurements . I have plenty of wood for outdoor firepit I intentionally left 36"+ long. we had a bad ice storm here in 2008, maybe another 10 years of wood left, so that is what I have to work with. The huge trunk pieces have never been split, in a big pile in woods, not rotting yet, have tarps on all the piles. Thanks

The wood for the firepit may be dry if it has been split and exposed to sun and wind but I doubt the trunks did season at all. If you get those cut, split and stacked soon they may be ready for next winter depending on wood species and the location you stack them.

 

[begreen]

If the opening in the fireplace is high enough you may be able to connect a rear-vent stove and connect to the liner through the fireplace opening. Dimensions and a picture will help us see what you are seeing.

 

[Oregon aloha]

I placed my freestanding wood stove in the firebox after removing the damper to save having my stove take up the room.

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...-stove-install-completed.116542/#post-1559175