Is it possible to get an insert into this arched fireplace?

[clydesdale]

I am considering purchasing this house. It has a nice fireplace. But, I realize that fireplaces are inefficient. I would like to add an insert. Will it be possible with this style of fireplace? I would like to post a picture, but when I go to upload it this site says the file size is too big. It is just one picture, so maybe someone can advise. Thanks.

 

[jatoxico]

Depending on the layout it may make sense to go w/ a free standing stove. If an insert is required there is usually a way but w/o any info or pics there's not much to say right now.

Try re-sizing the pic to something smaller.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Put the pic on a site such as photobucket and post the link.

 

[begreen]

Yes, some inserts will fit into an arched fireplace. It depends on the size of the fireplace and the stove to see what fits.

Picture tips here
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/putting-images-into-your-forums-posts.87212/

 

[clydesdale]

OK, I resized the picture. Do I have a chance a nice insert or will this be an epic failure?

 

[jetsam]

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/arch-shapped-fireplace-insert.69274/

 

[Smoked]

That's a beautiful hearth!! There are a few brands of airtight burn closed glass doors that are not as bad as an open fireplace. That could be one of them. I guess it could be an EPA ZC in there too?? I think if you did an insert, you would want a custom surround to cover as little of that stone as possible. Dimensions of the opening will decide what can fit though.

 

[edyit]

a lot depends on the dimensions of your fireplace opening, post some measurements on here, height, width, depth, rear height in fireplace (does it slope) and i'm sure you will get some suggestions

 

[KB007]

Dimensions would help - width, height at top and edges, depth, if there's any tapering, height at rear. It looks fairly big, I imagine you'll be able to put something fairly large in there with a stainless liner. Only question becomes what do you want for the surround, or do you even want one. I've seen a few pics of inserts without surrounds that look really nice.

 

[begreen]

OK, I resized the picture. Do I have a chance a nice insert or will this be an epic failure?

The nice generous hearth and the large arch size makes this look possible. Mock up a box to the dimension of a typical insert maybe 20"H, 20"D, and 29"W and see how it fits.

 

[clydesdale]

Here are some measurements and pics. Thanks for all your help.

 

[begreen]

Looks good for for an insert. Now tell us more about what you want to heat with the insert so that we can figure the size. How large an area do you want to heat? Is this an open floorplan or closed off rooms? Are there normal height ceilings?

 

[clydesdale]

Looks good for for an insert. Now tell us more about what you want to heat with the insert so that we can figure the size. How large an area do you want to heat? Is this an open floorplan or closed off rooms? Are there normal height ceilings?

The house is a total of 3900 sqft. The 1st floor is 1700 sqft. Then there is another 470 sqft on an intermediate level and about 1700 for the top floor. The house is a colonial style with a two story entry foyer. It has two separate air handlers to push the air over two oil heated water coils. I would like to see if I can get a return duct installed in the fireplace room to be plumbed up into a closet above and then into the attic so that it dumps the warm air into the upstairs ductwork. Then may not be possible, but that is my plan for now. How does that sound?
The dealer near me carries Quadra-Fire and Jotul. Thanks.

 

[begreen]

Put in the largest insert that will fit. Jotul largest will be too small. Return air duct in the fireplace is against mechanical code. The return needs to be >10ft from the stove or fireplace. To provide more than supplemental heat this house may need 2 stoves.

 

[clydesdale]

Put in the largest insert that will fit. Jotul largest will be too small. Return air duct in the fireplace is against mechanical code. The return needs to be >10ft from the stove or fireplace. To provide more than supplemental heat this house may need 2 stoves.

I think I can get the return to be more than 10 feet from the fireplace. Do you see any other issue with that plan?

 

[begreen]

Expecting an insert to heat a large part of 3900 sq ft in the dead of a NY winter is not realistic. It will help reduce heating load, but more likely there would need to be a second stove to heat entirely with wood.

 

[clydesdale]

Completely understood. This is to reduce the heating cost. That is why I am hoping to push some of the heat into the upstairs rooms. I just want to even the heat out a little more. I am hoping there might be a way to turn on and shut off that return so that I can control it a bit. This might be a pipe dream. How are the Quadra Fire inserts?

 

[begreen]

Quadrafire makes good efficient stoves. It might be good to see if natural convection will work well here. How open is the stove room to the rest of the floor? How close is it to the stairway and is this stairway wide and open?

 

[clydesdale]

Quadrafire makes good efficient stoves. It might be good to see if natural convection will work well here. How open is the stove room to the rest of the floor? How close is it to the stairway and is this stairway wide and open?

The stove room is connected to the kitchen the dining room is off of the kitchen and there is a den off of the stove room. Right in the middle of the kitchen and stove room connection is the hallway that goes to the stairway and entry door. The foyer, entry door and stairway is a two story foyer. So, if you enter from the front door, the staircase is right in front of you and the ceiling is two story, the dining room is right off to the left of the foyer and if you go past the staircase you enter the kitchen/stove room connection. The den is off the stove room. Bedrooms are upstairs. This is house is larger than I really wanted. But, it has the other qualities we were looking for and I have been looking for years. So I did not want to pass up the property, extra garage and location. Now I have to get this thing to be fairly economical. Sort of like when people say my truck is too big and then I tell them that it is diesel and gets almost 20 mpg, while there little SUV does the same thing.
I greatly appreciate your help. BTW, does it pay to try to buy these online and then have a local installer put it in? I found a local installer and I see that you can get these online.
Also, I had someone suggest a pellet stove instead. But, I have plenty of wood on the property and would not have to buy wood for MANY years. Plus, I did not think pellets could pump out the same heat. Please set me straight. Thanks.

 

[begreen]

Sounds like there will be some convection from the stove room to the hallway, but most of the heat will be for the stove room, kitchen/dining room and den. How large is the stove room?

There are pros and cons to a pellet stove just like there are for a wood stove. Here is a recent thread discussing them.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/wood-or-pellets.153825/

Another option for the whole house would be to invest in an efficient wood fired boiler.