Newbie with a problem, can't get an insert to fit my fireplace what do I do now

[rosencra38]

OK, here is my problem. I own a manufactured home that has a fireplace in it. I am trying to research my alternative heating options so that I can get away from my high propane bill. The wife and I were seriously considering putting a wood stove insert into our fireplace but I found out today that my opening is way to small to go this route (17" H, 36" W & 15.5"D). My question is what are my other options for alternative heating for my home?

 

[ROYJ24]

How about a woodstove in front of fireplace, better heating.

 

[brooktrout]

How about a freestanding stove set in front of the fireplace? Or somewhere else in the home?

 

[fossil]

Where do you live (climate zone-wise)? How big's the home? Single story or more? What's the layout? Where's the existing fireplace? What are your heating aspirations (wood heat as primary, or backup)? What's your budget? How much time & effort are you willing to put into woodburning? These are a few of the many questions that need to be addressed. Stick around, there are a lot of smart people here (certainly not talking about me, but they are here!). Rick

EDIT: Oops, I just saw you already answered question number 1...sorry :red: Rick

 

[blackgooseJT]

If your home is tagged with a HUD label as a mobile home you will need to comply with mobile home requirements. In brief, they are a little tighter and more stringent than others. Among other things a solid fuel appliance in one of these must have outside make-up air; the unit must be bolted to the floor; It must be grounded to the frame; and the appliance must be listed for use in a mobile home. the outside air problem eliminates most inserts from mobile home listing. If your home is not HUD tagged you would default to appropriate code (authority having jurisdiction) Don't be discouraged, this sounds more complicated than it really is. The type of building limits your choices a little, but there are good stoves out there to fit most any need.Start with determining whether your home is HUD tagged "mobile", pre-fab, or "stick-built"

blackgooseJT

 

[rosencra38]

How about a freestanding stove set in front of the fireplace? Or somewhere else in the home?

I've thought about this but don't really know how pleasing to the eye this would look. Wouldn't this mean that I would need to run a new exposed chimney right in front of the existing fireplace as well?

 

[BrotherBart]

The mobile home designation went away with HUD in 1976. Homes are now either "manufactured" or "site built" houses.

 

[BrotherBart]

Can you post pictures of the fireplace, hearth and chimney?

 

[rosencra38]

Where do you live (climate zone-wise)? How big's the home? Single story or more? What's the layout? Where's the existing fireplace? What are your heating aspirations (wood heat as primary, or backup)? What's your budget? How much time & effort are you willing to put into woodburning? These are a few of the many questions that need to be addressed. Stick around, there are a lot of smart people here (certainly not talking about me, but they are here!). Rick

EDIT: Oops, I just saw you already answered question number 1...sorry :red: Rick

Sorry for not providing enough info on my original post. I live in West Michigan, not sure what the climate zone is but at our coldest times in the winters we can average daily temps in the 20's with lows in the single digits and below zero temps at times. We have a 2000 sq ft double wide HUD modular home, single story. The layout is two bedrooms at one end of the house then a very large living room (28 X 20) connected to the kitchen and dining room with the third bedroom and main entry at the opposite end of the home. The existing fireplace is in the living room and I'd like to heat with either wood or wood pellets. I don't really have a budget at this time, just mainly looking at my options and will then seek out costs of each. I've got three kids (oldest is 5) so I don't have that much time to put into cutting/splitting/stacking which is why I am also interested in the pellet option. Thanks for all the replies so far.

 

[webbie]

The fireplace is most likely a metal pre-fab and I doubt you have ANY options with it, including a stove in front. Given a single story structure, your best bet is to start from scratch and install a free standing stove.....and chimney - or pellet stove and venting system.

 

[rosencra38]

The fireplace is most likely a metal pre-fab and I doubt you have ANY options with it, including a stove in front. Given a single story structure, your best bet is to start from scratch and install a free standing stove.....and chimney - or pellet stove and venting system.

This is the one thing I definitely want to stay away from. If I rip out the corner fireplace that I have I'll need to rip out the entire corner back to the walls and thus would have to redo the floor, walls and ceiling throughout the whole living room to make it all match.

 

[rosencra38]

What about an outdoor furnace? I'm not talking about the big tin can's with a smoke stack that are getting wildly popular lately. I'm referring to an outdoor furnace that I saw at our local Menards (simlar to Lowes or Home Depot), it looks like an actual furnace but it burns wood and can heat the entire home. Unfortunately I can't find anything online discussing them since every search comes back with the other outdoor furnaces that I was referring to. Sorry if my description doesn't help you know what I am talking about, I'm new to most of this.

 

[webbie]

The fireplace is most likely a metal pre-fab and I doubt you have ANY options with it, including a stove in front. Given a single story structure, your best bet is to start from scratch and install a free standing stove.....and chimney - or pellet stove and venting system.

This is the one thing I definitely want to stay away from. If I rip out the corner fireplace that I have I'll need to rip out the entire corner back to the walls and thus would have to redo the floor, walls and ceiling throughout the whole living room to make it all match.

Not much choice here - of course, you can leave the fireplace 100% intact and install a stove elsewhere, but it is my opinion that you will not find anything you can safely and legally install into it.

 

[burntime]

If your going to do it do it right. I am all for saving a buck but safety wise I would not consider cutting corners on an install. I am re-installing my insert after I learned what a bunch of hacks the company that put mine in was. Its great to save with wood, but do you want to be lying in bed at night wondering if it is done right?

 

[rosencra38]

What about an outdoor furnace? I'm not talking about the big tin can's with a smoke stack that are getting wildly popular lately. I'm referring to an outdoor furnace that I saw at our local Menards (simlar to Lowes or Home Depot), it looks like an actual furnace but it burns wood and can heat the entire home. Unfortunately I can't find anything online discussing them since every search comes back with the other outdoor furnaces that I was referring to. Sorry if my description doesn't help you know what I am talking about, I'm new to most of this.

I think I just found what I was talking about and it looks like it is an indoor wood furnace which I wouldn't have any place to put that so looks like that is out as well.

 

[11 Bravo]

Since your in west Michigan, you're probably near me and in some of the area, the outdoor burner is prohibited. PM me if ya need, I can steer you to locals who can give ya all you need to know.......

 

[fossil]

rosencra - listen to what the webmaster just told you: "...you can leave the fireplace 100% intact and install a stove elsewhere...". You can put an approved solid fuel space heater in your home, you just probably aren't going to find one that you can simply slide into your existing fireplace. You don't have to rip out the fireplace and start from scratch, but you do have to identify another appropriate footprint in your home that you're willing to devote to the new appliance, whatever "flavor" you might ultimately decide to use. That means protection and clearances and a host of requirements, but it doesn't mean you have to gut the whole room and start over. Corner opposite from the existing fireplace? Anywhere along one of the walls? Open your solution space and you're more likely to find a solution. Rick

 

[rosencra38]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I didn't mean to sound like I wasn't greatful for the replies in my earlier post. Unfortunately I don't really have any other space to put a wood stove other than were the fireplace is at. My options are limited since on the same wall as the fireplaces is a sliding glass door out to our deck, the opposite wall has a large picture window and the front entrance door. The other walls in the living room, one has very limited space as it joins into the kitchen on one side and the dining room on the other, the opposite side buts up against the front entrance door and our entertainment system pretty much takes up most of this wall. So other than putting it in the kitchen or dining room which I am not thrilled about, I think I should start looking at outdoor options. Thanks again for everyones help.