Old decrepit fireplace(s); Want to Replace w/ Freestanding Wood Stoves

[Quantum_meruit]

Hello all,

First post - long time lurker! I have done my best to research my question. @msb91932 seems to have a similar situation in replacing the fireplace with a wood stove installed inside of it. But in reading this forum and others, and talking to multiple install companies, I have been inundated with too much information that I'm now unable to make much of what I've researched.

House Context:
I had my fireplaces inspected and came across a number of issues from the inspector; he believes they cannot be operated safely. The house is a solid brick house from the 1940s that's NOT open at all. Lots of doors, etc. Currently only has sawdust insulation in the attic (to be replaced). One fireplace is on the main floor (approx 1300 sq ft,) and one is in the basement (approx 1300 sq ft).

The house is located in a colder area for my state with the coldest month having an average high of 34, and an average of low of 25. There are 120 days on average with a low below freezing. 2.4 days per year the low is below zero. Keeping the house at 65-73 degrees would be fine by me as I run hot.

Fireplace Inspection
The findings from the inspection were:
1. The flue for the downstairs fireplace is 50 percent obstructed by an immediate offset above the top of the insert. The brick has not been sealed.
2. The transition from the damper to the smoke chamber is excessively restricted
3. The upstairs fireplace had gaps in the mortar.
4. The smoke chamber is corbelled
5. The chimney is too short to meet current safety standards.
6. The chimney cap had moderate to severe deterioration which should be repaired to avoid moisture intrusion of the chimney structure.

What I'm looking for
He recommended an insert, and that appears to be the most common suggestion. However, I do NOT want an insert. I'm just not a fan of them. Additionally, the property struggles with power outages so I want a freestanding stove for the cooking potential as well as for aesthetic reasons. I'm looking to install Hearthstone freestanding stove(s) as the primary source of heat for the house.

My Questions:
1. I'm wondering if I can install the freestanding wood stove either (i) in the fireplace(s) (ii) in front of the fireplaces (and if so, will I need to seal the fireplaces, brick over the fireplace opening, remove the wood mantel, etc.?) or (iii) in a different location and the old fireplaces will be decorative.
2. In the event that the freestanding wood stove is installed in the fireplace or in front of the fireplace, is there a preferred method of installation? Above the damper for instance.
3. Will I need to use a blower for clearance issues/heat distribution?
4. Given the information provided by the inspector, will the freestanding stove be able to use the chimney for output?

Many thanks!

 

[EbS-P]

What is the height of the fireplace, and chimney for the fireplace you want the stove?

 

[Quantum_meruit]

What is the height of the fireplace, and chimney for the fireplace you want the stove?

Height of the fireplace as in the firebox? Total chimney height including off the roof?

 

[EbS-P]

Height of the fireplace as in the firebox? Total chimney height including off the roof?

Fire box floor to lintel (the opening height). And yes the total height including off the roof.

 

[jalmondale]

I have basically your exact fireplace, and installed a wood stove in front of it last winter. Here's my experience/what I found while looking into it:
- You can't put a wood stove in the actual fireplace. If you want a wood stove that can do that, that's basically what an insert is. Those have blowers because (a) they need one to get the heat into the room and (b) they need to get the heat away from the back and sides of the stove to keep it from overheating/heating unevenly

- You want a stove that vents from the rear and isn't too tall.

- You may need to set the stove into the room by about a foot, and/or set up a heat shield for the combustible mantle

I installed a Woodstock Fireview, and I couldn't be happier with it. The installers put in a block off plate at the top of the fireplace firebox, so I didn't have to do any additional sealing for heat/air sealing reasons, but the sad black cavern behind the stove didn't look great, so I wound up making a cover for it out of tin tile. I'm really happy with how it turned out, and it wasn't that complicated of a DIY project (I'd never done anything with tin tile before). I think people also sometimes use porcelain tile to make a similar setup. I actually posted about this setup with pictures, since I'd had a hard time finding photos of what it looked like: https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...ve-in-front-of-fireplace.192288/#post-2583973

 

[cmorningstar01]

You will need to use a chimney liner , basically a flexible chimney pipe that goes inside your existing chimney and connects to the wood stove and exits at the top of the chimney, at the top you will need a cap that seals around the chimney liner and closes off the existing chimney leaving just the chimney liner to exit the top.

As for moving air, my stove has a squirrel cage blower which we seldom use instead we have 2 of the heat powered fans that I got from Amazon, cheap and effective and if the power goes out you still have heat and circulation

 

[begreen]

We need the lintel height for each fireplace in order to determine the feasibility. The clearances to the wood mantel may be a deciding factor for that fireplace.

Both fireplaces would need:

• Thorough cleaning including the smoke shelf.
• A hearth extension or a pad under the stove that provides at least 16" of protection in front of the stove door.
• A full-length, insulated, 6" stainless steel liner
• Proper termination at the chimney cap to ensure no water entry.

Some questions:
How open is the basement fireplace to the rest of that floor level? Is there an outside door to this level? How well does the basement fireplace work now? Does smoke spill out? How close is the stairwell to the main floor and is it open all the way to the main floor?

 

[KDubU]

I have basically your exact fireplace, and installed a wood stove in front of it last winter. Here's my experience/what I found while looking into it:
- You can't put a wood stove in the actual fireplace. If you want a wood stove that can do that, that's basically what an insert is. Those have blowers because (a) they need one to get the heat into the room and (b) they need to get the heat away from the back and sides of the stove to keep it from overheating/heating unevenly

- You want a stove that vents from the rear and isn't too tall.

- You may need to set the stove into the room by about a foot, and/or set up a heat shield for the combustible mantle

I installed a Woodstock Fireview, and I couldn't be happier with it. The installers put in a block off plate at the top of the fireplace firebox, so I didn't have to do any additional sealing for heat/air sealing reasons, but the sad black cavern behind the stove didn't look great, so I wound up making a cover for it out of tin tile. I'm really happy with how it turned out, and it wasn't that complicated of a DIY project (I'd never done anything with tin tile before). I think people also sometimes use porcelain tile to make a similar setup. I actually posted about this setup with pictures, since I'd had a hard time finding photos of what it looked like: https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...ve-in-front-of-fireplace.192288/#post-2583973

Nicely done!

To the OP, wE are also installing a wood stove where an old fireplace (90’s) is located. We are getting the Woodstock Progress Hybrid with short legs that puts the center of the rear exit flue at 22.75”. I am still contemplating having places out a bit further like @jalmondale as he did a great job.