Old house with coal vents

[JoG]

Our 1846 home has 6 fireplaces with beautiful marble mantels that were previously used for coal and do not have fire boxes, just a closed up vent pipe. Of course, the chimneys are also not lined (we have 2 chimneys). We would like just one wood burning fireplace. Is a zero clearance insert an option?

 

[bholler]

Our 1846 home has 6 fireplaces with beautiful marble mantels that were previously used for coal and do not have fire boxes, just a closed up vent pipe. Of course, the chimneys are also not lined (we have 2 chimneys). We would like just one wood burning fireplace. Is a zero clearance insert an option?

It could be. It is also possible that one or more of the fireplaces could made to be a wood burner. It all depends on budget and desire

 

[jetsam]

I am referring this one to @Ashful !

You need a dedicated flue for each heater, but you shouldn't face too many other challenges if everything is in good condition.

 

[bholler]

I am referring this one to @Ashful !

You need a dedicated flue for each heater, but you shouldn't face too many other challenges if everything is in good condition.

It isnt in good condition these are 150 year old fireplaces that have had coal dirt eating them from the inside out for many of those years. At the time they were build it is likely they were wood burners but were probably switched over to coal fireplaces in the late 19th century. Then closed up and parlor stoves vented into them at a later point. It is usually layers upon layers of crap you have to dig down through till you have enough room to build your firebox and get a liner through to it. We have done some and some of them are pretty straight forward. And others could not be done. That is why we dont set a price or make any gaurantees on those projects from the start.