Hi!
We live in an old house that used to have a fireplace and solid fuel insert. The insert has since been removed and replaced with a gas insert by previous owners. I believe what we have now is a direct vent gas fireplace, since there's a glass face on the front (not doors; glass does not get opened during use). I bought this antique Monarch insert, which looks very similar to what my house used to have based on old video. We aren't ready to commit to taking the fireplace back to solid fuel, we don't know what that would take and are nervous about the idea since we're brand new to the fireplace world. This antique insert appears to come apart in several places - does anyone know if I could effectively replace the existing insert with something that would still be gas but allow me to use the front of the antique insert? Ideally I'm looking for a direct vent insert option that fits in the original firebox, but would allow me to use the whole facade of the antique coal insert. I'm thinking if direct vent, with the summer cover off there should be enough options for airflow if there's a fan to throw heat around. I have some questions if anyone has any thoughts to share:
![[Hearth.com] Repurpose Antique Coal Insert for Direct Vent Gas Burning?](https://www.hearth.com/talk/attachments/existing-insert-webp.330426/ "[Hearth.com] Repurpose Antique Coal Insert for Direct Vent Gas Burning?")
![[Hearth.com] Repurpose Antique Coal Insert for Direct Vent Gas Burning?](https://www.hearth.com/talk/attachments/monarch-insert-webp.330427/ "[Hearth.com] Repurpose Antique Coal Insert for Direct Vent Gas Burning?")
We live in an old house that used to have a fireplace and solid fuel insert. The insert has since been removed and replaced with a gas insert by previous owners. I believe what we have now is a direct vent gas fireplace, since there's a glass face on the front (not doors; glass does not get opened during use). I bought this antique Monarch insert, which looks very similar to what my house used to have based on old video. We aren't ready to commit to taking the fireplace back to solid fuel, we don't know what that would take and are nervous about the idea since we're brand new to the fireplace world. This antique insert appears to come apart in several places - does anyone know if I could effectively replace the existing insert with something that would still be gas but allow me to use the front of the antique insert? Ideally I'm looking for a direct vent insert option that fits in the original firebox, but would allow me to use the whole facade of the antique coal insert. I'm thinking if direct vent, with the summer cover off there should be enough options for airflow if there's a fan to throw heat around. I have some questions if anyone has any thoughts to share:
- Has anyone done a similar repurposing project?
- Is there a real safety difference between vented and direct vent? I'm going in with the understanding that direct vent is safer for the fact fumes aren't exchanging with the air in the living space
- If no, it seems like there are more versatile options if I don't mind a regular vented fireplace - does that require a replacement liner to convert from direct vent? Seems like it would.
