Sealing off Fireplace and Installing a Centralized Woodstove

[KDubU]

We purchased a house with water baseboard fueled by a new oil furnace (seller installed the new furnace). I am not a fan of oil and current prices only makes that worse. They have a propane fireplace insert and honesty the heat output is not worth the price of propane. We have always had wood stoves and are making plans to buy one however I don’t think installing into the current chimney makes a lot of sense. The chimney is fine and was inspected prior to house purchase but it’s located at one end of the house where there is a cathedral ceiling to the open upstairs landing. Plus the brick chimney is on the exterior and I have always had the most success with stoves with the chimney in the house space the majority with a few feet above the roof on the outside (best draft). So thinking of closing up the chimney and putting the stove in the center of the house, through first floor ceiling and then into the open landing and eventually out through the roof. The only negative is having a black pipe off to the side in the open landing won’t look great but will put off heat. Otherwise I could build a walled-in compartment up to the ceiling but that would mean all double-wall insulated that is not cheap.

Here is a shot of the current setup. Thoughts?

 

[begreen]

The flue piping needs to switch to chimney pipe at the landing. The stovepipe can not pass through the landing. The chimney pipe should be chased.

If the fireplace can handle a big insert, then it might be worth installing one there. Is there a ceiling fan in the living room?

 

[KDubU]

Tks, yes I know about the switchover as we did something similar in our previous house although that went through the ceiling and resided in a closet by itself out through the roof. It was all double-walled insulated through the ceiling and through the closet. This time round, I was just thinking on what to do when it gets through the ceiling by maybe I’ll do a similar thing and build a small closet around it.

Yes there is a fan at the top of the cathedral ceiling but without it being on full blast, not sure how effective it will be keeping the heat down. The chimney can handle a 6 or 8” insert no problem. My concern is also lack of draft as the chimney is on the outside of the house.

 

[kborndale]

How high is the chimney? As long as it is over 15ft and you put an insulated liner in it, you shouldn't have a problem with draft

 

[KDubU]

How high is the chimney? As long as it is over 15ft and you put an insulated liner in it, you shouldn't have a problem with draft

Chimney is approx. 24’. Good to know about the draft then the only real issue is to get the heat further out into the house is the concern. This house has a bit of an oddball layout and the fireplace can’t be further away unless it was outside.

 

[bholler]

Chimney is approx. 24’. Good to know about the draft then the only real issue is to get the heat further out into the house is the concern. This house has a bit of an oddball layout and the fireplace can’t be further away unless it was outside.

Is the gas unit an actual insert slid into a masonry fireplace or is it a prefab gas fireplace?

 

[KDubU]

It’s the former. The chimney is a complete masonry one and I know the previous owners were lazy thus don’t see them stacking wood let alone cutting down and splitting (property has 10 acres of hardwoods). It’s a Mendota unit.

 

[begreen]

Yes there is a fan at the top of the cathedral ceiling but without it being on full blast, not sure how effective it will be keeping the heat down. The chimney can handle a 6 or 8” insert no problem. My concern is also lack of draft as the chimney is on the outside of the house.

The fan can be run in reverse (winter mode) to help circulate the air without feeling drafty.


The draft in the fireplace will likely be good or even strong with an insulated liner in the chimney.

 

[KDubU]

The fan can be run in reverse (winter mode) to help circulate the air without feeling drafty.
View attachment 306003

The draft in the fireplace will likely be good or even strong with an insulated liner in the chimney.

I’ll have to look at the fan connection as the previous owner has it only one way, blowing down. Hopefully I can convert it over but we’ll see.

 

[bholler]

I’ll have to look at the fan connection as the previous owner has it only one way, blowing down. Hopefully I can convert it over but we’ll see.

There is usually a switch on it to reverse direction

 

[KDubU]

There is usually a switch on it to reverse direction

Agreed however I need to get up to the actual fan on the ceiling 23’ up to see. The switch on the wall has only blowing down.

 

[begreen]

If the fan is newer, see if it has a remote control option.

 

[KDubU]

If the fan is newer, see if it has a remote control option.

If I was only that lucky! No remote, only a wall switch with four speeds and all down draft.