See through renovation questions

[Mattphillips18]

Hello all, first time poster.
I'm in Portland, Oregon, with a 1973 ranch house that has a brick see through wood fireplace. Nothing about it speaks of heat. We remodeled our house with beautiful white walls and ceilings; not conducive to smoke. I'm looking at this fireplace, that we like the aesthetics of the see through, and wondering how to get a little something from it? I know there is no such thing as a see through insert, gas or wood. (grew up with woodstove heated house, miss it dearly) Wife and I aren't interested in blocking off one side and putting in a one sided insert.
So I'm thinking our current options are
1) give up and never use the thing.
2) gas logs.

I'm wondering if I could get even a little heat to spike the room temp by using:
gas logs (vent free or direct vented? Would rather direct vent)
glass doors on both sides
a fireplace heater similar to this http://www.woodlanddirect.com/Firep...ce-Heaters-Blowers/Emberaire-Fireplace-Heater
possibly a combustible air pipe from the crawl space.

What do you think? Did I solve the see through problem? Probably not, but give me your thoughts, thanks.
Matt

 

[webbie]

I'd say if you were going to go with wood - and, if you wanted to install fireplace doors on both sides, you could use two (or one) of those fireplace heat exchangers....this company makes both the doors and the grates:
(broken link removed to http://www.stollfireplace.com/heating/GrateHeater)

If you were going to go with gas I would caution against unvented....and, at the same time, vented hardly heat at all. So if you were going to go with vented logs, just be content for a tiny big of heat and some ambiance once in a while.

Some gas logs are a bit better than others at radiant heat. Examples which may fit the bill
http://www.monessenhearth.com/family/Gas-Log-Sets/Vented/Duzy-3/

You could use a large vent-free gas log (doesn't look as nice as vented) and open the damper a small amount...you'll still get some nice heat.

 

[Mattphillips18]

The vent free log set with a bit of an open damper was also an option I forgot to mention. I like it. As for the direct vent gas log, even with the blower type unit, you don't think much heat will come out? The fireplace sits in the middle of a great room about 40'x27', but the ceilings are only about 7'6" tall. Even a little heat, I'm imagining, would be noticeable.
I've not messed with gas logs before. Visually, there is a great difference between direct vented and non-vented? Does non-vented look pretty corny? Guess I need to get myself to a showroom.

 

[DAKSY]

The vent free log set with a bit of an open damper was also an option I forgot to mention. I like it. As for the direct vent gas log, even with the blower type unit, you don't think much heat will come out? The fireplace sits in the middle of a great room about 40'x27', but the ceilings are only about 7'6" tall. Even a little heat, I'm imagining, would be noticeable.
I've not messed with gas logs before. Visually, there is a great difference between direct vented and non-vented? Does non-vented look pretty corny? Guess I need to get myself to a showroom.

You don't mention the distance between the fireplace faces. If there's enough room, TWO gas fireplace inserts can make a world of difference, & you'll get to keep both sides. I installed two in a see thru woodburner, locally about 6 years ago & the homeowners are really happy with the way they heat. Both on remotes. Same model in each room, but with different fronts & surrounds. Two co-linear liners but one DV cap exhausts both units...Of course, you'll hafta double the price, but the energy payback should be quick...