Wood stove safe in my fireplace

[Gearhead660]

Anyone familiar with this type of fireplace? From what I can gather, it was built late 70s/early 80s. On external wall of a 1890s home. Not real stone, but man made stone veneer I believe.

I currently have an insert, but am looking to get a burner that sits further out on the hearth and with a larger firebox for longer burns. If I were to get a stove that would fit, would there be any concerns with distance to combustibles? Is the stone veneer adequate protection to the combustibles behind them?

 

[bholler]

Anyone familiar with this type of fireplace? From what I can gather, it was built late 70s/early 80s. On external wall of a 1890s home. Not real stone, but man made stone veneer I believe.
View attachment 336990
I currently have an insert, but am looking to get a burner that sits further out on the hearth and with a larger firebox for longer burns. If I were to get a stove that would fit, would there be any concerns with distance to combustibles? Is the stone veneer adequate protection to the combustibles behind them?

Is it an actual masonry fireplace with a masonry chimney?

 

[Gearhead660]

Yes it is. Here is the exterior.

 

[EbS-P]

Is the stone veneer adequate protection to the combustibles behind them?

One would hope that the original chimney was built to code and that they didn’t do anything stupid when they added the stone work. Stone doesn’t change any distance to combustibles

 

[bholler]

Yes it is. Here is the exterior.
View attachment 336991

Ok in that case you need to investigate and see how much masonry is between the face of that stone and any combustible materials

 

[Gearhead660]

From what I can see, the firebox area is all cement block/brick. The rest is 2x lumber framed with mortar to adhere the stones. The hearth is about 2" think stone.

 

[stovelark]

Wouldn't the safe thing to do is verify that the chimney has a SS liner for that insert (Looks like a Fraser Elite from Haugh's or Century), then if its verified safe to use, put another insert (albeit a smaller one) in its place? If it turns out its safely constructed, you will have to have a very short wood stove to make the venting work... inserts will look more finished, have a blower etc. I know they cost more, but sometimes the correct appliance to use is important too. Whatever you do, please be safe and good luck.

 

[Gearhead660]

Wouldn't the safe thing to do is verify that the chimney has a SS liner for that insert (Looks like a Fraser Elite from Haugh's or Century), then if its verified safe to use, put another insert (albeit a smaller one) in its place? If it turns out its safely constructed, you will have to have a very short wood stove to make the venting work... inserts will look more finished, have a blower etc. I know they cost more, but sometimes the correct appliance to use is important too. Whatever you do, please be safe and good luck.

It currently has a Century CW2900 insert with a SS liner. I am looking to get a longer burn/more heat. I have been looking into bigger inserts, just wanted to see if a stove would be an option.

 

[EbS-P]

Wouldn't the safe thing to do is verify that the chimney has a SS liner for that insert (Looks like a Fraser Elite from Haugh's or Century), then if its verified safe to use, put another insert (albeit a smaller one) in its place? If it turns out its safely constructed, you will have to have a very short wood stove to make the venting work... inserts will look more finished, have a blower etc. I know they cost more, but sometimes the correct appliance to use is important too. Whatever you do, please be safe and good luck.

It currently has a Century CW2900 insert with a SS liner. I am looking to get a longer burn/more heat. I have been looking into bigger inserts, just wanted to see if a stove would be an option.

I would think the clearances to combustibles would be about the same big insert vs stove. The real question is does the fireplace as built meet code?

Were you looking to top vent the stove and add a thimble? You could find out during that project what’s behind the stone.

 

[Gearhead660]

I would think the clearances to combustibles would be about the same big insert vs stove. The real question is does the fireplace as built meet code?

Were you looking to top vent the stove and add a thimble? You could find out during that project what’s behind the stone.

I wouldnt want to add a thimble. Would want flue to go up current chimney.

 

[EbS-P]

I wouldnt want to add a thimble. Would want flue to go up current chimney.

So you are rear venting what is your opening height?

 

[Gearhead660]

So you are rear venting what is your opening height?

26"

 

[EbS-P]

26"

Have you made a stove list yet?

 

[stovelark]

Wood insert clearances tend to be a little easier to meet by virtue of the "sleeve around the stove body, making it convection oriented vs Radiant like a cast stove... I'd still suggest an insert, but if you bring FS stove out on hearth and put a thimble in up above fireplace opening, that might make it easier to meet combustibles. Still a lot of info to be found out.. Good luck.

 

[Gearhead660]

Have you made a stove list yet?

Been looking, but no list yet. Jotul has some nice stoves but pricey...

 

[EbS-P]

Been looking, but no list yet. Jotul has some nice stoves but pricey...

But not much bigger than what you have now correct?