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I am roofing a house and the customer is wondering about doing something with the fireplace chimney while the roof is off. Two owners ago the chimney was removed down to below the roof deck and covered over. The flue is 12″ square masonry.
The house is all electric and she is worried about heat during power outages.
I’m thinking the only real solution is a direct vent fireplace insert to be fueled with a small propane tank…but the only one I’ve seen (I’ve only looked in Lowes over lunch) was $600. I’m assuming that rebuilding the chimney would cost as much or more (and we have no idea why it was taken down, maybe there’s a reason!).
Is there a less expensive solution?
Thanks.
Rich Beckman
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*As I watched Colorado hang on against Texas in spite of their coach, it occurs to me that this might be a situation where a ventless heater might make sense? If the customer understands the CO problem and would only use it in the rare event of an extended power outage....?????Mike,You really need to try and trim your posts down some.Rich Beckman
*"If the customer understands the CO problem and would only use it in the rare event of an extended power outage"Keep in mind that ventless heaters are only UL listed (and thus code approved) as i supplemental heat.Personally, as you know, I don't trust 'em.I know a lot about CO and wouldn't have one in my house. OTOH, one of the countries leading CO analysis experts live close to me and he has a ventless log set in his house. (He also has a $15,000 combustion analyzer and the skill to fine tune the log set.)
*How about a wood burning fireplace insert? The ones I've seen come with a 6" flue. Run it up the existing flue. Gas logs just dont look real to me. I put in a wood burning stove. I set it in front of the fireplace and ran the stove pipe up the existing chimney. Check out Hoosier Hearth in Muncie or Sculley's Fireplace Shoppe in Noblesville.
*Gary Barnett is one of the best coaches in the country and these are over $600 bucks but they are sweet.http://www.lopistoves.com/default.asphttp://www.vermontcastings.com/
*Scully's in Noblesville does my work and I'd agree on the insert recommendation. Could also try Riester in Indy. Pricewise you'll probably spend at least $600 but get a quality product. Both companies sell Heat n Glow and other products.John
*Several years ago, I had to replace a boiler in a large home in the month of November. I had to bust out the old weil maclain and then haul it out, pour a new foundation for the new boiler and the house was about 20-30 degrees. I bought a small propane space heater and I used it to heat the basement while I worked. I also let it run over night to cure the concrete and the mortar between the brick that I used to pave over the concrete pad. I, too, was worried about CO-poisoning, so I purchased two electronic CO detectors (just in case one was defective or the sensor became clogged or chemically contaminated... but, then, what if both became defective at the same time??? heh heh heh). I placed them close to my work area and both were located about head high. I guess it is pretty important to locate your detector in the right place for early warning/detection. Anyway, the project took me about 3 weeks, total, and I used the propane heater for heat all that time. I never got the CO alarm once (unless I put the heater in a position to blow heat right against the sensor, which I did occasionally for testing purposes... probably why it took 3 weeks to get the project done, dya think?). I wouldn't recommend this to someone who doesn't have experience with CO or understand the dangers and how to avoid them. Perhaps a generator and electric heater would be a safer alternative for your client? Scotty/Sioux City.
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I am roofing a house and the customer is wondering about doing something with the fireplace chimney while the roof is off. Two owners ago the chimney was removed down to below the roof deck and covered over. The flue is 12" square masonry.
The house is all electric and she is worried about heat during power outages.
I'm thinking the only real solution is a direct vent fireplace insert to be fueled with a small propane tank...but the only one I've seen (I've only looked in Lowes over lunch) was $600. I'm assuming that rebuilding the chimney would cost as much or more (and we have no idea why it was taken down, maybe there's a reason!).
Is there a less expensive solution?
Thanks.
Rich Beckman