Two Sided Fireplace Inserts

Lazza · Post by **Lazza** » Wed. Jan. 30, 2008 5:37 pm

As I've mentioned in other recent posts, I just moved into a house. Rather than a standard frieplace opening, it has a 2 sided fireplace. That is, if you are looking at the front of the fireplace opening , the front and left sides of the "cube" are open, that is, make an "L" shape opening. I seem to remember this a lot from the 1970s.

Anyway, I contacted several dealers in the area to see whether there are fireplace inserts made to fit this type of fireplace, and I got a negative answer.

Do any of you experts know of an insert that might serve? Could I just put the insert in and leave the left side open? (The firebox of the insert would be enclosed in any event.)

Any tips or your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Lazza

acesover · Post by **acesover** » Wed. Jan. 30, 2008 6:27 pm

I'm no expert, but lets see a picture of your fireplace.

LsFarm · Post by **LsFarm** » Wed. Jan. 30, 2008 6:56 pm

Actually the instalation you suggested is more effecient than a normal insert instalation. The reason being that the insert will have at least one side exposed and radiating heat into the room instead of into the fireplace brick..

The biggest obsticle will be sealing off the fireplace damper with a sheet of steel, and sealing the chimney flue-pipe as it goes through the steel plate in the damper. With one side exposed, you should have access behind the insert, so you can put in a 'TEE' instead of an elbow or straight flue pipe and have a baro damper and a cleanout opening. Pretty much best of all worlds if the insert and the fireplace dimensions work out.

A photo or two would help, with some measurements. Do you have a particular insert in mind?? Hitzer makes a nice hopper load insert. Harman makes an insert as well I think.

Greg.

Lazza · Post by **Lazza** » Wed. Jan. 30, 2008 8:58 pm

You guys rock. Let me get the photo dimensions, etc and get back to you.

Lazza · Post by **Lazza** » Wed. Jan. 30, 2008 9:24 pm

I also plan to get a stainless liner for my brick chimney so I think that the connection issue should be moot.

LsFarm · Post by **LsFarm** » Wed. Jan. 30, 2008 9:30 pm

You must block the fireplace damper around the liner. Otherwise hot air from your room and home will just go up the chimney.

Depending on if you can hook the liner to the insert on the top of the insert or not, you need to be able to get the fly ash out of the liner.

You don't need a liner if your masonry chimney is clay lined [teracotta clay liner]. But a full height SS liner hooked directly to the top of the insert would make yearly maintenance easier.

Greg L.

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