re-opening fireplace

[jkbutler]

Hi, long time reader, first time poster. Does anyone know the best way to re-open a fireplace? We currently have a very old, condemed heater which leaks gas into our lounge. Obviously we have stopped using it, but coming into winter we need warmth. It was suggested that the quickest and cheapest way would be to remove the heater and re-open the fireplace. Does anyknow know how easy this is and the best way to do it?

[OBBob]

You need to check the chimney is still in good order once you have removed the heater. A chimney sweep woul inspect and clean it for about $80. If required you could put a steel flue up it if bricks are missing etc.

[Frank&Earnest]

I did exactly that many years ago as a restoration, but never used the fireplace, so I can not advise on the actual firing side.
As far as the renovation went, after the bricklaying part to get the wall in order (you might not need that) I bought the metal part at a salvage place (now you can buy replicas to suit your house's style) and made the wooden mantle myself out of Aussie oak. Reasonably easy, but I don't know how effective it would be to use...
Cheers
Frank

[TermiMonster]

I had a similar situation when we moved into our current house a year ago. I just ripped the gas heater out and installed a slow combustion wood heater with a steel flue (insert type). I checked the brickwork was ok, of course. I'll see if I can dig up some photos.here's one.
I hope you get the idea from this. Obviously, not finished here. (As a matter of fact, it's still not finished a year later, but let's not go there)
It does keep me nice and warm on a cold night though. I bought this new, but I've seen them go for reasonable prices on ebay, trading post etc. Remember for a used one the more use it has had, the thinner the steel will be. So just keep that in mind. I thought the steel chimney insert was a good idea too.
Cheers
TM

[Justin]

Depends how handy you are. If I was in your shoes and looking at the cheapest solution, I'd be looking at getting a secondhand gas heater from a demolition. Depending on your level of skill you could do anything from roughing it in to connecting it up. Note that connecting it is illegal if you're not a certified gasfitter, but you did say quickest and cheapest.....

Fireplaces can be nice, but don't underestimate the cost and effort of feeding them with fuel. Do you have a ute or a trailer ? If not, you'll be paying delivery fees or doing heaps of trips.

My cousin had a fireplace in a renter (victorian era) that he stayed in. It was crap, poorly put together and the flame just roared up the chimney. I'm sure the moon was toasty warm, but the living room hardly got any of the heat ! In contrast, my sister's got a fireplace in her californian bungalow place, and it's just joyous when she stokes it up.

Perhaps as OBBob suggests, get a sweep in to check the fireplace, and also to make a pronouncement on whether the whole thing's going to work properly if you do put it back into service.


Cheers,


Justin.

[OBBob]

Yeah ... you need to remember that if the place is old the fireplace was probably built for a cast iron insert that was fed with coal. Can't do that any more ... and there is an art to fireplace design. The size of the opening has to be proportioned to the chimney area etc. otherwise it won't draw and smoke will fill the house ... or as above all teh flames and he go straight up the chimney.

Don't want to put you off ... I did exactly what you prepose in my last place ... but when I removed the heater the bricks had been damaged so I had to re-brick. Then I had to do some research to get the opening right to make it run properly ... in the end it was great ... and I had plenty of old hardwood to burn from the rest of the reno's!

[ozwinner]

Yeah ... Can't do that any more ... and there is an art to fireplace design. The size of the opening has to be proportioned to the chimney area etc. otherwise it won't draw and smoke will fill the house ... or as above all teh flames and he go straight up the chimney.

Its the rollback and flue gather that makes the chimney work.

Have a look here.

Al

[Iain]

We put in an Ultimate insert just after we moved into the old farmhouse, the insert was a breeze but the flue was a PITA.
Wound up knocking out over 300 bricks out of the chimney to get a straight run to the top and the flexible flue just couldn't cope with the bends, and there were 5 of them.
I wound up doing a contra deal with an installer who had crap TV reception, I got a working fire and he got a new antenna and reception he never thought possible, two happy campers.
In hindsight I would never use an insert again as they lose too much heat up the chimney, I have seen freestanding units the same as mine in bigger rooms doing a better job as the heat from all sides and the flue is going into the room.

[Santalum]

I know exactly what your talking about, opened a fire place in our home that had been boarded up in the distant past, bought a grate and stoked her up, 5 mins later we were feeling our way around and every smoke detector in the place was going nuts still have not fixed it, on the list of things to do (one day)
Jon.

Yeah ... you need to remember that if the place is old the fireplace was probably built for a cast iron insert that was fed with coal. Can't do that any more ... and there is an art to fireplace design. The size of the opening has to be proportioned to the chimney area etc. otherwise it won't draw and smoke will fill the house ... or as above all teh flames and he go straight up the chimney.

Don't want to put you off ... I did exactly what you prepose in my last place ... but when I removed the heater the bricks had been damaged so I had to re-brick. Then I had to do some research to get the opening right to make it run properly ... in the end it was great ... and I had plenty of old hardwood to burn from the rest of the reno's!

[jkbutler]

Thanks everyone. I will take all your info on and see what we can do. The fireplace is in good condition, so I might just get a sweep in and go from there. Thanks again

[Iain]

I might just get a sweep in and go from there. Thanks again

Save some money, get a piece of chicken wire, roll into a cone, attach a length of rope/string, attach weight to other end drop down said chimney, go to the bottom and pull through, expect a black face but cheaper than getting in a pro to do the same job.

[jkbutler]

We have opened it up and it was actually a lot easier than I expected. Once we pulled the gas heater out and ceaned up the inside, we tested the fireplace by lighting up a bit of newpaper - worked a treat, straight up the flue. Now all we need it some rain and cooler weather so we can enjoy some nice open fires. Thanks again for advice