Any Fireplace Experts out there?

[Draug]

I have a large 400 sq ft family room that has an existing wood burning fireplace.

I'd like to put a gas insert in the existing fireplace that I can thermostatically control. The catch is that I would like to also be able to burn wood in the same fireplace. Mr. Fireplace told me that no such thing exists, but it seems like it should. The idea of burning gas and wood in the same fireplace doesnt seem that far out there.

Is there any fireplace product out there that can burn gas for heat, and wood for entertainment?

[DuffMan]

sounds like a diy project (without permits) to me.

[supadaveo]

Not sure why you would want to do this in the first place, if such a thing did exist it would be very uneconomical. Wood burns at a much higher temperature than gas. From the numbers i remember at trade school (although its been a while) fireplaces are 20-25% efficient, meaning that every $1 you spend on gas for the thing, $0.80 goes up the chimney. And with the lower temperature you get from burning gas, im guessing that you would have to burn alot of it in order to heat this room you have there. The new gas only fire places are designed to project heat into the room a bit better then a conventional wood fire place (ie smaller flu, fans inside the fireplace housing that circulate warm air into the room, ect).

To have a dual fireplace would mean that your flue would have to be very large (too large for nat gas) and you would need a fan that could withstand immense temperatures from burning wood.

Believe the guy when he says that no such beast exists

hope this helps

[afc wimbledon]

you can get essentially freestanding gas stoves, have one plumbed into a corner of the room away from the wood fireplace.

[nickerjones]

I am going to have to say... Mr Fireplace knows what they are talking about . I am actually contractually obligated to say that by a document that we like to call a Marriage License. HAHAH My wife's family owns the place. However, all joking aside , they really do know what they are talking about.

[Dion]

Nothing out there that i've heard of...

BTW if you decide to go the way of the gas insert, make sure it has a fan to disperse the heat.

[Ducay]

I'm thinking of putting a CP bid out for the cheapest gas or wood insert (installed). Group buy?

(Another person who has had enough of his wood burning heat waster)

[Stranger]

Originally Posted by nickerjones

I am going to have to say... Mr Fireplace knows what they are talking about . I am actually contractually obligated to say that by a document that we like to call a Marriage License. HAHAH My wife's family owns the place. However, all joking aside , they really do know what they are talking about.

You've got to talk them into a Calgary Puck 25% discount.

[Frank the Tank]

Nothing exists to do what you are after. A gas fireplace is "sealed" (the glass fronts are removable for cleaning) due to the carbon monoxide produced. Also, if you have a gas fireplace, you have a gas line running into it, so burning wood in the same space would be bad. Open flame, gas line....well, I am sure you get the idea.

As far as a good insert goes, the Marquis line from Kingsman, based out of Winnipeg are very well made, versatile and affordable inserts. They make one called the Cappella, which has many options as far as logs vs. stones, trim colours and whatnot. Worth checking out.

[Jimmy Stang]

What does an insert usually cost to have installed these days? My folks have a wood fireplace that they always talk about converting... There's a gas line there already because you can turn the gas on to start it.

I have a gas fireplace in my own home, and when combined with a blower fan under the grill, is much warmer and more efficient than wood. The biggest factor with burning wood is that it draws air out of your house via the flue/chimney as it burns, so you really should have a window open a crack to allow that air to get replaced (not that homes are completely air tight anyway, but you get the idea). That, of course, brings in cool air.

[Jordan!]

Fireplace Arm Guy only shows up in December.. he's the only expert I know

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

What does an insert usually cost to have installed these days? My folks have a wood fireplace that they always talk about converting... There's a gas line there already because you can turn the gas on to start it.

Cost my co-worker $5G to get his converted. No idea if that was high or not.

[pylon]

My folks have a house built in the late 70's that does this.

Or perhaps my dad has just been endangering our family during the holidays for the last 30 years by burning wood in his gas only fireplace.