My furnace & hot water heater are vented thru our fireplace chimney. How can we use it as a fireplace again?

Question

The former owners also shortened the chimney and it is filled with ductwork. Having a working fireplace would really help heat the house in the winter. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Have a heating contractor check it out, first of all, sometimes contractors use abandoned chimneys to run return ducts, if this is the case no way can you use it. If they didn't do that, usually there are two flues in the chimney one takes the flue gasses from the utilities the other for the fireplace. If the chimney is clear but was lowered you will get a down-draft which will fill your house with smoke. Your best bet is to call the cheapest of the trades, a chimney sweep, for an inspection and express your concerns, and go with it from there, good luck with it I like a fireplace.

Answer 2

If they put ductwork up the chimney itselt, forget it. Flues will definatley be damaged and the chimney probably doesn't have any draw because it was shortened. An insert might give you problems because of the existing ductwork in the chimney, Maybe consider a pellet stove?

Answer 3

YES=why not put a insert in the fireplace, but use double wide pipe going up through the chimney to 4 feet higher than roof. This way it wont affect anything else and the insert will probley heat you up nicely, safely so you probley wont have use the furnace anymore.

Answer 4

You will have to check your local building codes. In most towns the code requires a seprate chamber for the fireplace flue and a separte chamber for the venting of gas flames.

I have a fireplace in my home. I am not a fan of fireplaces. They are net heat losers. Dirty. Smelly. Require cleaning. Fire hazards with creosote build up.

Consider putting gas burning ceramic logs in the fire place and use glass doors to try to keep out some cold when the gas is not burning.

Answer 5

You'll need to re run the vents up and out the roof or ext. wall and patch-up the hole in the chimney if it's brick if its got a flume you're ok

Answer 6

nicely - i'm no longer likely particular what you will call the residing house, yet i think of what they're finding for is that the residing house needs to 'leak' outdoors air, into the residing house, or furnish some style of makeup air. each and all the home equipment suggested, could get carry of combustion air from the encircling room(s) as unfavorable to being sealed combustion or direct vent, which draw outdoors air.

Answer 7

Call a certified HVAC tech