I purchased my home in 2007. It's about 50 years old and was built with a masonry fireplace. During my home inspection, it was determined that the original terracotta chimney was in bad shape, so I was reimbursed by the seller to install a stainless steel liner. My fireplace is on one side of the chimney and the forced hot air and water heater (both gas) are on the other side, both venting into the same chimney, or at least were until this work was completed.
The chimney company report says that "The fireplace can be sealed off at the damper area and would be compliant to install a vent free gas burning unit." It also says, "After the work in this estimate is completed it will provide and up to code liner system for the heater, but will eliminate the use of an open wood burning fireplace."
I had the work completed and the liner was installed. My fireplace is still just sitting there, not in use. My question is, can I run a separate liner to my fireplace and use it as wood burning? Prior to the work being completed, the previous owner stated he always used the fireplace (wood burning of course, as that'a what it is). If the report says that the fireplace is sealed off at the damper area, is there any way to reverse this to be able to burn wood again?
The chimney company report says that "The fireplace can be sealed off at the damper area and would be compliant to install a vent free gas burning unit." It also says, "After the work in this estimate is completed it will provide and up to code liner system for the heater, but will eliminate the use of an open wood burning fireplace."
I had the work completed and the liner was installed. My fireplace is still just sitting there, not in use. My question is, can I run a separate liner to my fireplace and use it as wood burning? Prior to the work being completed, the previous owner stated he always used the fireplace (wood burning of course, as that'a what it is). If the report says that the fireplace is sealed off at the damper area, is there any way to reverse this to be able to burn wood again?