Prefabricated Fireplace with “normal” chimney

[Murphy22]

Anyone know of brands from the 1980s that used a normal chimney with terracotta flue? Definitely have a sheet metal firebox but there is concrete block surrounding a terracotta chimney going up through the attic. It’s a 12”x12” square flue and the fireplace burns wood as fast as you can feed it. The brick inside has vents and a mantle. I had the impression that most prefabricated fireplaces used a prefabricated chimney too. Probably will demolish this spring and make it so a freestanding woodstove can use the flue with a liner as needed.

 

[begreen]

It sounds like this may be a heatform style fireplace, sometimes called a heatilator. This is different from a prefab, zero-clearance fireplace. If the goal is to improve efficiency and heating, an insert can be installed in it. It does not need to be demolished unless that's desired. Be careful because that chimney needs a support structure beneath it.

There are several threads on heatform fireplace conversions. Post a picture or two for better guidance.

 

[Murphy22]

It sounds like this may be a heatform style fireplace, sometimes called a heatilator. This is different from a prefab, zero-clearance fireplace. If the goal is to improve efficiency and heating, an insert can be installed in it. It does not need to be demolished unless that's desired. Be careful because that chimney needs a support structure beneath it.

There are several threads on heatform fireplace conversions. Post a picture or two for better guidance.

I looked around and saw the Heatilator posts but I thought they used a prefab chimney.

Somewhere in there is the flue for the gas water heater and boiler for the baseboard heat.

 

[begreen]

It gets confusing because Heatilator continued on and now makes ZC fireplaces. These are not the same deal. Search on heatform instead.

The fireplace can not share its flue with other devices. Hopefully the wh and boiler have separate flues in the chimney chase.

 

[Murphy22]

It gets confusing because Heatilator continued on and now makes ZC fireplaces. These are not the same deal. Search on heatform instead.

The fireplace can not share its flue with other devices. Hopefully the wh and boiler have separate flues in the chimney chase.

There are separate flues for each. I will check out heatform, thanks for the help.

 

[begreen]

Todd, didn't you cross this bridge way back when?

 

[Todd]

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/started-woodstock-keystone-install-pics.51259/

Yeah I had an old Superior heatform fireplace in my previous home, tore it out and had a mason do some work so I could install a stove. It worked out very well.

 

[Todd]

As I recall the chimney was clay lined 12x12” with concrete block outside of it. I ran a 6” liner down through it and insulated it with perlite.

 

[begreen]

As I recall the chimney was clay lined 12x12” with concrete block outside of it. I ran a 6” liner down through it and insulated it with perlite.

What was done to maintain support of the chimney with the heatform removed?

 

[Todd]

What was done to maintain support of the chimney with the heatform removed?

I don’t think the heatform was really supporting the chimney? It went straight down to the basement where there was a clean out. I know the mason did move the lintel and beefed the whole thing up. This was an outside chimney too so maybe it was all supported outside?

 

[Murphy22]

Thanks for all the input. I definitely have enough to figure it out from here I think.

 

[bholler]

Thanks for all the input. I definitely have enough to figure it out from here I think.

An insert is a much much easier option. Changing the opening size is to accommodate a freestanding stove is certainly possible but not easy.