Told Gas Insert would be too hot in our fireplace

[MadcityJack]

Hi,
I’m new here and would really appreciate your insights. My wife and I are now seniors and we are tired of managing our wood fireplace (hauling wood inside, keeping the wood area clean, removing ashes/debris, vacuuming, etc.). And, the particulate from wood burning is getting harder to deal with even with room air filters. Yet, we love the warmth and ambience of a fire. We are thinking of gas.

More details: We have a large, wood burning, field stone fireplace with a relative large box (40“ front, horizontal, x 36” rear, horizontal, with 22” depth) for the very small room it is in (under 225 sf, height about 7’6”). We didn’t build the house, but love the neighborhood. The small room opens up to a hallway and 8 steps leading upstairs to a great room. This opening is about 7’ across.

We wanted to install a vented gas insert, but the estimator who visited our home said with a 30” burner it would heat the room to an uncomfortable 80-85 degrees, even if set at the lowest flame, 50%. So, he recommended using gas logs but I don’t like the idea of having a permanent opening on the flue from an energy perspective; I do recognize it is critically important to vent carbon monoxide. We have an efficient, whole house furnace, so warmth is not our primary concern. Rather, we want ease and ambience—truly a first world problem.

So, two questions: 1) Are you aware of a 30” vented, sealed insert model that throws out less heat? Something that would create ambiance. Would a fan help with adequately moving heat from the room? 2) Alternatively, What strategies might be used with gas logs to minimize heat loss thru the flue? A pilot free burner coupled with a glass door?

Thank you for any comments bearing on a solution,

MadCityJack

 

[Lennox65]

Hi,
I’m new here and would really appreciate your insights. My wife and I are now seniors and we are tired of managing our wood fireplace (hauling wood inside, keeping the wood area clean, removing ashes/debris, vacuuming, etc.). And, the particulate from wood burning is getting harder to deal with even with room air filters. Yet, we love the warmth and ambience of a fire. We are thinking of gas.

More details: We have a large, wood burning, field stone fireplace with a relative large box (40“ front, horizontal, x 36” rear, horizontal, with 22” depth) for the very small room it is in (under 225 sf, height about 7’6”). We didn’t build the house, but love the neighborhood. The small room opens up to a hallway and 8 steps leading upstairs to a great room. This opening is about 7’ across.

We wanted to install a vented gas insert, but the estimator who visited our home said with a 30” burner it would heat the room to an uncomfortable 80-85 degrees, even if set at the lowest flame, 50%. So, he recommended using gas logs but I don’t like the idea of having a permanent opening on the flue from an energy perspective; I do recognize it is critically important to vent carbon monoxide. We have an efficient, whole house furnace, so warmth is not our primary concern. Rather, we want ease and ambience—truly a first world problem.

So, two questions: 1) Are you aware of a 30” vented, sealed insert model that throws out less heat? Something that would create ambiance. Would a fan help with adequately moving heat from the room? 2) Alternatively, What strategies might be used with gas logs to minimize heat loss thru the flue? A pilot free burner coupled with a glass door?

Thank you for any comments bearing on a solution,

MadCityJack

View attachment 298812 View attachment 298813

HeatnGlo has three or four options for 30" gas inserts and they are all around 20,000 BTU's on the low end. There is also a 25" model.
I don't think that this would be too much heat for that space. A blower on the unit would help move the heat and you could always use a floor fan to move more of the heated air towards the doorway opening.
Gas log sets are always an option but the inefficiency of the open flue, and attendant heat loss is a big consideration.

 

[MadcityJack]

HeatnGlo has three or four options for 30" gas inserts and they are all around 20,000 BTU's on the low end. There is also a 25" model.
I don't think that this would be too much heat for that space. A blower on the unit would help move the heat and you could always use a floor fan to move more of the heated air towards the doorway opening.
Gas log sets are always an option but the inefficiency of the open flue, and attendant heat loss is a big consideration.

Thank you for your suggestions! I will explore HeatnGlo options. The estimator that told me his gas insert would be too hot was considering a 30” enviro and recommended a Realfyre gas log set (G45 burner). They wanted $1000.00 for the gas burner install, which almost seems a 2 h DIY job!

 

[swinkelb]

Thank you for your suggestions! I will explore HeatnGlo options. The estimator that told me his gas insert would be too hot was considering a 30” enviro and recommended a Realfyre gas log set (G45 burner). They wanted $1000.00 for the gas burner install, which almost seems a 2 h DIY job!

I'm curious, what did you decide to do and how did it turn out? I have a similar fireplace in a cabin we purchased 4 years ago. We inherited a converted wood-to-gas setup with a Blaze King 8003 insert installed and have an issue with the unit not shutting off, even when thermostat is turned off. On top of that, the installation was rather janky and there are gaps on the sides that they stuffed with insulation. Looks terrible.

 

[Lennox65]

I'm curious, what did you decide to do and how did it turn out? I have a similar fireplace in a cabin we purchased 4 years ago. We inherited a converted wood-to-gas setup with a Blaze King 8003 insert installed and have an issue with the unit not shutting off, even when thermostat is turned off. On top of that, the installation was rather janky and there are gaps on the sides that they stuffed with insulation. Looks terrible.

You will not find anything "off the shelf" that will look much better than what you have there.
The problem is the uneven stone surface and deep recess(on that note, I would be surprised if that much of a recess is allowed, you would have to check the install manual to be sure).
Almost all of the stock surrounds(the larger metal piece that attaches to the insert to close up the larger firebox opening) are just flat metal and are designed to sit tightly against a flat plane (like brick).

 

[swinkelb]

Lennox65 - thank you for your reply.

Not sure if this is the right thread to ask, but I'm also wondering - does anyone has a suggestion for how to clean the black soot off the front-facing hearth over the insert?

 

[Lennox65]

Lennox65 - thank you for your reply.

Not sure if this is the right thread to ask, but I'm also wondering - does anyone has a suggestion for how to clean the black soot off the front-facing hearth over the insert?

I don't have any personal experience with cleaning soot. Try Google or a local hearth shop may be able to help you find a product.