We have a Temtex EE36-1 wood burning fireplace with gas starter that was probably installed in the early 1970s. We have had it inspected and cleaned, and used it a few times, but when we tried to turn on the fan to recirculate warm air out the vents, that didn't seem to do much. Which is fine, we just want it more for the appearance.
They ran two large (10-12"?) ducts out an exterior wall, and then another duct to a fan. There are two vents above the fireplace on the wall also, but did not notice a fan connected to those.
The ducts that are visible all run through some cabinets, and we would like to utilize that cabinet space for storage.
Can I remove the two ducts that go from the sides of the fireplace to outside, and also the duct that leads from one side of the fireplace to the fan which blows into the room, and maybe block the openings with rock wool and sheet metal, and then still use the fireplace as a wood burning fireplace with gas starter?
I want to make sure that by doing that, I won't create any kind of back drafts or create any safety or smoke problem. There is a "chimney" but it's just a metal rectangle on the roof with a brick design painted on it. The brick around the fireplace is just decorative veneer.
If anyone has an installation manual for this, can help me understand its operation, whether or not I can modify it as described, or what some easy replacement options would be, I would greatly appreciate it.
![Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/329/329094-86d24698a769e3ded3dde870ec42b871.jpg)
![Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/329/329095-76bc155cff462ac259a2cbc907624a94.jpg)
![Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/329/329096-55d2e2ec73b9855d806ae1e946498e8a.jpg)
![Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/329/329097-ca7e7c0be62d7229a1f7c2ad86e7f8d4.jpg)
![Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/329/329098-3005f8efef1055ba03c7a6128f8a876f.jpg)
![Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/329/329099-39d90cbc19163d673ce637c858d6ad1d.jpg)
![Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/329/329100-e086014164935365927a996cd2616bce.jpg)
![Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/329/329101-cef1486522f1b73ff9ccd2438df5eb0b.jpg)
They ran two large (10-12"?) ducts out an exterior wall, and then another duct to a fan. There are two vents above the fireplace on the wall also, but did not notice a fan connected to those.
The ducts that are visible all run through some cabinets, and we would like to utilize that cabinet space for storage.
Can I remove the two ducts that go from the sides of the fireplace to outside, and also the duct that leads from one side of the fireplace to the fan which blows into the room, and maybe block the openings with rock wool and sheet metal, and then still use the fireplace as a wood burning fireplace with gas starter?
I want to make sure that by doing that, I won't create any kind of back drafts or create any safety or smoke problem. There is a "chimney" but it's just a metal rectangle on the roof with a brick design painted on it. The brick around the fireplace is just decorative veneer.
If anyone has an installation manual for this, can help me understand its operation, whether or not I can modify it as described, or what some easy replacement options would be, I would greatly appreciate it.
![Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/329/329094-86d24698a769e3ded3dde870ec42b871.jpg)
![Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/329/329095-76bc155cff462ac259a2cbc907624a94.jpg)
![Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/329/329096-55d2e2ec73b9855d806ae1e946498e8a.jpg)
![Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/329/329097-ca7e7c0be62d7229a1f7c2ad86e7f8d4.jpg)
![Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/329/329098-3005f8efef1055ba03c7a6128f8a876f.jpg)
![Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/329/329099-39d90cbc19163d673ce637c858d6ad1d.jpg)
![Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/329/329100-e086014164935365927a996cd2616bce.jpg)
![Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace Understanding TemTex EE36-1 Fireplace](https://www.hearth.com/talk/data/attachments/329/329101-cef1486522f1b73ff9ccd2438df5eb0b.jpg)