Replacing gas fireplace with wood?

[04SE]

We have a ~20 year old gas fireplace (nat gas) that is about 20 years past its prime. It is located in a corner of my family room. They basically built a wall at a 45* angle across the corner and built the fireplace into the new wall (it was new construction). The dead space behind the wall is at least 5 feet deep, at the deepest point. I am interested in the following choices:

A) simply removing it entirely (and the false wall) and reclaiming some square footage (getting new roof in spring so I could patch the roof hole and be done with the whole thing

B) replacing it with a wood fireplace

c) replacing it with a wood burning stove type insert

I would like it to be a supplemental heat source. Our current insert looks like 100 disposable lighters and does squat for supplementing the heat. I don't mind spending the $$$ to upgrade but didn't know what my options were and Google hasn't been much help.

 

[Rat407]

I would replace with a current model wood burner. Do you have wood pellet stoves in your area? That is an option as well.

 

[BrianF]

If you replace with wood heat check insurance rates. Up here in Canada, more specifically in Sask your house insurance rates may go up.

 

[spasm3]

There are some wood burning fireplace units that have blowers. Blowing air around the firebox should be more efficient.

 

[bioburner]

Some of the old fireplaces were more for looks and were more heat dumps than heaters. Newer designs can reach effeciency close to 90% now. Wood pellet stove and corn have come a long ways and are easy to install with 3 inch venting. Some now can put out up to 70k btus. Way less fuss than cord wood.

 

[hatt]

I have a wood fireplace that I want a gas insert for. I do live in FL and it was 80 degrees today.

 

[hemitruck]

i wood upgrade to a natural gas free standing stove. they are decorative and poor out the heat.

 

[JBinKC]

Unless you are prepared for plenty of extra work, a learning curve using an EPA stove/insert and a slow relative return on investment given you are using natural gas.

I also think a free standing gas stove in front of the hearth makes the most sense or option A.

If you decide to use firewood as a source if heat make sure you get your wood seasoned enough (down to a 20% moisture content also implying to cut and split your wood 1 or 2 years before the change or you will be thoroughly disappointed with the conversion

 

[JimPghPA]

An installation of any type with a metal chimney might also require proper lightning protection. And proper lightning protection done right means lightning protection for the entire house, which can be expensive.

 

[ecotourist]

The chimney on a gas fireplace may not be suitable for wood burning either. I expect chimney fires would be uncommon (unheard of probably) in the chimneys for gas fireplaces, but all too common in chimneys for a wood-burning fireplace. And a chimney fire is how you burn your house down.

Have you considered installing a better gas fireplace? Even reasonable quality ones throw a lot of heat.

 

[BrocLuno]

I'd reclaim the corner first. Then decide what to put in there... See the room full sized.

You do not describe your decor ... So something like a Swedish fireplace is very efficient and making heat, but may not fit your decor ... A Ben Franklin stove is also very efficient at making heat, again - it's about decor...

Lastly, THE most efficient system has a dedicated outside air source so that you are not using room air to feed the fire. W/o one, you will suck in more cold than you can make heat

 

[FordBroncoVWJeta]

Pellet stoves are the way to go!

 

[ET16]

A wood stove can be great, but it's a lot of work. I have been told that as people age, they convert their wood stoves to gas.

 

[IndyIan]

Personally, I like the free standing woodstove over an inserts. No fan needed and a new stove in a corner can have 4" clearance to regular drywall so no need for any special wall protection. Put some tile down in the corner and put a nice straight chimney up and your set.
I like that a woodstove doesn't need power to run too, so its one less thing to run in a power outage.

 

[WobblyElvis]

I've had both a wood and a gas fireplace for many years. Wood/pellet is a lot of work and it's dirty. If all you have is time, wood makes sense as it's cheaper. Most gas inserts will work reasonably well without electricity. I was in an area of Toronto that had no power for 61/2 days during an ice storm a few years ago. My gas insert allowed me to stay in my home while others left.
I would stay with a gas insert.