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Chimney & Fireplaces/wood insert into a furnace?

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Expert: - 10/4/2008


Question
I have a brick fireplace and have thought of installing an insert. I was wondering if there was a way to feed it into my forced air furnace. I have looked at many inserts but haven't found any that look like they would work. Some are rated at 100,000 BTU's which I believe would heat my 2400 sq. ft. 2 story house. The fireplace is no more than 10 ft. from the furnace (I would have to find a way to feed it into the basement). I realize that they make wood furnaces that are compatible with existing furnaces but an insert would allow me to use my fireplace and minimize my labor as far as staging the wood. What do you think?

Answer
Ben,

You could consider an intake fan that simply pulls the heat from the room both units would be in, into the furnace system? No there is no insert that comes to mind to perform this as you described. I burn a wood insert and simply operate the fan to my furnace, which the return air vent is just out the doorway to the living room in the ceiling. Just some thoughts, good luck.

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Volunteer

Randy Brooks

Expertise

Inspection of Masonry, Pre-cast Tilt-up, and Factory Built Fireplaces as well as Free Standing & Insert, Gas, and Wood Appliances. We also provide Hearth Fire Loss Investigations, Litigation Support, Consulting Services, Flue Sweeping, Installation and Repair. Additionally, I’ve been a chimney sweep for 23 years, service and install hearth appliances as well as being recognized by the Superior Court of California as an expert witness.

Experience

Brooks Chimney Sweeping Since 1989 Ojai, CA Owner / President www.brooks-hearth.com

Organizations
NCSG, MEMBER,(National Chimney Sweep Guild), Member since 1990, Board of Directors representing Region 6, (CA, NV, AZ, UT, OR, WA, ID, WY, MT, AK and HI,) 2004-2011, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011. CSIA, BOD (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Board of Directors, ethics committee chair, 2004-2005, executive committee member, Secretary, 2005-2006, Vice President, 2006-2008, President, 2008-2011. HPBA, MEMBER, (Hearth, Patio, & BBQ Association,) since 2002. NFPA Member, (National Fire Protection Association) Since 2009. Technical Committee member for the 211 Standard.

Education/Credentials
California State Licensed Contractor, C61-D34, #750710. http://www2.cslb.ca.gov C.S.I.A., (Chimney Safety Institute of America,) Certified Chimney Sweep, #2580. Held since 1990 re-certified in ‘93, ‘96, ‘99, ‘02, ‘05, '08,'11. http://www.csia.org F.I.R.E. (Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Certified Inspector, #FP-006. Held since 2000, re-certified in ’03, ‘06. http://www.f-i-r-e-service.com Fireplace Investigation, Research & Education Service,) Advance Expert Consulting & Witness, certificate, ’05 N.F.I. (National Fireplace Institute,) Certified Gas & Wood-Burning Specialist, #133851. Held since 2002, re-certified in '05,‘08. http://nficertified.org

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