Expert: James Ball - 11/28/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hello!  I sure hope you can help answer some of our questions!  We bought this house recently that was built in 1991.  There is a chase on the north exterior wall that butts out of the main house envelope.  For some reason one of the owners took the fireplace out and installed an electric fireplace.  I can tell it once had one because the stone hearth? has some black smokey stains underneath.  Also there is still an 11 inch single lumen metal pipe extending up to the top of the chase.  Our big question is when we pull the electric fireplace out there is just sheetrock behind there.  

We have had many different companies come out for bids of a woodburning fireplace/stove.  But we can't get a straight answer about if we can buy anything and just slide it in or because it is not a "masonary" or existing fireplace in it now...what are our options?  I also understand the single lumen pipe is probably not code anymore and it may be possible to slide a smaller pipe up the existing one??   Some have talked about a zero clearance fireplace or insert??  We are just confused and feel like they are saying it is impossible to put something in there because it is not a brick or clay existing chimney....what is a firebox?  Can you help us understand what we are up against?  Thank you so much for your time!  Brian

ANSWER: Hello Brian, not sure what you have but to start with I would have a local Certified Chimney Sweep www.csia.org, (there you can look up by zip code to find one near you) take a first hand look at what you have they should be able to help and let you know what you can and can't do. If you have an out side chase and there is room for an "all fuel" chimney pipe then you could do a wood stove, pre fab fireplace. and just remove and replace that old pipe with one for the new set up.
check with your local building department also.
Hope this helps
James


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: We are looking to purchase a Temco TLC36-3 woodburning fireplace from a reseller.  I understand they went out of business and was told we can get parts from Monesse!n Hearth Systems.  Do you know anything about Temco products?  Thanks for your time

Answer
Welcome back Brian, unless you can get every thing you need why would you get the Tempco? spare parts down the road will not be found (I am surprised you found some place to get them).
If you are installing a Pre Fab fireplace and system then find a system that is in production not out of business.
stop by your local wood stove store and see what they  have and have them install it (they service what they sell but  if you buy it from some where else they will not service it even if it is under warranty and may tell you 'sure I'll fix it just bring it buy the whole chimney by the shop"
Cheap to day may cost you twice as much tomorrow.
James