Expert: James Ball - 6/18/2011

Question
I want to install a wood stove or gas insert in my existing fireplace.  There is a tree with branches that hover 6-10 feet over the existing chimney cap (built-in wood burning fireplace)and the tree is about 10-15 feet away from the brick chimney itself.  Will the exhaust from either installation be too hot, thus risking a tree/house fire, or is the exhaust on these applications low enough that I have nothing to worry about?  It is my understanding that the new inserts/stoves recycle the exhaust/heat around themselves before release and thus reduce the temperature leaving the flue.  Is one type of stove (gas/wood) better than the other in this respect?  The tree significantly reduces the summer sun and heat on the patio, so I would prefer not to take it down.  (I have not used the fireplace in a number of years for fear of fire.)  Thank you.

Answer
Hello Marc, I do not beilive that tree will effect the use of either type of stove, (no leaves on the tree in winter), as far as which stove is better, that would be up to you, gas requires nothing but flipping a switch, wood you have to load and maintain a temp and regulare cleanings....speak to your local wood stove store. 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.
Hope this helps
James