RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTubeHas any out there had a gas fireplace installed in an old Victorian or German Village home? My house has a couple boarded up fireplaces, that I believe use to house gas inserts back in the old days. We would love to put them to use since our house gets pretty cold in the winter. The companies I've worked with haven't been much help. They say the fireplace is too small and not deep enough to fit a standard gas insert. I can't imagine I'm the only person who has faced this issue. I was looking if any one who lives in the village or owns a old home has done this and has any creative solutions or a reference to a contractor. Thanks
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Q&A
Victorian Village Gas Fireplace help
[25 posts] [15 contributors]
Topic Rating:
(Total Ratings: )
Rate this topic:
Rate this topic:
-
howatzer
Login to Send PM
Charlie wrote >>
Has any out there had a gas fireplace installed in an old Victorian or German Village home? My house has a couple boarded up fireplaces, that I believe use to house gas inserts back in the old days. We would love to put them to use since our house gets pretty cold in the winter. The companies I've worked with haven't been much help. They say the fireplace is too small and not deep enough to fit a standard gas insert. I can't imagine I'm the only person who has faced this issue. I was looking if any one who lives in the village or owns a old home has done this and has any creative solutions or a reference to a contractor. ThanksWhen our house was renovated (before we bought it) they took out most of the old gas fireplaces, left one as it was to be decorative, and re-did one to be functional. The functional one is much deeper (~12-14 inches) than the old, non-functional one, so my guess is that the old ones don't fit building codes and you'd have to get it re-built.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Motorist
The Trots
Login to Send PM
There is a guy who has done fireplaces for a couple friends of mine down in OTE, I'll see if I can find his name. But if I remember correctly, it's a couple grand minimum to have it done and that's assuming the flue needs no work. But the fireplaces do look amazing when he's done and can be either wood burning or use a gas insert.
If I can find the name and number, I'll PM you.
Posted 2 years ago # -
north4thlikeme
Norf Norf
Login to Send PM
Why were fireplaces closed up in so many old homes anyway? When i lived in an old brick rowhouse mine was like htat too.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Matthew
Hilltop
Login to Send PM
north4thlikeme wrote >>
Why were fireplaces closed up in so many old homes anyway? When i lived in an old brick rowhouse mine was like htat too.I was told by a realtor friend that all of the old gas inserts were ordered capped off in the late 70' and that they literally inspected every one of them in the city. I believe she said they were called "burning angels" because the kids would stand up against them and catch their clothing on fire, which is why they were outlawed.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Charlie
Victorian Village
Login to Send PM
Matthew wrote >>
north4thlikeme wrote >>
Why were fireplaces closed up in so many old homes anyway? When i lived in an old brick rowhouse mine was like htat too.I was told by a realtor friend that all of the old gas inserts were ordered capped off in the late 70' and that they literally inspected every one of them in the city. I believe she said they were called "burning angels" because the kids would stand up against them and catch their clothing on fire, which is why they were outlawed.
That's very interesting. I had wondered that as well. I was unable to find any information on them online.
Posted 2 years ago # -
lisathewaitress
SoHud
Login to Send PM
When we purchased our house, we heard something similar about the chimneys being capped; our inspector told us not to bother getting our fireplace into working condition, because we would pay way more to do that then we would ever get out of it. At any rate! We have a few friends who have put in the ventless electric "fire place," which will fit into your facade. It actually does produce some heat, believe it or not.You can find them at Lowe's.
Posted 2 years ago # -
blammo
in the shadow of the wonder of bread
Login to Send PM
at my old house in victorian village, we had gas logs put in the old fireplace, they just built an insert & hooked up the gas lines. we had some shop up on indianola do it, they're just south of morse. can't remember the name though. regardless, it worked great!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Kirk
Login to Send PM
Get a ventless one as Lisa suggested above. I used to work at Scioto Valley in Hilliard and they sell a lot of those. They're pretty easy to maintain, and they kick out a lot of heat. You should be able to get a pretty nice one for well under a thousand bucks and installed.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Charlie
Victorian Village
Login to Send PM
Kirk wrote >>
Get a ventless one as Lisa suggested above. I used to work at Scioto Valley in Hilliard and they sell a lot of those. They're pretty easy to maintain, and they kick out a lot of heat. You should be able to get a pretty nice one for well under a thousand bucks and installed.I've hesitated going with ventless logs because of some of the dangers I've read about them online.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Kirk
Login to Send PM
I'd say it's probably less dangerous than a regular fire place. I worked in the service department at Scioto Valley and we rarely had service calls to go out and fix them. These are fairly common now and many improvements have been made over the years. I'll say also that I have a friend that lives at the Meridian and has one in his apartment. I would tend to think if the problems with ventless systems are as bad as a google search might make it seem, then those buildings would either A) no longer have those systems or B) have burned to the ground long ago. At any rate good luck in your search :)
Posted 2 years ago # -
lisathewaitress
SoHud
Login to Send PM
Kirk wrote >>
I'd say it's probably less dangerous than a regular fire place. I worked in the service department at Scioto Valley and we rarely had service calls to go out and fix them. These are fairly common now and many improvements have been made over the years. I'll say also that I have a friend that lives at the Meridian and has one in his apartment. I would tend to think if the problems with ventless systems are as bad as a google search might make it seem, then those buildings would either A) no longer have those systems or B) have burned to the ground long ago. At any rate good luck in your search :)I should show this to mr waitress. he won't get one because he thinks we will suffocate. And usually I'm the one doing the pointless fretting.
Posted 2 years ago # -
pez
Login to Send PM
Matthew wrote >>
north4thlikeme wrote >>
Why were fireplaces closed up in so many old homes anyway? When i lived in an old brick rowhouse mine was like htat too.I was told by a realtor friend that all of the old gas inserts were ordered capped off in the late 70' and that they literally inspected every one of them in the city. I believe she said they were called "burning angels" because the kids would stand up against them and catch their clothing on fire, which is why they were outlawed.
I can't find any reference to specific orders to cap or discontinue gas fireplaces in the 70's, but for most people it was probably an economic decision. On the tail end of the 1970's energy crisis, there was a huge shortage of natural gas, related to the shift from Arab oil which was partially embargoed. It got to the point in 1977-78 that schools heated with gas (including the one I went to) were closed for over a month. Columbus schools started to broadcast on TV as a supplement.
The neighborhood where my parents built our house in 1974 was prohibited from having natural gas lines run. Columbia gas actually came through and replaced all of the natural gas coach lights in the adjoining neighborhood with electric lights. Governors, including Rhodes, were asking residential users to set back thermostats to save enough gas to allow industry enough gas to run.
Based on my memories and a brief refresher of the times, I would guess that many of these fireplaces were probably insulated and shut down with the thought that they would never be used again. Safety regulations and costs probably prevent many from being reconnected.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Twixlen
Westgate, Columbus
Login to Send PM
lisathewaitress wrote >>
Kirk wrote >>
I'd say it's probably less dangerous than a regular fire place. I worked in the service department at Scioto Valley and we rarely had service calls to go out and fix them. These are fairly common now and many improvements have been made over the years. I'll say also that I have a friend that lives at the Meridian and has one in his apartment. I would tend to think if the problems with ventless systems are as bad as a google search might make it seem, then those buildings would either A) no longer have those systems or B) have burned to the ground long ago. At any rate good luck in your search :)I should show this to mr waitress. he won't get one because he thinks we will suffocate. And usually I'm the one doing the pointless fretting.
Sidebar to this thread and issue: I installed ventless in an old gas/woodburning fireplace in my house, and had similar concerns about the gas build-up. A couple things that can solve this (and was recommended to me by the guy who inspected my fireplace):
1) A clip on the damper that keeps it open just a wee bit... yup, some of the heat will be lost, but not much at all, and it insures no gas build-up... this clip is also cheap ($3?) and easy to install...
2) Carbon monoxide detector... Anyone with a gas furnace (especially anything more than 15 years old) should have one anyway - but if one is put in room with the fireplace, you'll be set for any malfunctioning off-gassing. Something to keep in mind with carbon monoxide detectors, as opposed to smoke, is that carbon monoxide is heavier than air, so it will sink to the floor - meaning a detector is going to be more effective close to the ground (have mine in an outlet about 12" off the floor)
Posted 1 year ago # -
Tenzo
Chicago Lakeshore
Login to Send PM
If they tell you that they are too small, it may be that you have what was originally a coal burning fireplace. These things are only about 12 inches deep and usually have decorative grates.
For those you need a special gas fireplace insert. They are available, but start at $800.
Carbon monoxide detector... Anyone with a gas furnace (especially anything more than 15 years old) should have one anyway - but if one is put in room with the fireplace, you'll be set for any malfunctioning off-gassing. Something to keep in mind with carbon monoxide detectors, as opposed to smoke, is that carbon monoxide is heavier than air, so it will sink to the floor - meaning a detector is going to be more effective close to the ground (have mine in an outlet about 12" off the floor)
This is great advice and should not be considered optional.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Snarf
Dystopia
Login to Send PM
So I bought this yesterday. I don't know that I'm ready for a permanent fixture and so I'm thinking of putting a ventless gas log set in it. Still working on placement and backdrop (white on white blah) for it.
It would pop off some glass tile or the like and I could tile a panel instead of again making any type of fixture.
I need to get hip on ventless gas log sets, I know nothing.
Posted 1 year ago #
You must log in to post.
Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus.