Old Heatilator Fireplace Retrofit

[TomSeller]

The existing heatilator tubes are about 4" apart (see picture looking up from inside the firebox). I was thinking of having the center tube you see cut out as well as the damper and enough of the firebox at the top to allow the new SS flue pipe to pass through. Then cap somehow the rest of the opening. Then select a small enough insert to fit inside the existing firebox and duct the crawlspace fresh air to near the combustion air intake

 

[patchnball]

Looks like mine....... yep cut it out and fish new liner thru to the top of insert and attach. Should be able to find an insert to fit. Just make sure you attach flue securely. For what its worth, I put an extension rod on my damper and brought it thru the front of the glass doors. Then use it to close off damper to get more heat.....works. Used it for one winter then abandoned that and went a different direction

 

[dodge man]

Maybe its just me, but it looks like the fireplace as it sits might not be that bad. I'm sure there are better models now but unless you need this as a primary heat source, you could leave it as is.

 

[2458n]

go with a modern insert and you will use less wood. I bring outside air in for combustion and feed it in thru one of the doors front intake. The unit originally drew room air thru the vents on both front doors to support combustion. Over the last 40-50 years someone must have designed a outside air intake type. Have not searched myself.

 

[TomSeller]

Maybe its just me, but it looks like the fireplace as it sits might not be that bad. I'm sure there are better models now but unless you need this as a primary heat source, you could leave it as is.

The house has a heat pump so it needs a better cold weather heat source than the electric strips. It heats well but burns more wood (twice?) than a modern efficient wood stove and I assume the inserts are as efficient.

 

[Deere Dude]

One of my houses has an older Heatilator fireplace that I want to retrofit with a high efficiency insert and a new SS liner up the masonry chimney to the roof. The fireplace is in the center of the house with the two heat pump forced air returns on each side about 15' away. So running the blower with the insert in use makes sense to get the heat distributed through the house. I'd like the masonry mass (large as you can see) to store heat but it seems all the inserts these days only vent to the room. There are two vents into the crawlspace for combustion air, but the inserts that I have seen are not set up to take in outside air and use room air. Any ideas on what you would do?

You can get airtight zero clearance inserts that can hook up to some furnace duct work with a fan system, but I have never done it. I just let it blast warm air into the center of the house and that works quite well. That's where we are most of the time anyway.

The last two fireplaces I installed were designed for exterior combustion air to be drawn from outside via a 4 or 6" flexible aluminum pipe insulated with 1" insulation. The fireplace I have right now I just put one 4" pipe about 12' through an outside wall. It had a hook up where I could have put two 4" tubes on for combustion air.

The fireplace just pulls air from the bottom of the unit and blows it out the top which is common.

Just curious, how in the world are you going to get at all the smoke stack work? Is it all open someplace? I had a bear of a time with mine when it was all open and new.

 

[TomSeller]

.Just curious, how in the world are you going to get at all the smoke stack work? Is it all open someplace? I had a bear of a time with mine when it was all open and new.

I have not taken off the chimney cap to look down and see if the heatilator tubes are directly below the stack or if it is offset. I know they drop flex tubes down from the top.

With as many Heatilators as were installed, I would think there would be quite a market for upgrades.

 

[dodge man]

My fireplace pulls in outside air but the doors aren't airtight. It puts out quite a bit of heat but I bet know matter what they aren't as good as a wood stove. Mines a Vermont Casting brand and I have yet to figure out exactly where the outside air comes into the fireplace at.