Removing zero clearance unit and replacing with gas fireplace

10 years ago

We were initially looking at an insert but after the fireplace people came and looked at our current unit they didn't think an insert would fit in it without significantly modfying the existing unit and they were unwilling to do so. Instead they recommended removing the zc unit all together and installing a fireplace instead of an insert.

The unit they are recommending is the Napoleon gd36. It is 26000 btu unit and they said the larger glass face would let off more radiant heat than the tiny glass of an insert. The downstairs area is 1500 sf and we are mostly concerned with heating the room the fireplace is in which is 26x16 with 10 foot ceilings.

They are proposing to remove the old unit from the rear by popping off the vinyl siding and going in from behind. They will also remove the old vent pipe and cap off the chimney/chase. They will then install the new unit (with blower, remote, and surround to fit opening cleanly) and exhaust it straight out of the back of the chase with a siding standoff (not sure that's the right word) and finally reinstall the insulation/siding. Total cost is 3800

So does this unit sound like it will be good for our needs? Does the price sound reasonable? How about the work they are proposing?

This post was edited by joshuaace on Tue, Feb 11, 14 at 22:17

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Comments (3)

kayakboy
10 years ago
That seems reasonable to me.

The retail on the fireplace with those options is over $2k.

Where in the country are you? How well insulated is the room? Looking at online calculators, 26000 should make that room toasty.

What shape is the chimney in? Is it brick? Does it need to be removed?

Venting out the side is usually cleaner and is what we have in our house. How much clearance is there from where they want to come out the side to the soffit under the roof? is that soffit wood or vinyl? I think i remember that there needs to be 30 inches from vent to soffit.

That's all i can think of off the top of my head.
christopherh
10 years ago
Something sounds fishy. The glass size makes a difference?

With an insert the unit heats up and radiates heat. Would that mean an insert with no viewing window generates no heat at all? Really?

I had an insert installed in my home in northeast PA with a big glass window. (Yes, I know it's really ceramic, not glass) And it did the job very nicely. It heated what we wanted heated, and that was the whole house. It was installed into a Heatilator ZC fireplace. Sure they had to modify the ZC unit, but we had no intention of using it again once the insert was there.

How does the new fireplace work in a power failure?

$3800? Sounds like they're pushing what makes them the money. That's gonna take a long time to pay for itself in fuel savings.
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Paula Wright
8 years ago
I was wondering if you could provide an upate. My husband & I are considering the same conversion and I'm wondering if it's worth it.