We have a Kozy-Heat fireplace (air tight, outside air kit, etc). It is kind of like a wood stove inside a fireplace opening. It is lined with firebrick and seems to be pretty efficient. Our insurance is paying for the replacement so total cost is less an issue than a quality installation. Can you think of any reasons why we shouldn't replace the existing liner (terra cotta) with the same material? Thanks again for the advice.

So is there any reason why I couldn't install the stove with an ordinary 6" stove pipe, since it will be surrounded by a stainless liner anyway? They're talking almost $2k for the new stainless pipe, and I've already spent more than that on the existing liner. As far as the smoke, a guy at one of the FP stores I visited believes it's the return air on my furnace that's sucking smoke into the house when it kicks on. I can probably test for this by using the FP with the furnace off, but the rest of the house will get might cold, so it's not a permanent solution. I also considered having a mason reduced the size of the fireplace opening, which currently is 35" high and 48" wide, too big for the flue size, and continue to use it as an open FP. But this doesn't address the efficiency issue or provide a backup heat source that a wood stove would provide.

I havn't read all these post but here is my experience. I had all my teeth extracted after the birth of my 3rd son in 1963.They were pulled at a navy base in New Hampshire.After the gums healed i was sent to a dentist in town to have impressions and dentures made.I had never seen that dentist before,nor he me.He asked me to bring a picture of me smiling,he also asked me to try and remember any imperfections in my teeth ,which i did. So he got all that info,took impressions and made me the dentures.I swear they looked exactly like my original teeth.He didn't make them a snow white either as he said no one has them that way.He put in all the little imperfections i told him about etc.To say i was blown away is an understatement. He told me to try and keep them in all night and to put a lifesaver in my mouth when i went to bed the first couple nights til i got used to them,he said if i woke up in the morning and found them on the floor,to just rinse them off and put them back in.Said the trick is to keep them in so you get used to them,i did. I went back one time to get a rough place sanded down.That was the one and only time i had to go back.Those dentures lasted me for over 30 years and probably would have lasted longer had i left the ice,hard candy etc alone,but i didn;t. People always complimented me on my beautiful teeth and asked if they were mine.I always told them yes they were mine and thanked them.I didn't lie,they were mine,i paid for them.LOL Then several years ago i had a new set made,and the new dentist used the old set ,and new impressions.When i got them the top ones were like bugs bunny and had an overbite,so back i went.He only had to redo them once and they were fine. So i say no your DH shouldn't have to go thru all that,time for a new dentist,i'd say. I must also say,no one ever sees me without them.I keep them in all the time,and only take them out while i shower,and as soon as i'm out they are back in. Kathi

I thought you had said you did not like those janitor carts. It would have been the first thing I would have suggested. We use those in restaurants. They are lightweight and hold just about everything. You can whip around a big dining room and clean as you go doing everything in one area at a time rather than running around doing mirrors and then running around to go grab the grease cleaner and then....... Being plastic they are easy to keep clean and don't make any noise or leave marks or damage, if they bang into furniture or walls. You can hang tools and brooms from the notches on the side. As longtime posters here already know, I often suggest going to a restaurant supply house to find useful or oddball items not sold in stores as a solution to a household dilemma. Regarding broom handles leaving marks on your walls, just spray the ends with some clear poly coat and they won't leave paint marks anymore. This solution won't be as bulky as the other options you suggested. You could also coat them with liquid latex but that is much more expensive. Another suggestion to consider; Instead of drilling holes through the broom handles and using a leather shoelace loop to hang them, just drill a hole in the top and screw in a *screw hook*. You can then hang them by using only one hand without fumbling with the shoelace to get it over a nail or hook on the wall or what ever you hang them on. Its the 'little things' like that, that make housework less frustrating. I put screw hooks in all my brooms and dusters and hang them for storeage. You can even get them vinyl coated if you are worried about the screw hooks leaving marks on you walls. Or spray then with clear coat. If you don't like the pointy part of the hook exposed so much take a pliers and squeeze it shut. They also sell ones that are already closed but I don't know what they are called. They look like an *O* on a stick with threaded screw tip. The are harder to find in the stores. http://www.larsonhardware.com/prod/screw-hook-round-ceiling.html Here is a link that might be useful: Example of Screw Hook