converting gas fireplace to wood burning

[KmC86]

i got a gas fireplace in my house but its not hooked up and i dont want a gas fireplace, i want to convert it to a wood burning fireplace...? any thoughts/ideas/sugestions? i comfterble with construction projects so the work is not the problem, its the safety and "code" that i dont know much about. btw i live in north carolina

[ianstew]

depending on what kind of gas fireplace it is. if it is just a set of gas logs in a real fireplace, just rip them out and make sure the chimney is good, etc. if it is an insert, you can get a wood burning insert to replace it. of course having a good, safe chimney is of utmost importance. chimney sweeps can inspect and clean for short money, well worth it.

[SuperCrutyPS]

Just something to think about before you get into this.

What is your states policy for no burn days? Out here in CA, I live in a valley and there are days air quality suffers when too many people use their wood burning fireplaces, inserts, even pellet stoves. Then they declare a "No burn day". Maybe you don't have those in NC - If you don't great! Just bringing it up for consideration.

[ianstew]

seriously? what if you heat your home with wood?

[KmC86]

ya i was born and raised in Ca, i know all about the no burn days, just a bunch of hippy B.S. if you ask me, and no we aint got them days in Nc. and my gas fireplace dont have a chimne, seemed kind weird to me but obviosly i need to add one if im gonna burn wood, just dont know the specifics on it, i have a geneal idea, large metal pipe from inside to outside, seem simple but i know the county code will have something to say about it.

[ianstew]

a wood burning stove may be a better option than a fireplace, they are more efficient, easier to install, and some can be had with glass doors that allow you to see the fire. either way without an existing chimney you are looking an insert type or a freestanding wood stove. my vote is a aglass doored freestanding stove.

[mxfever090]

Originally Posted by SuperCrutyPS

Just something to think about before you get into this.

What is your states policy for no burn days? Out here in CA, I live in a valley and there are days air quality suffers when too many people use their wood burning fireplaces, inserts, even pellet stoves. Then they declare a "No burn day". Maybe you don't have those in NC - If you don't great! Just bringing it up for consideration.

WWWWHHHHHHAAAAATTT! I've never heard of such a thing!

This is an interesting thread and good to know that I'm not the only one that has thought about this. We're in the process of buying a house that has a NG insert. I was wondering what all it would take to put in a real wood burning insert. There isn't a chimney, just a vent that comes out the side of the house. Now the fireplace backs up to the garage so a chimeny could be installed or even double walled pipe but I'm not really sure what the costs would be.

In MI you can burn when every you want. In fact my dad has an outside boiler that burns 24/7 even in the summer to heat the hot water in the house.