Historic Fireplace Upgrades & Changeouts
Older fireplaces, particularly those in historic homes, add a lovely, traditional touch to a room, but they can also pose a danger to the house and the people who live in it.
Horizon Chimney Services of Franklin, MA, would like to share some of the reasons to consider a fireplace upgrade or changeout if you have a historic fireplace.
The trouble with historic fireplaces
Fireplace restoration crews regularly face the challenges common to historic fireplaces. Here are three of them.
Cracked fireplace panels and firebricks
Years of use, lack of proper upkeep, and lower-quality materials are all causes of historic firebox damage and dangerous operating conditions.
When the walls and surfaces of an older fireplace become cracked, split, or deteriorated, flames can easily escape and set fire to the adjacent materials of the home. A damaged firebox is both dangerous and unattractive.
Chimney construction
Chimneys built a hundred or more years ago may not have been constructed with the safeguards we consider the norm today. Two of these safeguards are sizing and clearances.
A chimney is designed to draft smoke and combustion gases from a fireplace. But to do this job efficiently, the flue diameter must be the correct size for the fireplace’s drafting. This isn’t the case with some historic chimneys.
Today, enforced codes regulate the minimum distance required between heating appliance components and surrounding parts of the house. Many older chimneys were built without the meticulous concern we have today for safety clearances.
Chimney liners
Another issue with historic chimneys is that they often have no chimney liner. Decades ago, there were no liner requirements when building a new chimney. Today, there are stringent requirements in every U.S. jurisdiction.
An unlined chimney is vulnerable to intense heat, flames, acids, smoke, and combustion gases, all of which can damage a flue made only of chimney bricks. Chimney liners are built from strong, durable materials like stainless steel, clay tiles, and poured compounds, all of which provide protection in the most extreme conditions.
How a fireplace changeout works
A fireplace repair specialist can do all kinds of historic fireplace restoration work. But for many owners of historic homes, the best option for an old, damaged fireplace is to replace it.
A fireplace changeout will dramatically improve not only safety but also performance. The most common type of changeout involves adding a fireplace insert to the existing firebox.
Inserts can run on either gas or wood, and their closed combustion systems are designed to burn fuel far more efficiently than any open masonry fireplace, historic or otherwise.
Another advantage of a fireplace insert is the reduction of drafts. The closed system prevents the chilly drafts that were part of life in the “old days” with traditional masonry fireplaces.
Beyond the fireplace when doing a changeout
A big part of any fireplace changeout in a historic home is ensuring the safety details and that all the work meets state and local code requirements. This includes:
- An approved chimney liner
- A flue diameter to properly draft the fireplace
- A chimney that’s the right height for the fireplace
- Proper clearances system-wide
Call your Massachusetts fireplace restoration professionals
If you’re considering a fireplace upgrade or changeout at your historic home in Franklin, MA, Horizon Chimney Services is here to help. Our certified fireplace and chimney technicians will do the job right and amaze you with the results.
Reach us by phone or through our contact form.
