{"id":7785,"date":"2020-08-03T18:31:59","date_gmt":"2020-08-03T18:31:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/?p=7785"},"modified":"2024-05-31T11:49:03","modified_gmt":"2024-05-31T11:49:03","slug":"finding-a-gas-fireplace-for-our-mantel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/finding-a-gas-fireplace-for-our-mantel\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding a Gas Fireplace for Our Mantel"},"content":{"rendered":"

We found an antique wood mantel on Facebook Marketplace while we were building our house.
\n(It is mantel, el<\/strong>. A mantle<\/strong> is clothes. Spellcheck doesn\u2019t catch this one.)<\/p>\n

We knew we wanted a gas fireplace to go with it, but which one?<\/p>\n

There were so many other decisions to make building a new house; we decided this was one we could put off. We had the gas piped under the house to about where the fireplaces would be.<\/p>\n

There are a lot of different options.<\/p>\n

\"Arts
Arts & Crafts Movement Neo Gothic Mantel we found on Facebook Marketplace<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The antique mantel has unusual dimensions. The opening for the fire is only 27\u201d wide, but it is almost 37\u201d high. That\u2019s pretty limiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nWide<\/td>\nHigh<\/td>\nDeep<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mantel between Feet<\/td>\n31\u2033<\/td>\n40\u2033<\/td>\n20\u2033<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mantel at Wall<\/td>\n27\u2033<\/td>\n36.75\u2033<\/td>\n13\u2033<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

I thought of a less expensive way to put a fire into the mantel.<\/p>\n

\"Pleasant
Pleasant Hearth Fireplaces<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Converting a Gas Fireplace to fit our Mantel<\/h2>\n

We could buy a less expensive gas fireplace, take it out of the mantel it comes with and put it in our mantel. Doesn\u2019t that sound like a good idea? And these fireplaces really don\u2019t cost all that much.<\/p>\n

How do you compare fireplaces to find the best deal? All of these are 99% efficient.<\/p>\n

Comparing BTUs<\/h2>\n

Heat is measured in BTUs. BTU stands for British Thermal Unit. The more BTUs, the larger the space a heater can heat. Of course, this changes depending on how cold it is outside, how well insulated your house is and where your stove is located.<\/p>\n

Vent-free Hearth Fireplaces<\/h2>\n

These measurements are for the part with the fire in it, since I want to take it out of the mantel it comes with and fit it into our mantel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Pleasant Hearth Fireplaces <\/strong><\/td>\nWide<\/strong><\/td>\nHigh<\/strong><\/td>\nDeep<\/strong><\/td>\nSpace<\/strong><\/td>\nBTU<\/strong><\/td>\nPrice<\/strong><\/td>\n$\/Ft<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VFF2-PH20DB<\/td>\n22.80<\/td>\n24.19<\/td>\n11.08<\/td>\n700<\/td>\n20,000<\/td>\n$549.00<\/td>\n$0.78<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VFF-PH20LP-2T2<\/td>\n22.80<\/td>\n21.40<\/td>\n13.10<\/td>\n700<\/td>\n20,000<\/td>\n$583.12<\/td>\n$0.83<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VFF-PH20NG<\/td>\n22.80<\/td>\n21.40<\/td>\n13.10<\/td>\n700<\/td>\n20,000<\/td>\n$583.12<\/td>\n$0.83<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VFF-PH20NG-C1<\/td>\n22.80<\/td>\n21.40<\/td>\n13.10<\/td>\n700<\/td>\n20,000<\/td>\n$583.12<\/td>\n$0.83<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VFF-PH20NG-2T1<\/td>\n22.80<\/td>\n21.40<\/td>\n13.10<\/td>\n700<\/td>\n20,000<\/td>\n$584.98<\/td>\n$0.84<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VFF-PH20NG-2T1<\/td>\n22.80<\/td>\n21.40<\/td>\n13.10<\/td>\n700<\/td>\n20,000<\/td>\n$584.98<\/td>\n$0.84<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VFF-PH26NG-2H1<\/td>\n28.80<\/td>\n25.30<\/td>\n14.60<\/td>\n1000<\/td>\n27,500<\/td>\n$686.83<\/td>\n$0.69<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VFF-PH20NG-C1<\/td>\n28.80<\/td>\n25.30<\/td>\n14.60<\/td>\n1000<\/td>\n27,500<\/td>\n$687.01<\/td>\n$0.69<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VFF-PH32NG-H1<\/td>\n32.80<\/td>\n29.40<\/td>\n16.10<\/td>\n1100<\/td>\n32,000<\/td>\n$811.69<\/td>\n$0.74<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
VFF-PH32NG-H1<\/td>\n32.80<\/td>\n29.40<\/td>\n16.10<\/td>\n1100<\/td>\n32,000<\/td>\n$824.62<\/td>\n$0.75<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Google says \u201cTo find the BTUs per square foot that you need to heat a room, simply multiply the square footage by 20 BTUs per square foot.\u201d With that calculation these fireplaces will heat 1000, 1375 or 1600 square feet,<\/p>\n

The numbers on this chart are from Home Depot and Lowe\u2019s websites. They say the fireplaces heat a smaller space. Even with these lower numbers, a hearth type ventless fireplace costs as little as 69 cents per square foot of heated space.<\/p>\n

\"

Pleasant Hearth 20,000 BTU Compact Convertible Ventless Natural Gas Fireplace in Cherry VFF-PH20NG-C1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Do you notice something about all of these?
\nThe fire is in the very front of the mantel. And heat goes up. If we put this into our mantel, we will have to box in the wall to fit the fire into it or something. And the heat would go straight up into our mantel, which sounds like a fire waiting to happen.<\/p>\n

This is not going to work.<\/p>\n

\"Buck
Mockup of Buck Stove Model Premier 33 built into the wall with our mantel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So what is made to go with a mantel? I\u2019ve seen it. People have a gas fire right in the wall, with a mantel above it.<\/p>\n

Gas Insert:<\/strong> A gas insert goes inside of an existing fireplace to turn it into a gas fireplace.<\/p>\n

\"Instructions
Instructions from Buck Stove to build alcove to build the gas fireplace into the wall.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Built-in Gas Fireplace:<\/strong> A built-in gas fireplace looks pretty much like a gas insert into an existing fireplace, but you don\u2019t have to start with a fireplace. The fireplace is boxed in or built into the wall.<\/p>\n

\"Buck
Buck Zero Clearance Gas Fireplace with a mantel built around it<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Zero Clearance Fireplace:<\/strong> Zero Clearance fireplaces are built in gas fireplaces that need zero clearance between the firebox and the wall.<\/p>\n

Built-in fireplaces are put right into the wall, then a frame or something is built around it. My son and daughter-in-law had a fireplace in the living room that was boxed in through the wall. The back of the fireplace went through into their laundry room. Behind our living room wall is the hallway. We can\u2019t fill the hall up with the back of the fireplace, so it will have to go in front.<\/p>\n

Living Room Fireplace Location<\/h2>\n

There is a problem. This would make the sofa even closer to the fireplace.<\/p>\n

They built the kitchen island the size of a small continent. It is 24\u201d wider than it was supposed to be. It was only supposed to have a bar in the center, but the bar wraps the whole side. So add people sitting on bar stools to the measurements. I hadn\u2019t really considered this when I didn\u2019t make them tear it down and re-frame it. Now that we are in here though, the sofa has to be pushed 2-feet into the living room area to allow a walkway. Two feet makes a bigger difference than you would think.<\/p>\n

We went round and round over where we planned to put the fireplace in the new house. With the open floor plan, there are three logical locations. In the center of the living room wall, in the center of the dining room wall, or in the center of the whole room on the outside wall, between the living room area and the dining\/kitchen area.<\/p>\n

\"I
I moved the china and crystal into the new cabinet.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We decided to keep the china cabinet on the dining room wall and put the Mora clock on the outside wall with the fireplace centering the living room.<\/p>\n

\"Our
Our Mora Clock in Our New House<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But there is no reason we can\u2019t change our minds. We could put the fireplace on the center wall.
\nWithout the fireplace centering the living room, we can move the sofa and give more walk space. The bar only sticks out that far on one side.<\/p>\n

\"Measurements
Measurements chalked out on the floor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And there is another advantage. With the fireplace on an outside wall, we can put in a vented fireplace more easily.<\/p>\n

Vented or Non-Vented Built-in Gas Fireplaces ><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We found an antique wood mantel on Facebook Marketplace while we were building our house. (It is mantel, el. A mantle is clothes. Spellcheck doesn\u2019t catch this one.) We knew we wanted a gas fireplace to go with it, but which one? There were so …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7793,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[31,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7785","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-new-house","category-research"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-fireplace.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4052,"url":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/running-the-gas-lines\/","url_meta":{"origin":7785,"position":0},"title":"Running the Gas Lines","author":"Carla","date":"August 13, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"They installed the gas lines while we were at the beach. We are having a gas hot water heater. We want gas fireplaces in the living room and master bedroom. We haven\u2019t chosen what we want, so we had the gas stubbed out so that when we find what we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Our New House"","block_context":{"text":"Our New House","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/category\/new-house\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Running the Gas Lines \u2013 Project Small House","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/featured_image-gas_line.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/featured_image-gas_line.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/featured_image-gas_line.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/featured_image-gas_line.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7882,"url":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/mantel-and-trim-clearance\/","url_meta":{"origin":7785,"position":1},"title":"Mantel and Trim Clearance","author":"Carla","date":"August 5, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"We want a gas stove that will actually provide practical heat. We want to use our antique mantel. And we don't want our house to burn down. The stove cannot be pushed in close under our mantel. Minimum Clearances from the Stove to Combustibles This is what it gives at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Our New House"","block_context":{"text":"Our New House","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/category\/new-house\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Mantel and Trim Clearance","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-mantel-stove_dimension.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-mantel-stove_dimension.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-mantel-stove_dimension.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-mantel-stove_dimension.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7916,"url":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/fireplace-hood-canopy-or-heat-deflector\/","url_meta":{"origin":7785,"position":2},"title":"Fireplace Hood, Canopy or Heat Deflector","author":"Carla","date":"August 6, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"I've been looking at photos of the fireplaces in historic houses. I was trying to decide what will look best, or at least not stupid when I try to use an antique fireplace mantel with a new efficient gas heating stove. The idea is by no means new. There are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Our New House"","block_context":{"text":"Our New House","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/category\/new-house\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-fireplace_hood.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-fireplace_hood.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-fireplace_hood.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-fireplace_hood.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8475,"url":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2020\/10\/adding-a-heat-shield-to-the-antique-mantel\/","url_meta":{"origin":7785,"position":3},"title":"Adding a Heat Shield to the Antique Mantel","author":"Carla","date":"October 5, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"We added a mantel shield to our antique mantel so that we won\u2019t burn the house down. It had been suggested that if you have a blower, it won\u2019t get hot enough to catch fire. That is so not true. We tried the fire for just a few minutes and,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Our New House"","block_context":{"text":"Our New House","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/category\/new-house\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adding a Heat Shield to the Antique Mantel","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/featured_image-heat_shield.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/featured_image-heat_shield.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/featured_image-heat_shield.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/featured_image-heat_shield.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7796,"url":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/vented-or-non-vented-built-in-gas-fireplaces\/","url_meta":{"origin":7785,"position":4},"title":"Vented or Non-Vented Built-in Gas Fireplaces","author":"Carla","date":"August 4, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"We bought an antique mantel to put into our new house. We want to make the best choice for a gas fireplace to go in it. Vented or Non-Vented At first it seems like a non-vented fireplace might be better. They say they have up to 99.9% efficiency. Vented gas\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Log Cabins"","block_context":{"text":"Log Cabins","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/category\/log-cabin\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-vented-or-non-vented-built-in-gas-fireplaces.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-vented-or-non-vented-built-in-gas-fireplaces.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-vented-or-non-vented-built-in-gas-fireplaces.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/featured-vented-or-non-vented-built-in-gas-fireplaces.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8437,"url":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2020\/10\/adding-the-blower-to-the-jotul-gas-fireplace\/","url_meta":{"origin":7785,"position":5},"title":"Adding the Blower to the Jotul Gas Fireplace","author":"Carla","date":"October 5, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"I thought we had ordered the fireplace with a blower, but I had not. So, I called Etowah Fireplace and had them ship it directly to us. Cliff was pretty confident he could add it himself. If not, we can always call for help. No help was needed. 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