Fireplaces, Heating Stoves, Flues and Chimneys - Chimney Conversions

I've just purchased and moved into a 203 year old home that has 2 double flu chimneys in it. The stone chimney is original (1800) and the brick chimney is circa 1890. The flus are not lined and I think we want to just cap them off and go with vent-less LP logs. Is just a steel flashing type material good enough to cap them; and what kind of closing off/insulation would I use down at the fireplace level? Thanks in advance, Mike

RedLevelMike,

I would have someone inspect these first before capping them. You may want to look at this article first on different types before doing anything.

http://www.firelogs.com/FAQ.htm#Gas%20Logs%20-%20Vent%20Free

This is an article that I assembled concerning Vent Free units, decide for yourself if this is a viable option,

Pros:

Less involved installation
Potential to be installed in many places, BUT must follow room sizing requirements (typical unvented fireplace requires 96' x 20' room)
Very efficient in burning of gas, but uses heated room air for combustion

Cons:

Air quality issues/health concerns
Typical sizing guidelines for an average fireplace size (30,000 BTU's) require a 96' x 20' room size - or 1,920 sq. ft. to safely accommodate unvented products
Illegal in many states and municipalities
A typical (unvented) natural gas stove or fireplace releases a gallon of water vapor every 2 to 3 hours of operation - potentially causing mildew issues*
May require more service to ensure dust, pet hair, and other chemicals are not interfering with the unit
For safety reasons cannot be run for extended periods of time - Maximum Use- 4 to 5 Hours per day.
Requires permanent fixed opening to the outside for proper room ventilation

http://www.majesticproducts.com/product_frm.html

Hope this helps!