Fireplaces, Heating Stoves, Flues and Chimneys - fireplace efficiency question

Would it be possible for a fireplace (direct vent, it sounds like the ventless ones aren't such a great idea) to generate enough heat to adequately warm a 1000 sf open floor plan home better than a forced air system blowing air through underground ductwork that's 50+ years old? Trying to find a way to survive the coming cold winter! Thanks for any advice you might have, folks!
Beer 4U2

Hi again, I heated for many years with wood alone and with an older style stove that required frequent feeding and they do a good job. Modern air tight stoves, pellette or wood, may only require refill once or twice a day. But you need to be sure your chimney is acceptable or I have seen direct vent on the pellettes. I still use the wood as a backup to my furnace and in some cases it can still act as the primary heat source.

Bud

Thanks, Bud! I was actually considering going with a direct-vent gas fireplace. I was able to heat the place fairly well with a 22K BTU kerosene heater while having my windows replaced, and was thinking that the DV fireplace might do equally well, and most likely better than forced air, under my circumstances. It sounds like they're rated well, compared to the pellet models, and of course - no feeding. Just don't want to go to the trouble and expense, only to find that it doesn't provide enough heat.

Direct vent fireplaces would not be an efficient alternative. They are a little pricey and unless you spend a lot of money on one, they aren't very efficient.....only 60% or so. Vent free gas fireplaces can be a very efficient alternative. They are 99% efficient and put out 30-40k BTU, but gas fireplaces are not designed to be your primary heat source.

Why not spend the $ and get your heating system upgraded?

Thanks, logdoc_rob -
The main reason that I'm debating replacing the entire system is twofold: First, I don't know if I'll be staying here long enough to recoup the expense of a complete replacement system. Second, forced air heat isn't a very efficient heating method, even if I do get a new system. I have re-framed and insulated several walls to get some insulation in place, but the house is still very drafty. Third, replacing the entire system is a far bigger job. Does that make sense, or should I just shut up and bite the bullet? ;)

I would invest in a decent vent-free gas fireplace with refractory (concrete) logs. Those logs have less odor issues than ones with ceramic fiber logs.

Yes, it looks like that's the plan, after much deliberation, and your input. One more question for you, if you don't mind. I've got to get about 75 feet of gas pipe from one end of the house to where the fireplace will go. I'm considering doing the bulk of the pipe job myself, and then having the fireplace installers make the final connections. Does that make sense? They want $10/foot to run pipe, on top of the $475 installation charge, which seems a bit much. I'd need to figure out what diameter pipe to use, of course. Any advice would really be appreciated. Thanks again!

You may want to contact your area code for the specifics as to if you are allowed to install your own gas pipe. Some areas allow you to get a homeowner permit and some do not.

Also, you need special tools to cut/thread pipe. You will see why they charge so much once you attemt the job yourself.

Ok, so if you don't think it's a good idea to try and run the pipe myself, is there somebody outside of the fireplace installer who would be qualified but perhaps less pricey? Would you recommended checking with the gas company, for example? I'm sure you're right about it not being the simplest of tasks, and I'd rather have a pro do it.

Around the Virginia area, the gas plumbers ger $600-700 for the first 10 feet and then $10 per foot after that.

If you plan to use black iron pipe, you will need a special pipe cutter made for that type of pipe and a threader. A manual one will cost $100-200 and an electric one starts around $300-700.

I am not a fan of a DIYer running gas pipe. You may get it right, but if you don't, people can die.