Heatilator?

[Budlightyear]

Anybody ever repair a fireplace with a Heatilator installed with the four vents in the front of the fire place. The heatilator insert is rusted through and old(1950?) inside my chimney. Is it possible these inserts were asbestos lined for insulation? Any help or ideas welcome. Can I just tear it out, patch the four vents and insert a new insert with a stainless steel pipe up the chimney.

[Plug and teaser]

I've run into this a few times, they were popular for a while but they all rust out sooner or later. Especially when there is no cap on the chimney to keep the rain out.

 

They are hard to get out, you really have to take apart the whole front of the chimney , sometimes it's not even possible. Above the damper there is another section called the smoke chamber, so they are alot taller than they look.

 

We've put wood stove inserts right into the existing opening, they make them that will fit right in.

The ones with glass doors are nice, you can open the doors and use it like a fireplace or close the doors and use it like a wood stove.

[Thom T]

yup we have one in our house and it rotted out so we put a pellet insert in the opening. THomT

[Budlightyear]

Thank you for the answers.