# Gas and wood pellet fire boxes retrofitted

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-and-wood-pellet-fire-boxes-retrofitted/941771>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 10, 2021, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-and-wood-pellet-fire-boxes-retrofitted/941771 "2021-05-10T16:30:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-and-wood-pellet-fire-boxes-retrofitted/941771/1 "2021-05-10T16:30:45Z")

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Moving back to an old house.

The home to be has what was advertised as a decorative fireplace with a very pretty mantel, tiling, and ornate cover.

When they said decorative they meant it. Plaster wall behind it. It is an outside wall.

Thoughts about having a gas or wood pellet fire box retrofitted into the wall?

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**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-and-wood-pellet-fire-boxes-retrofitted/941771/2 "2021-05-10T20:54:21Z")

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While the fire box is important, a proper chimney that is up to code is the most important.

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**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-and-wood-pellet-fire-boxes-retrofitted/941771/3 "2021-05-10T21:01:25Z")

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I understood that these retrofitted boxes can be vented directly outside without a chimney.

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**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2021, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-and-wood-pellet-fire-boxes-retrofitted/941771/4 "2021-05-10T21:09:58Z")

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Yes, I believe that you can get some boxes that are only the gas log type (not wood burning) that you can vent through the wall with proper insulation.