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Warped, Issues with prefab fireplaces.

By
Home Inspector with NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Warped, Issues with prefab fireplaces.  A fire danger, hidden right in front of you.

 

Chelan Home Inspections





A very common appliance in homes, especially homes built after the 1960’s is the factory built, or prefab fireplace. People love their wood burning appliances and to get that traditional cozy feel they often opt for these prefabricated fireplaces because of cost and ease of installation, but they come with limitations and a hidden danger that most do not think about.  

 



These prefab fireplaces are not your traditional site-built masonry fireplaces that most people think of when they are thinking a wood fireplace. Traditional fireplaces are heavy masonry structures with a lot of mass that can handle a lot of heat energy. They are built on a foundation to carry the weight of that structure.



Traditional Fireplace


Factory-built/prefab fireplaces are lightweight engineered products designed to work as a system with the metal fireplace box and chimney. Typically installed in a framed chase. The manufacturer will specify how the installation is to be performed and what chimney to use.








One of the most common issues I find during a home inspection with factory-built fireplaces is they are damaged from building too large and hot fires in them. These fireplaces can not handle these intense blazes that many people will build in them.



 

This photo the warping is subtle but the wall is warped

 

In this photo the warping is not so subtle

 


Factory-built fireplace are made from solid sheets of metal. Many of the manufacturers will have refractory panels inside. These Panels typically look like bricks and helps prevent the fire’s heat from penetrating and damaging the firebox.





Refractory Panels



The intensity of these overbuilt fires warps or even cracks the metal of the firebox  or cracks the refractory panels in the fireplace. In this condition, the fireplace is a danger for fire and the damaged firebox and/or chimney will need to be replaced prior to use. You should not use a warped or cracked factory fireplace.

From one manufacturer-

“WARNINGS: Over firing the unit may result in overheating and can damage the fireplace or/and result in fire hazards. The maximum firewood load must not exceed 4 medium sized logs (approximately 30 pounds). Open the door to reload only when the wood has been reduced to charcoal, otherwise there is a risk of smoke infiltration into the house.

• This fireplace has been designed to burn with the door closed. When the fireplace

is functional, the door should only be opened when adding more wood.  “



When buying a home or even before the winter heating season a thorough inspection of the condition of your factory built fireplace should be performed.





 


 



“An error doesn't become a mistake until you refuse to correct it.”

Orlando Aloysius Battista

 

 


 










If you find any errors or have additional information that would expand on any code, building standards or manufacturer requirements please let me know.


 

 


 

 

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…  

 

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

 

Instructor- Fundamentals of Home Inspection-  Bellingham Technical College

 

WA Home Inspector Advisory Licensing Board

 

www.ncwhomeinspections.com                                                   509-670-9572



You can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and on my website Blog.

 

If you find any errors or have additional information that would expand on any code, building standards or manufacturer requirements please let me know.





Comments (8)

Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

What a great story your pictures and sketches show. I'll be taking a much closer look at pre-fab fireplaces from now on.

Sep 08, 2016 02:09 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I see damaged pre-fabs all the time.  Cracked or damaged refractory panels, warping (as you show) and utter soot buildup are very common.

Once I saw (vacant house) that the chimney cap was missing.  It had blown off I guess.  From inside, when opening the damper, I could hear a cacophony of bird sounds from the condo of birds living inside the flue above!

Sep 08, 2016 05:31 AM
Fred Hernden, CMI
Superior Home Inspections - Greater Albuquerque Area - Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque area Master Inspector

I see the damaged refactor panels all the time. If any of your clients n are having a hard time finding the panels, I have a contact that sells them.

Sep 09, 2016 12:11 AM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Kevin J. May Thanks for stopping by. It is pretty common to find issues with these prefab fireplaces.

Jay Markanich Yeah, me too. Hope all is well!!!

@Fred Thanks for the info. Is it a seller online. You should send me the info.

 

Sep 09, 2016 04:13 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is important information to share with home owners. I will schedule a November reblog.

Sep 09, 2016 04:51 AM
Fred Hernden, CMI
Superior Home Inspections - Greater Albuquerque Area - Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque area Master Inspector

Don, it is New Energy Dist. in Iowa. 563-875-8891

Sep 10, 2016 12:50 AM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

I find similar proboems here in NH where people love their big fires in the fireplace, just not meant for the pre fab ones

Nov 10, 2016 09:49 PM
Kartik Subramaniam
Adhi Schools, LLC - Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Market Analysis--Educational Content, Adhi Schools

I was just brought here via re-blog. Great information that I'm sure most of us didn't know anything about.

Nov 10, 2016 11:48 PM