BajaNomad - Fireplace - yes or no?

Fireplace - yes or no?

baja_turtle - 2-22-2009 at 08:28 PM

Hi there! New to the forum, but really enjoying all the knowledgeable info & laughs!

Building our house & wondering about fireplaces...those who have them, do you use them? Those who don't have them, do you wish you did?

Thanks!

Gaucho - 2-22-2009 at 08:31 PM

Where are you building?

Diver - 2-22-2009 at 08:35 PM

They would be a great idea for cold nights but where will you get the wood ?

bajaguy - 2-22-2009 at 08:39 PM

Propane stove or propane gas firelog set

Packoderm - 2-22-2009 at 08:48 PM

They sell nice logs in the Mulege area for about 35 cents apiece. Three of those per night would be nice to set the mood, and that would be an affordable 30 dollars per month.

Fireplace

roundtuit - 2-22-2009 at 09:07 PM

Wife loves ours. Use it on cool nites. Neighbors hint to come over
:tumble:

CortezBlue - 2-22-2009 at 09:08 PM

I am in San Felipe and just got mine installed during the week of Christmas. I have a sealed direct vent LP zero clearance. We have a very large family/dining/kitchen great room, and it does a great job of heating it. Just make sure if you do a direct vent that you measure 3 times and cut once. It is very specific about where to put the hole in the wall and how long the exhaust vent should be.

Paula - 2-22-2009 at 10:11 PM

I do wish we had one here in Loreto. We would use it maybe 10 or 20 or 30 evenings a year.

Firewood is available for sale at a number of houses around town. I'm sure it wouldn't cost very much.

BajaWarrior - 2-22-2009 at 10:15 PM

Yes!

If we hadn't put this stove in our livingroom AND the identical one in our bedroom at our Beach House we'd be sitting around shivering for a few months each year...

You don't need that much wood for a single season.

r.stove.JPG - 32kB

Paulina - 2-22-2009 at 10:38 PM

We have one in our main house and one in the guest house, and use them year round quite often.

edit to resize photo

[Edited on 23-2-2009 by Paulina]

Bajahowodd - 2-22-2009 at 11:43 PM

Beautiful fireplaces, Paulina.

Marie-Rose - 2-23-2009 at 08:25 AM

Not sure where you are, but do know that here in TS firewood is a problem.

We will use the propane fire logs if we ever do our firepit.

shari - 2-23-2009 at 08:30 AM

2 things I would LOVE to have...first a bathtub and then a good old woodstove. Mesquite is plentiful, long burning and would just take the edge of some of those cool evenings and mornings...get one!

Cypress - 2-23-2009 at 08:51 AM

Woodstoves!!! :bounce:

BajaGringo - 2-23-2009 at 09:11 AM

Woodstoves are great and in many parts of Baja there is enough wood available to keep a fire going through winter. The nice thing about wood stoves is that you can control the air flow which can keep them burning slower and longer...

LB - 2-23-2009 at 09:14 AM

We have a kiva fireplace in our media room, use it in January and Feb
when chilly. It has propane logs, put can burn wood. I'd say YES! And
a jacuzzi... missed a tub, so we added one.

dianaji - 2-23-2009 at 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
2 things I would LOVE to have...first a bathtub and then a good old woodstove. Mesquite is plentiful, long burning and would just take the edge of some of those cool evenings and mornings...get one!

yes, would love one also...or a kiva fireplace... where could one be found? which would be most efficient, economical?

would love feedback/advice.

diana

DanO - 2-23-2009 at 04:01 PM

Cold nights in the north in winter for those of us without the luxury of grid-based electricity or unlimited propane. We would have frozen our burros off over preznit's weekend without the fireplace in the living room and wood stove in the master bedroom. I try to conserve wood by burning only at night, but there's plenty to be found.

baja_turtle - 2-23-2009 at 04:16 PM

thanks so much all, for the info !

We're in BCS & still deciding - haven't been here in the colder months so not sure if we'd use it..

Woooosh - 2-23-2009 at 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Beautiful fireplaces, Paulina.

very beautiful indeeed.

Woooosh - 2-23-2009 at 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LB
We have a kiva fireplace in our media room, use it in January and Feb
when chilly. It has propane logs, put can burn wood. I'd say YES! And
a jacuzzi... missed a tub, so we added one.

I agree. We miss our hot tub too. Seems propane is way cheaper than electircity here- but I never see gas-heated jacuzzis or hot tubs.

We have a woodburing fireplace in the liviing room with a gas log-starter. We could convert it to all gas logs or put in a wood stove insert I guess- it just never gets that cold here to squeeze every BTU out of the wood. Our neighbors comment on the great smell of a hard wood fire (quick- hide the single malt scotch) and wish they had put one in their house.

It's no problem getting someone to deliver wood in Baja Norte for about $60 a pickup truck load. Sometimes it's very green. They have no idea what a proper "cord" is or looks like when properly stacked though. My Dad in CT made sure as a young man I knew how to saw (with a two man saw), split and stack a cord of firewood properly. Another lost art and male-bonding tool gone.

[Edited on 2-23-2009 by Woooosh]

wilderone - 2-23-2009 at 05:19 PM

Maybe consider a pellet stove or fireplace insert that uses pellets. You buy pellets by the bag pretty cheap, and they burn hot. Easy and clean to store, environmentally friendly.

LaTijereta - 2-23-2009 at 05:35 PM

In Loreto we love the our fireplace..
(Its also a "Heataltor" model) :spingrin:

Terry28 - 2-24-2009 at 09:50 AM

Pellets in Baja??? where do yo buy them??

dianaji - 2-24-2009 at 09:56 AM

here's a link on pellets and pellet stoves...u can see they are very expensive.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/11/wood_pellet_sup.php

Bajagypsy - 2-26-2009 at 07:01 AM

When we get around to building our main house, the fireplace (that I told Mr. Gypsy we MUST have), will be the main feature in the house. I would have one, it does get chilly some nights.

Diver - 2-26-2009 at 07:06 AM

We wouldn't live without a hot tub !!

DSCN7120.JPG - 33kB

Bajagypsy - 2-26-2009 at 07:27 AM

Diver you have almost as much snow as we do!

k-rico - 2-26-2009 at 07:37 AM

I bought one of these propane fireplaces, works great!

http://www.worldmkting.com/products/bainbridge.htm

I thought about adding a fireplace but that would have been much more expensive and you need to take the time to get the wood and clean. This is easy, turn on the gas valve on the outdoor tank, and press a button. Thermostat heat control.

Diver - 2-26-2009 at 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajagypsy
Diver you have almost as much snow as we do!

It's still snowing hard right now !!
And the fireplace is roaring !! :biggrin:

BajaGringo - 2-26-2009 at 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by k-rico
I bought one of these propane fireplaces, works great!

I like that one - where did you get it???

bajaguy - 2-26-2009 at 10:30 AM

Check Northern Tool at:

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/catego...

or search the net for Pro Com fireplaces

BajaGringo - 2-26-2009 at 10:32 AM

Nobody sells them locally? Hate to buy that kind of thing online without getting my hands on it first...

:?:

bajaguy - 2-26-2009 at 10:34 AM

I have one at my place in Ensenada if you want to look

dianaji - 2-26-2009 at 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
I have one at my place in Ensenada if you want to look

it says they do not sell to california. where did u buy yours? do they ship to mexico?

also, wonder if gas or electric would work best and least expensive to run.

diana

bajaguy - 2-26-2009 at 10:53 AM

I had mine shipped to Nevada, they will not ship to Mexico.

Anything that boosts your electric consumption is a bad idea, although a blower on a fireplace/stove will push more hot air out into the room

These are from the Home Depot web site:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDi...

I would check Home Depot in Rosarito or Ensenada

[Edited on 2-26-2009 by bajaguy]

dianaji - 2-26-2009 at 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
I had mine shipped to Nevada, they will not ship to Mexico.

Anything that boosts your electric consumption is a bad idea, although a blower on a fireplace/stove will push more hot air out into the room

These are from the Home Depot web site:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDi...

I would check Home Depot in Rosarito or Ensenada

[Edited on 2-26-2009 by bajaguy]

that is exactly what i needed to know. since i have propane, i will check in rosarito or have a good excuse to travel to Ensenada. thanks, diana :biggrin:

k-rico - 2-26-2009 at 11:26 AM

I found, using the Internet, a distributor on the East coast who would ship to CA if I wrote an email saying it would be used in Mexico not CA. They're illegal in CA because they are not vented.

He shipped it to a buddy's house in San Diego.

I think it was these guys: http://www.worldmkting.com/

dianaji - 2-26-2009 at 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by k-rico
I found, using the Internet, a distributor on the East coast who would ship to CA if I wrote an email saying it would be used in Mexico not CA. They're illegal in CA because they are not vented.

He shipped it to a buddy's house in San Diego.

I think it was these guys: http://www.worldmkting.com/

i already wrote to that company and they say that they do not sell online. can u call your buddy to ask the name of the company? hurry, i'm freezing!!! :no:

oh, and thanks!!!

BajaNuts - 2-26-2009 at 10:43 PM

buy the unit, ship it to me in WA state, and for a negotiable fee of ....let's say......gas, food and lodging for 8 days (4 days down, 4 days back [I'll cover the 10 days in between myself]), I'll deliver it to your front door!
:lol:

dianaji - 2-26-2009 at 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaNuts
buy the unit, ship it to me in WA state, and for a negotiable fee of ....let's say......gas, food and lodging for 8 days (4 days down, 4 days back [I'll cover the 10 days in between myself]), I'll deliver it to your front door!
:lol:

would u mind ordering it for me, pay for it, then i'll give u the $$ when u get here...and in dollars!!! that's the least i can do for all of your trouble. :bounce:

Martyman - 2-26-2009 at 10:52 PM

I'm sorry but a fireplace in Baja??? Wow... it must get down to 50 degrees. I'm shaking in my boots. What a bunch of pansies. The answer is NO, you don't need a fireplace in baja.
Unless, of course, you need the romantic mode to get some action. I use my inherent charm, not a lame fireplace.
Sheesh people and I'm from California.
I thought us baja types were rough and tumble and could take a punch.

dianaji - 2-26-2009 at 11:03 PM

bajanutty!

oh, and would u also install it...and for that, u can stay an extra night...oh, and i need a couple of other things done, like leveling my home, electric pole installed and then connected...what exactly are your skills? :smug:

Pacifico - 2-27-2009 at 12:33 AM

It looks to me like some of the above posts are coming from people who have only traveled baja in the "good" months!!! Believe it or not, baja can get really cold. (I guess I'm a pansie!!!) I would definitely put in a fireplace or wood burning stove. If you really want function (heat) over ambiance, then go with a wood burning stove. I have one that is a Regency. Here is a link: http://www.regency-fire.com/Wood/Stoves/
It would be better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it! Also, I wouldn't worry about finding wood too much - you can always purchase wood and have it delivered if it is not readily available in your area.

dianaji - 2-27-2009 at 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pacifico
It looks to me like some of the above posts are coming from people who have only traveled baja in the "good" months!!! Believe it or not, baja can get really cold. (I guess I'm a pansie!!!) I would definitely put in a fireplace or wood burning stove. If you really want function (heat) over ambiance, then go with a wood burning stove. I have one that is a Regency. Here is a link: http://www.regency-fire.com/Wood/Stoves/
It would be better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it! Also, I wouldn't worry about finding wood too much - you can always purchase wood and have it delivered if it is not readily available in your area.

i'm just part time in baja and a couple of nights it was very cold...therefore, i have decided to get a wood stove. however, thinking that to make matters simple, that rather than have it shipped to me in california, then bringing it with me, having someone unload it, install it, etc., (or to having bajanutty do it...maybe he/she eats too much anyway), i should just go to home depot in rosarito or ensenada and purchase it there. it's been so great having all of the help in making this decision on this forum. Thanks!!!

ps to bajanutty. perhaps we can make some arrangement where u can deliver the wood as needed.

BajaNuts - 2-27-2009 at 11:59 AM

hey dianaji, glad you found a place to get it down there, even though I was sorta hoping for a roadtrip. If we ever get a trip scheduled andhave some extra room in the truck :spingrin:

, we'll bring a load down. :biggrin:

Ann
ps- I don't eat that much, but the 10yr old can put it away! :bounce:

dianaji - 2-27-2009 at 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaNuts
hey dianaji, glad you found a place to get it down there, even though I was sorta hoping for a roadtrip. If we ever get a trip scheduled andhave some extra room in the truck :spingrin:

, we'll bring a load down. :biggrin:

Ann
ps- I don't eat that much, but the 10yr old can put it away! :bounce:

oh, please...tired of bringing a load and when i get there, no one to help me unload it...and now i have u! yeah, bring your son also...he can help too! i'll have lotsa hotdogs, hamburgers and we can solar cook it outside. and if u bring a tent, he can sleep outside...i also have a free standing hammock too! of course u will have to let me know ahead of time so i can schedule a trip also. :lol:

Martyman - 2-27-2009 at 02:33 PM

Hotdogs, Hamburgers and fireplaces...in Baja??

Moooo!

Paulina - 2-27-2009 at 06:02 PM

Martyman,

Your place used to have a woodburning stove very similar to, if not exactly like BajaWarrior's stove. It came in very handy during the winter months on into the spring. Doc had an older one in the house prior to my mom taking it over, it may just be in his collection in his garage. Needless to say we took hers back up to Ensenada when my mom gave up her lease.

For any pansies that might be interested, the stove is sitting in our garage in Punta Banda. It's in excellent condition, if anyone is interested in it, let us know via u2u.

P<*)))>{

dianaji - 3-26-2009 at 04:09 PM

i have an opportunity to buy an antique wood stove that is in perfect condition with flue pipes and some insulated with roof cap for $250. is this a good buy? it is a laundry stove, flat on top so that i can heat water, or even cook.

thanks, diana

squintingringo - 3-26-2009 at 06:18 PM

A few elements required to make a house a home:

1. The smell of woodsmoke on a cool evening.
2. A little sawdust and a few wood chips here and there from hauling the wood in.
3. Burn spots on the rug or hardwood from sparks that flew out when you tossed a new log on the fire.
4. A wood stack inside and out.
5. Fire box low enough to enjoy it while lying on the floor.
6. A hint of smoke still in the air from when you forgot to open the damper.

Wouldn't be without one.

longlegsinlapaz - 3-26-2009 at 06:28 PM

Diana, I believe there are some additional safety concerns installing a wood stove in a mobile home. I think there are unique codes & different clearances & I believe you might need to brick the wall behind the stove if you want it within a foot or so of a wall. Maybe an internet search for wood stoves in mobiles homes might influence your decision.

dianaji - 3-26-2009 at 07:38 PM

thanks, longlegs!!! i will do the research.

wilderone - 3-27-2009 at 08:27 AM

Do yourself a favor - keep it simple, clean, efficient. Wood costs money too.

http://www.electricfireplacesource.com/electric-fireplaces/b...

dianaji - 3-27-2009 at 08:43 AM

wow! that's a good deal...and with free shipping.

EnseNADAslim - 3-29-2009 at 10:13 AM

Gulp,,,
We kind of cheated. Living down here full time you do find out that there are some cold days down here and walking out into your 50 degree living room can be----cold. I looked at many options, from wood burning to pellet and we went with a Vent Free propane fireplace/heater. Yea, not as comfy feely as wood, but living here full time means "Storage". Then with Pellet stove means hauling a pallet load of pellets and them keeping them dry. Electric---well, going beyond that 500 Kwh is painful enough without an electric fireplace.
The Propane unit has worked out great, looks nice, and warms the upstairs in about 30 minutes. Yea, on a chilly night with the lights off it looks nice as well, and just pop some popcorn to substitute for the popping of the wood fire. We don't use it all the time and I can probably count out with my fingers the number of times we have used it.
The only draw back is this,,,if you have a California mailing address you can not have replacement parts sent to you from the Manufacture. I found out this when I had to have a new regulator sent to me, which was covered by the 3 yr. warranty.