Convertible dual direct-vented fireplace

A dual direct vented fireplace, comprising:

• a central combustion chamber having a pair of alternative selectable exhaust outlets,
• a fireplace enclosure surrounding at least three sides of said central combustion chamber and forming a heat exchanger around the outside of said combustion chamber,
• means forming a fresh air plenum mounted on the top and back of said combustion chamber having a pair of alternative selectable air inlets located over said exhaust outlets,
• coaxial pipe means connected to each of said pair of alternative exhaust outlets and said air inlets, and
• closure means coupled to one of said pair of alternative exhaust outlets and said air inlets for converting a dual direct-vented fireplace into a single direct-vented fireplace.

A method of assembling dual direct vented fireplaces to provide either a horizontal or a vertical direct-vented fireplace comprising the steps of:

• providing a combustion chamber for a fireplace having both a horizontal exhaust outlet and a vertical exhaust outlet,
• surrounding at least the top, back and bottom of said combustion chamber with a fireplace enclosure to form top, back and bottom heat exchanger walls around said combustion chamber,
• forming a fresh air duct between the top and back heat exchanger walls,
• providing a separate horizontal air inlet and a vertical air inlet to said fresh air duct,
• providing means for connecting coaxial pipes to the vertical or horizontal exhaust outlets and to the vertical or horizontal air inlets, and
• connecting a closure to one of the said fresh air inlets and the said exhaust outlets of said combustion chamber to form a single direct-vented fireplace.