fireplaces
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Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 13,589
Likes: 2
From: NW burbs of chicago
fireplaces
I've never used one (an indoor one atleast) But the house I bought has one.
I know I need to get it cleaned/inspected, any idea what that costs?
Can a fireplace be used to supplement the furnace? (i've got a great supply of kiln dried hardwood)
I know I need to get it cleaned/inspected, any idea what that costs?
Can a fireplace be used to supplement the furnace? (i've got a great supply of kiln dried hardwood)
Last edited by TigerDan; Sep 25, 2005 at 08:11 PM.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,619
Likes: 12
From: Forest Hill MD
I had a fireplace with a large fire box that let all the heat go up the flue but... my parents had a small firebox and it would burn you out of the house no need for the furnace. The only other thing you could do is add a wood stove to the box and that would definitely supplement the furnace.
Definitely get it cleaned though. nothing is worse than a chimney fire.
Definitely get it cleaned though. nothing is worse than a chimney fire.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
Likes: 5
From: The hills of No. Calif.
I've heated with wood for years. It's my primary heat source, the furnace is for backup.
For efficient heat, you have a couple of options. The first and cheapest is to get glass doors that install in the opening:
http://www.countryflame.com/units/fpd-main.html
The other is to get a fireplace insert, like a woodstove that fits into the fireplace opening:
http://www.chimneysweeponline.com/bigpacin.htm
Either of these would be an improvement over the standard fireplace with a simple spark screen, and still provide the ambiance of an open fire. Looking forward to lighting off the stove in my house for the first time this season...any day now...!
For efficient heat, you have a couple of options. The first and cheapest is to get glass doors that install in the opening:
http://www.countryflame.com/units/fpd-main.html
The other is to get a fireplace insert, like a woodstove that fits into the fireplace opening:
http://www.chimneysweeponline.com/bigpacin.htm
Either of these would be an improvement over the standard fireplace with a simple spark screen, and still provide the ambiance of an open fire. Looking forward to lighting off the stove in my house for the first time this season...any day now...!
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Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 13,589
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From: NW burbs of chicago
Tiger, so basicly, the doors, or the stove would radiat the heat, where as a plain old fireplace would just let the heat escape?
I've also read online that a window should be opened to prevent the house filling with smoke, Is this true?
I've also read online that a window should be opened to prevent the house filling with smoke, Is this true?
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,043
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The only thing I can offer is a suggestion on fireplace safety. Ashes don't go in the garbage. I've known 4 or 5 people that have burned their houses down when the threw out "cold" ashes. I'd recommend getting a metal can of some sort to put the ashes in. Do not store it on a wooden floor.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,619
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From: Forest Hill MD
Originally Posted by jake00
Tiger, so basicly, the doors, or the stove would radiat the heat, where as a plain old fireplace would just let the heat escape?
I've also read online that a window should be opened to prevent the house filling with smoke, Is this true?
I've also read online that a window should be opened to prevent the house filling with smoke, Is this true?
Just make sure the damper is open and you are good to go. opening the windows would kinda defeat the purpose
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Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
Likes: 5
From: The hills of No. Calif.
What Chris said...
And yes, that's basically it. The doors keep the room heat from going back up the chimney, and with ones like I linked to, they improve the efficiency by making the airflow controllable, if installed properly.
And yes, that's basically it. The doors keep the room heat from going back up the chimney, and with ones like I linked to, they improve the efficiency by making the airflow controllable, if installed properly.
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 79
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From: Roy,WA
If you're going to do an insert, I highly recomend a pellet stove. We heated with a wood stove for years, then we ran out of trees that needed to be removed. The pelet stove is much easier than the wood stove. Just dump a bag of pellets in, push the button and it will be pumping heat out in about 5 min. The fire box does need cleaning about once a week, but thats simple. A more thorough cleaning is needed some times, we just had to tear ours down and clean it out completely, because it was so dirty that it would push a cloud of smoke into the room from exhaust passages plugging with soot.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
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From: The hills of No. Calif.
Depends on how handy you are at that sort of thing. If you've got any experience with construction and home repair, you should be able to handle it, but I'd really see what the recommendations by the manufacturer are for the unit you select. Do a Google search for "Fireplace Doors" and click on the image link to select a design you like. Should be able to find a local dealer that way as well.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Roy,WA
Originally Posted by jake00
Would have to hirte someone to install glass doors?
A pellet stove is a nice idea, but I'd have to bbuy pellets, I can get wood for free.
A pellet stove is a nice idea, but I'd have to bbuy pellets, I can get wood for free.
The Pacifier
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,245
Likes: 7
From: Cloverdale, BC
Get it inspected to stay on the safe side.
We don't really use our fireplace for primary heat though. Not even secondary. Mostly just for the mood, and even then, we got those little presto logs.
Actually though, just a few days ago, I noticed our house was a bit chilly, and we had a bunch of junk mail and newspapers piling up. I wasn't about to turn the furnace on to feel heat in a half hour, I was cold now. So up in smoke went the junk mail and newspapers. That's how I get rid of all of our sensitive documents.
We don't really use our fireplace for primary heat though. Not even secondary. Mostly just for the mood, and even then, we got those little presto logs.
Actually though, just a few days ago, I noticed our house was a bit chilly, and we had a bunch of junk mail and newspapers piling up. I wasn't about to turn the furnace on to feel heat in a half hour, I was cold now. So up in smoke went the junk mail and newspapers. That's how I get rid of all of our sensitive documents.