..first post - be kind! I have searched high and low for a fireplace insert which apparently is standard in Germany and can circulate air and vent back into the room. I have an unusual fireplace large and tiled which is inefficient to heat a rather large room. The box may have to be custom built? Would this be an answer? Apparently it could also heat up water in a coil to support the hot water tank or heating???
At present it heats large amounts of wood, is pretty and we are cold!
Thank you!
Sabine
tony
14 Feb 2010, 3:21 PM
try a "Turtle" fire box there are several other similar ones too -- E-bay?
Not quite sure I agree with the principle of it - generally best to extract heat from the exhaust gases, not from the combustion zone, which needs to be kept hot to burn efficiently.
Do you have too large an updraught sucking more warm air out of the room than necessary? Is there any kind of baffle or damper in the flue to adjust this?
sabine
18 Feb 2010, 8:52 AM
Many thanks for this. I have looked at the link. My fireplace is large and draws really well but very inefficient. It has an unusual construction with tiles on the whole surrounding surface but more for effect than to absorb and radiate the heat although when I have burned it long enough it will heat up. There was a damper but it is broken. I have seen fireplace inserts where you circulate the heat on the back and then you can even connect this to your water supply to boost when you have a fire going. Ideally I would like a box which may do this or if unpractical just being more efficient and a chimney builder who understands ceramic fireplaces like on the continent. I had looked into all sorts of things to heat the house with renewable energy rather than the callor gas but as it is a draughty house i need to think smaller and insulate first. So besides the fireplace I am thinking to replace the windows as it is just too cold.
Lots od issues..just thought to tackle the open fire and the windows first.
