Note mount heat
- Thread starter Ffmike1907
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Stop using the fireplace it will probably be warmer.
Sorry but open fireplaces are horribly inefficient. In many cases they are actually a net heat loss. If you want to actually heat with it the best option is a wood insert
ctyankee
Burning Hunk
Get rid of that screen. It is preventing heat from coming toward you (and depriving air to the fire). I'm not here to speak on heating rooms, houses with fireplaces. I'm here to address my pet peeve of people putting screens in front of their fireplaces. It is sometimes necessary when leaving the fireplace re toddlers, pets going to an open flame. Otherwise they are counterproductive.
ctyankee
Burning Hunk
Embers can be a concern. But not a worry when you are there. If you need an ember pad because your hearth ain't doing it, then get an ember pad. That carpeting is a potential hazard actually.
Before I had a freestanding stove, I had an open fireplace. As bholler says they are horribly inefficient, suck heat out of the house and require constant attention.
That said I was able to get some heat by partially closing the flue. Mine had a lever to open/close the flue door and it would stay in a partial position. Similar to a flue damper.
Once I had burned several logs and had a nice coal pile, I would start closing down the damper. Then adding one or two logs at a time.
The down side is you will get some smoke in the house and if the damper closes fully by itself you will get a lot of smoke in the house.
Obviously this is not healthy. So when I remodeled that room, I removed the fireplace and installed a free standing stove.
That said I was able to get some heat by partially closing the flue. Mine had a lever to open/close the flue door and it would stay in a partial position. Similar to a flue damper.
Once I had burned several logs and had a nice coal pile, I would start closing down the damper. Then adding one or two logs at a time.
The down side is you will get some smoke in the house and if the damper closes fully by itself you will get a lot of smoke in the house.
Obviously this is not healthy. So when I remodeled that room, I removed the fireplace and installed a free standing stove.
had the same trouble with our fireplace. replaced it with an alderlea t5. fixed the problem
ctyankee
Burning Hunk
Most of these things are toys. Poorly designed and constructed toys. "Placewherefireburns." Most are built on the end of the house, with the masonry on the outside. It's all bad news. So it's impossible to have a fruitful or even interesting discussion. A study recently posted on this site involved "fireplaces" in DALLAS TX. Really? Talk about a joke. If I had the "placewherefireburns" posted above, I'd be looking to put in an insert, or whatever, if I could afford it.
Well said. Fireplaces absolutely can be built that will contribute heat to the home. Yes they are still pretty inefficient but they atleast make heat. Unfortunately the vast majority are not constructed in that way and changing the design is very expensive. So inserts are a better option
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