I have a large river rock fireplace in a 2500 square foot home in Northwestern Montana. The home is a well made log structure with a 1500' main level and a 1000' loft open to below. I've been researching wood inserts (this website has been invaluable). I came into this with what I thought was the conventional wisdom that an outside air source supplied directly to a firebox sealed from room air was necessary to prevent the loss of heated (and humidified) air from the room, among other things.
To my surprise, only a few of these inserts make a provision for this. One is the Pacific Energy Summit insert - and I even found a posting here that asserted that provision was a farce. Some research produced this document (broken link removed to http://www.woodheat.org/outdoorair/outdoorair.htm) claiming that outside combustion air is unnecessary (although in reading this, it seems to me it may be somewhat subjective, I can't tell for sure). Still, given that manufacturers aren't putting a high priority on outside combustion air I'm leaning toward the idea that it may not be necessary.
Does anyone have a link to more objective research on this, or a concise explanation for either case?
Thanks.
To my surprise, only a few of these inserts make a provision for this. One is the Pacific Energy Summit insert - and I even found a posting here that asserted that provision was a farce. Some research produced this document (broken link removed to http://www.woodheat.org/outdoorair/outdoorair.htm) claiming that outside combustion air is unnecessary (although in reading this, it seems to me it may be somewhat subjective, I can't tell for sure). Still, given that manufacturers aren't putting a high priority on outside combustion air I'm leaning toward the idea that it may not be necessary.
Does anyone have a link to more objective research on this, or a concise explanation for either case?
Thanks.