Covering up Fireplace at home

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PhantomNVD

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#1046477 16-May-2014 18:33

illicit: ^^^ Pics?

sorry for the delay, but here y'go

PhantomNVD

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#1046480 16-May-2014 18:34

gah! that was messy, sorry... but you get the idea?

shall0w

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#1047926 19-May-2014 11:56

Interesting, and you reckon it made a noticeable difference? How are you powering the 12v fans?

PhantomNVD

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#1048054 19-May-2014 14:44

shall0w: Interesting, and you reckon it made a noticeable difference? How are you powering the 12v fans?

Seriously makes an immense difference... instead of just radiant heat, the fans force fresh air into the firebox 'surround' (fireproofing cover) around the heated firebox itself and this then comes out the top as heated air, at least 40-60 degrees C (though I have no accurate way to measure it) making a radical difference to the room/house temp.

I used an old external USB(?) powerpack Ii had lying around (12v 1A) to power the set, and count the funky red LED fan a bonus as it reminds me to switch it all off when I go to bed :)

pm me your email addy if you'd like more detailed pics, as GZ limits them to 500k and my phone takes them at 2Mb

MikeAqua

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#1048668 20-May-2014 11:15

The cheapest way to draft proof a fireplace is to fill a rubbish bag up with scrunched up supermarket bags and force it up into the chimney cavity. Leave a string or similar hanging down so people can see there is something up there.

If you are going to try using the fire get a chimney sweep in to clean and inspect, get a record of his inspection, and keep a copy or scan somewhere off site.

Might also pay to check with your council if you are allowed to use an open fire in your location.

Mike

Stan

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#1050119 20-May-2014 21:17

timmmay: Unless you have free firewood and you like feeding fires get rid of fires completely. Any chimney lets cold air in, even a freestanding one needs space around the chimney. Cold air blows in all the time. Air quality in the neighbourhood suffers, I look forward to the day when fires are banned in urban areas. Removing my freestanding fireplace was a huge step toward a warmer house. Depending if you want to completely remove it or just block it off is different, but insulate the opening if you block it off.

Insulate, heat pump. Win.

Modern free standing "eco" flue systems are slightly different, most manufactures use them these days:

http://www.metrofires.co.nz/metro-tech/eco-flue-systems

The pollution of a modern wood fire is considerably less, but still depends on what the end user is burning.

To me wood fires are better form of heating that a heat pump for those motivated to get firewood for free/cheaply they will heat the whole house with ease.

But I am lazy and have a well insulated house hence my Fujitsu is ticking away quietly right now.

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