It seems that many members feel a blower is a must or a near must for a Zero Clearance wood burning fireplace. I just installed a Kozy Heat Z42 and after reading some posts on here and thinking about it decided to get 1. The dealer here has been excellent and is very knowledgable. They state that the blower will not increase the BTU output of this unit. That the blower is useful if you want the heat from the unit to travel a substantial distance. The way this thing works is that air is brought from the bottom of the unit and heated as the air comes up through the air space surrounding the firebox. The blower pushes that air out at a velocity. (these are not quotes from dealer) I also see that Kozy Heat states that the blower is optional. I just started burning this thing 2 days ago so I'm no expert, but so far when I get this baby running well it heats my house great, all most too great. It's 80 degrees upstairs and about 72 downstairs right now. I'm thinking I may have an easier time heating than some; my home is a fairly tight modular and the fireplace is right in the middle of the house and at the base of the staircase.
Blower or No Blower for ZC wood burning Fireplace
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I'd probably leave it as is then. Many on here would envy you, to get good heat out of a ZC and not have to hear a blower.
Sounds like you are getting a very good convection air flow through it.
Sounds like you are getting a very good convection air flow through it.
Arc_Dad said:
Report back next winter, IMHO, you'll want the blower during the high demand winter season.
All heat exchangers: think auto radiators, medical heat exchangers, home furnaces, need water, blood or air flow to optimize heat exchange. Passive flow may be adequate in marginal demand situations, but in high demand you need to optimize flow across the devices.
Sure the blower won't make your burn times better or make the unit extract more heat from the wood, what it will do, is get the heat out of the ZC enclosure and into your room. I'd say, it is a must. Without it, the heat just sits in there and you only get radiant heat from one face of the unit.
I have a North Star ZC, and one day, for fun, I ran it for a few hours without the blower on. It was 18F out, and with the blower, the North Star has no issue to keep the home at 70, 71,72..I shut the blower off toward the start of a new load, within 1/2hr the inside temp started dropping 69....1/2 later..68....
THink of a regular forced air furnace without the blower motor. It's still putting out the same amout of BTU's, but not moving it anywhere.
I have a North Star ZC, and one day, for fun, I ran it for a few hours without the blower on. It was 18F out, and with the blower, the North Star has no issue to keep the home at 70, 71,72..I shut the blower off toward the start of a new load, within 1/2hr the inside temp started dropping 69....1/2 later..68....
THink of a regular forced air furnace without the blower motor. It's still putting out the same amout of BTU's, but not moving it anywhere.
If you are putting the time and effort into a new fireplace/stove get the blower. If you need it - well. If you don't - don't turn it on.
Dieselhead
Minister of Fire
i could not imagine my stove trying to heat the joint without the blower, 1000times the air movement instead of convection
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