All the heat goes up the chimney myth
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kennyp2339
Minister of Fire
Replacement air coming in is the issue, if the fireplace has its own fresh air intake then it would be better for the room, without it then the cold air gets drawn in from any cracks, poorly insulated spaces like plug outlets, doors & windows, the air then comes across the room and cools it down, also the hot air coming from the fire is less dense so it rises up the path of least resistance which is the chimney and creates a convective loop drawing in more cold denser air to backfill.
If you like fireplaces check out masonry heaters, or Russian heaters, they captivate my mind and look like pieces of fine art to me.
I think ideally for me a dream home would have 1. Woodburner/stove for practical heating 2. One traditional fireplace for enjoyment novelty effect . I’d rather have either than nothing like most homes built now a days in the advent of a power outrage mid winter
The heat output, per pound of wood, is much higher from a stove than a fireplace.
I was wondering about an OAK thing. How much air would have to be piped in to the fireplace, from a window (or wall) for ex. I'm thinking of a tube? Would it have to be huge in diameter? Any thoughts would be interesting. Thanks
Prof
Minister of Fire
You are spot on about most homes today. My kids think I am nuts when I point out that most newer homes don't even have a chimney of any sort. If the hearth is missing, I wouldn't want to live there.
kennyp2339
Minister of Fire
Im sure there is a standard in relation to fireplace size but I would assume that a 4" pipe is more then enough, if it isnt your still substantially reducing the amount of makeup air just by having the pipe there which means a warmer room.
SpaceBus
Minister of Fire
SpaceBus
Minister of Fire
So it could possibly be efficient with air tight doors, an insulated flue, and an outside air connection, well that sounds like a high efficiency zero clearance fireplace...
Even if you were to hook up a giant pipe to that cooking fireplace, it would still pull in loads of room air, but then you also have a giant pipe letting cold air into your house.
No matter what the heat output of the fireplace, the hot room air will be moved up through the flue and out of the house. You can't stop that from happening without designing a high efficiency zero clearance fireplace or free standing wood stove.
Even if you were to hook up a giant pipe to that cooking fireplace, it would still pull in loads of room air, but then you also have a giant pipe letting cold air into your house.
No matter what the heat output of the fireplace, the hot room air will be moved up through the flue and out of the house. You can't stop that from happening without designing a high efficiency zero clearance fireplace or free standing wood stove.
stoveliker
Minister of Fire
On the other hand, indeed not *all* the heat goes up thru the chimney. At least a small fraction stays in the home when it's burning. So I have to adi that the title is not wrong.
Unfortunately, homes with fireplaces loose that much heat during burning and when not burning (! The latter are the majority of the hours in a year..), that homes with fireplaces use more energy to be heated than homes without fireplaces. See that (peer reviewed) article I mentioned a while back.
Unfortunately, homes with fireplaces loose that much heat during burning and when not burning (! The latter are the majority of the hours in a year..), that homes with fireplaces use more energy to be heated than homes without fireplaces. See that (peer reviewed) article I mentioned a while back.
No doubt I’m from western Pa too actually. Always grew up in homes with fireplaces/wood stoves fourtnately
stoveliker
Minister of Fire
Fireplace dampers leak like crazy. They don't help much.
Glass doors are better, depending on how well they seal.
Glass doors are better, depending on how well they seal.
Now if I wanted to commute daily to work in my 1969 Mustang Fastback, I'm sure I'd hear all sorts of arguments against doing so. But I just want to drive it on the weekends. I stand behind what I said in my original post.
Oh I like classic cars. But I don't choose to drive any of mine if going on long trips or anything. The difference I see is a classic car in most cases will get you there. A fireplace generally won't heat a house to what is considered a comfortable temperature by today's standards.Now if I wanted to commute daily to work in my 1969 Mustang Fastback, I'm sure I'd hear all sorts of arguments against doing so. But I just want to drive it on the weekends. I stand behind what I said in my original post.
302?Now if I wanted to commute daily to work in my 1969 Mustang Fastback, I'm sure I'd hear all sorts of arguments against doing so. But I just want to drive it on the weekends. I stand behind what I said in my original post.
Sawset
Minister of Fire
We had power out for 4 days, and relied on the fireplace as the only heat source. It did keep the pipes from freezing. We spent most of the time in the living room next to the fire. Cooked on it too. Just don't burn the chicken.
I don't want any misunderstandings! I wish. I was making an analogy with my by big, old stone fireplace with lots of inefficient btus to driving a classic car with lots of inefficient horsepower. They're both fun to have, but not for daily use.
No worries! Both make my tail wag, for different reasons 🤣
My daily driver is a Kia and have a 2020 EPA stove - but I wouldn't mind a Boss 302 and center chimney fireplace.
Old Sturbridge Village is set in the 1790s - 1830s, which is during this period.
Sawset
Minister of Fire
What is the percentage of fireplaces there at Sturbridge. Here we have OldWorldWI, representing around 1850. Some of the more affluent had fireplaces, and stoves. Those with less means had a small free standing stove and a cook stove. The farm house here, 1846, had a cook stove, parlor stove, and possibly some type of coal gravity system. But no fireplace (that came much later, more for decoration than to heat with). I know where the stoves sat because of the small burned out holes in the floor boards.
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