DIY Wood Fireplace Heat Exchanger

[Shep1966]

Trying to think of ways to capture more heat from our fireplace. I have an old blower and was thinking of hooking it to some tubing running through the fire box. Just want to use the proper tubing so I don't have a gas off issue. Has anyone used flexible stainless exhaust tubing used for diesel heater? Thanks!

 

[bigealta]

Those things usually don't really help that much.
If you can get a woodstove or insert in there you would be much better.

 

[stoveliker]

I agree with the above, but if you want to do this, do make sure it's stainless and not galvanized.

 

[bigealta]

I agree with the above, but if you want to do this, do make sure it's stainless and not galvanized.

Yup Galvanized pipe would make poison fumes that,.... Yup can kill you.

 

[EbS-P]

Anything you do will increase efficiency by less than 10%.
So just burn more wood.
Start it sooner burn it longer. When that get old get an insert.

 

[Shep1966]

We had one in the basement that was commercially made that threw out a ton of heat. I thought I could create a DIY one. Maybe I'll just skip it. Thanks for the responses!

 

[bigealta]

We had one in the basement that was commercially made that threw out a ton of heat. I thought I could create a DIY one. Maybe I'll just skip it. Thanks for the responses!

There are good used stoves and inserts out there. Just have to look often and be picky for ones in very good condition.

 

[johneh]

Is this the kind of thing you were talking about
we made one with no blower many years ago

5 Tube Fireplace Heater-With Blower - FH Combo

Fireplace Heater - 5 Tube w/ Blower - Standard 5 Tube - The Fireplace Heater was developed to dramatically increase convection heat (hot air) coming from your fireplace. The unique design of this grate heater super heats the air within the exchanger - Nor

www.northlineexpress.com

 

[stoveliker]

That's a funny page: $993 for a bunch of tubes and a fan.
And as features it lists "low cost"...

 

[johneh]

When I was in my late teens I worked part-time for a welding shop
and we made them for people at 70$ but no fan just convection.
Then again that was 57 years ago. Dam I am old

 

[all night moe]

$993 for a bunch of tubes and a fan.

😲

My dad had one in our FP when I was a kid. Bought it used but, didn't have a blower. Couldn't find one for a 5 tube. This was before the internet.

Damn I'm getting old. Feeling even older.

 

[bigealta]

Is this the kind of thing you were talking about
we made one with no blower many years ago

5 Tube Fireplace Heater-With Blower - FH Combo

Fireplace Heater - 5 Tube w/ Blower - Standard 5 Tube - The Fireplace Heater was developed to dramatically increase convection heat (hot air) coming from your fireplace. The unique design of this grate heater super heats the air within the exchanger - Nor

www.northlineexpress.com

I had one of these 35-40 years ago. I don't remember it doing much. But probably did not use it much either.
No blower on mine.

 

[all night moe]

I had one of these 35-40 years ago. I don't remember it doing much. But probably did not use it much either.
No blower on mine.

That's why my father's didn't do much.
My All Nighter has a blower. We never used it. Stove was enough. I can imagine what a difference a blower would do.