Inefficient to put wood stove into a sealed fireplace?

[ThereAreGoats]

Hi everyone.

How much does it effect wood stove heating efficiency to have the stove tucked into a fireplace as in the image below? I'm guessing it helps that there's a bit of clearance above the stove, and that there's what looks to be a cast iron plate above the stove that can absorb, retain, and radiate all of that rising heat.

Regards,
Robert

 

[begreen]

The view is great and this looks like a nice radiant heater but it would perform better out in the room more. This setup often works better with a convective stove that has a blower. Try putting a small fan on the floor blowing into the fireplace cavity at an angle to move more heat out.

 

[bholler]

Hi everyone.

How much does it effect wood stove heating efficiency to have the stove tucked into a fireplace as in the image below? I'm guessing it helps that there's a bit of clearance above the stove, and that there's what looks to be a cast iron plate above the stove that can absorb, retain, and radiate all of that rising heat.

Regards,
Robert

View attachment 299989

It is really going to depend upon the stove. One that is sheilded and gives off more convective heat will not be nearly as affected. Unshielded ones that are more radiant will be affected a lot.

 

[ThereAreGoats]

It is really going to depend upon the stove. One that is sheilded and gives off more convective heat will not be nearly as affected. Unshielded ones that are more radiant will be affected a lot

By shielded, do you just mean it has metal fireproofing below and in back of it—stuff that could hold and radiate more heat?

 

[EbS-P]

I use a blower on the firebox floor behind mine. Insulated Blockoff really helps. If it’s an exterior chimney it is less efficient. I can heat most of my open concept 1968 2000 sq ft ranch here in the south with a 1.7 cu ft stove, interior chimney down to nighttime lows in the mid 20s. Bedrooms are much cooler but living room is 78-80.

 

[barnaclebob]

By shielded, do you just mean it has metal fireproofing below and in back of it—stuff that could hold and radiate more heat?

Shielding behind the stove doesnt help via holding and radiating heat. It creates an air gap and that air gap acts like a chimney due to natural convection. Its much better to convect the heat in to the air in the room than radiate it into the bricks behind the stove.

 

[begreen]

By shielded, do you just mean it has metal fireproofing below and in back of it—stuff that could hold and radiate more heat?

Shielded meaning it has side and rear panels with an air gap between the stove body and the panels. These panels reduce the radiant energy and convect it more to the top of the stove. There is little gained by warming up the cold masonry in an external wall fireplace. Radiant stoves (no side shielding) work better in large open spaces where the heat can radiate throughout the room.

 

[flhpi]

I had a T6 recessed in a fireplace. The stove had a blower on it and I still struggled to get the heat I wanted. Once I moved it out in front of the opening all was well.

 

[Hogwildz]

Make sure you install a block off plate.