My external chimney is a giant wasteful heat sink!

[fire_man]

I measured the back wall of an unused fireplace with an IR gun - it's 37F! (outside temp 26F)
The room itself is at the opposite side of my house from the only source of heat - my woodstove.
The fireplace opening feels like a refrigerator.

The damper area is completely insulated with a thick styrofoam plate and heavily caulked, so I am sure
the cold is transferring right thru the chimney brick from outside! Most people would never notice this because
the room itself would be heated, and the brick would warm up.

This just goes to show how well brick conducts heat and how lousy it is to have an external chimney!

Now I know why that room is so cold - wonder if it would make a good beer cooler?

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Sounds like you could use that for your extra refrigerator Tony. Store the beer there!

 

[begreen]

Put a door on it and use it as a cold smoker.

 

[stoveguy2esw]

common brick has an R factor of 0.20 per 1 inch thickness. so an unused chimney does not provide any real insulating properties

 

[DanCorcoran]

Looks like a great location for an insert....

 

[fire_man]

I thought about an insert, but I'm trying to figure out if a Keystone will work out.
The hearth has to be extended and the Mantel needs a shield.

I just have not "warmed up" to the idea of an insert.

 

[fire_man]

common brick has an R factor of 0.20 per 1 inch thickness. so an unused chimney does not provide any real insulating properties

I never realized how bad brick was as an insulator. The heat is being sucked right out of the house from that giant surface area.

 

[GENECOP]

At least hang a blanket in front of it, close that baby off....

 

[Kosmik]

That's why medieval castles had tapestries hanging all over the place. They'd blanket the stone with wool insulation.

 

[stoveguy2esw]

That's why medieval castles had tapestries hanging all over the place. They'd blanket the stone with wool insulation.

its also why they had a bazillion chimneys every room had a fireplace and most of these rooms weren't exactly "toasty" from the hearth.

 

[fossil]

That's why medieval castles had tapestries hanging all over the place. They'd blanket the stone with wool insulation.

Helped with acoustics in those big old echo chambers, as well.

 

[giotundo]

Repainting that room may help.

 

[ridensnow23]

Looks like a great location for an insert....

I second this.

 

[mstoelton]

+1 on the insert. Get the largest one that will fit with an auto fan, you won't be sorry.

 

[Nick Mystic]

I don't know why more home builders don't design their homes with the chimneys located inside the house. I know it takes up some floor space, but a well built chimney can look very attractive and the thermal heat storage it provides is tremendous. Last night before I started a fire after not having burned all day long I shot my chimney with my IR thermometer and it was reading 87F. Rather than have the chimney working against you an indoor chimney works for you.

 

[mikey]

I don't know why more home builders don't design their homes with the chimneys located inside the house. I know it takes up some floor space, but a well built chimney can look very attractive and the thermal heat storage it provides is tremendous. Last night before I started a fire after not having burned all day long I shot my chimney with my IR thermometer and it was reading 87F. Rather than have the chimney working against you an indoor chimney works for you.

View attachment 127916

Not sure about the painting but the chimney setup is great.

 

[fire_man]

+1 on the insert. Get the largest one that will fit with an auto fan, you won't be sorry.

Why an insert and not a freestanding stove?

 

[fire_man]

Rather than have the chimney working against you an indoor chimney works for you.
View attachment 127916

That's a nice setup, and I agree about indoor chimney benefits wholeheartedly.

The advantage (if there is one) to external chimneys is they can be located on opposite sides of the house so at least there is an option to install "space heater" woodstoves at both ends. One stove even in a central chimney just is not enough for me.

 

[Woody Stover]

Stick a Keystone with a rear heat shield in there. I've got one on my Ks with an external chimney....the brick stays pretty cool and I can feel good heat coming out of the "convective jacket" of the heat shield.

I had my Dutchwest back in the fireplace, thinking the brick would act as a heat sink. Then I got on hearth.com and learned that all my heat was getting sucked outside. Maybe that's why the vines on the chimney were green year 'round.

 

[DanCorcoran]

I agree, indoor chimneys are great (except I call mine a flue, single-wall)...

 

[Woody Stover]

I agree, indoor chimneys are great (except I call mine a flue, single-wall)...

But this looks OK, doesn't it?

(broken image removed)

 

[fire_man]

Wood Stover:

That's a great looking setup. Your suggestion for a Keystone with a heat shield is exactly what I am looking into. I was told I need 8" front clearance with a 7" flue or 10" front clearance with a 6" flue. Yours looks less than that.

 

[fire_man]

I just thought of a good name for an external Chimney: Swine Flue!

 

[stoveguy2esw]

But this looks OK, doesn't it?

(broken image removed)

the hearth doesnt extend out far enough IMHO. you should have a minimum of 16 inches out in front of the stove measured from the face of the glass. wood shouldnt be stored so close to the stove either.

 

[fire_man]

It's not a front loader so why the 16" front clearance?