Does this type of slot fire-grate really send out more heat into the room than up the chimney? Am contemplating getting this instead of an insert in our conventional fireplace. Would like to hear any personal experiences in this regard. Thanks.

-- Lea (imagesun@asde.net), October 18, 1999

Answers

Well, Lea, let's see. Here are some numbers that have been tossed about.

Fireplace=20% effeciency. (What ever that is. I assume that means in relation to the heat potential in the fuel.)

FireFrame=(Fireplace)x2 or 40% effeciency. You get twice the heat. Or it feels like it.

Fire place + Wood stove insert = 70% effeciency(sp?)

The Wood Stove insert number is from this forum (I think, but not sure) so that should be verified.

If the effeciency numbers are correct then you want a wood stove insert. Again, your hearing this all second hand from me.

Keep your...

-- eyes_open (best@wishes.not), October 19, 1999.

Lea,

Take a look at http://www.wbn.com/y2ktimebomb/Tip/Lord/rmart9938.htm

fyi, I don't know Roleigh personally, but have dealt with him via email several times, and he seems to be legit. My first contact with him was over a year and a half ago when he was following up on seminars being given to the electric industry (which I work for) and he was trying to verify some of the things he had been hearing. I think he's probably a pretty straight shooter.

e.m.

-- Eyell Makedo (make_do@hotmail.com), October 19, 1999.

Lea,

I've been using the Texas Fire Frame for 19 years now and it works great. Conventional fireplaces are notoriously inefficient because most of the heat goes up the chimney. When using the fire frame, much, much more of the red-hot coals are exposed to the room, thereby vastly increasing the amount of radiant heat received by the room. Radiant heat is the only usable heat a fireplace produces, so up goes the efficiency; at least double. A side bonus is that you will tend to build smaller fires and burn less wood, since a roaring fire is not needed except at first to get the red-hot coals glowing.

I usually use a rather large, slightly greener "back log" in the rear that really ends up having a large glowing surface. It's hard to explain without showing you in person, or having a drawing.

Gerald

Gerald

-- Gerald R. Cox (grcox@internetwork.net), October 22, 1999.

Just wanted to Thank You so much for taking the time and effort to let us all know about Texas Frame, my check is in the mail. This is one less worry for our family. Thanks again.

-- Judy (dodgeball@aol.com), October 26, 1999.