Fireplace

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Sure could sure your help! During a recent 14 day ice storm, we were without water and electricity. We did "okay" except that my beautiful fireplace was completely inefficient! Does anyone know of a non-electric insert or add-on fan for a fireplace? (it is encased, surrounded by tile and would be difficult to pull the firebox and replace with a stove) I'd really appreciate any suggestions, ideas, etc.

Thanks! Ginny

-- Ginny Schumpert (gschump@hotmail.com), February 28, 2001

Answers

Hi Ginny, Propane or natural gas inserts might work for you. They will work without electricity. You didnt mention if you had a masonry fireplace or a zero clearance prefab metal type. The one you choose must be engineered to fit your present fireplace. I would recommend a unit with an efficiency rating approaching 80 %. They not only do a great job of heating but the logsets and fires look quite realistic on some of them.

-- jz (oz49us@yahoo.com), March 01, 2001.

Check around with places that sell woodstoves. I've seen where some companies have metal plates that close up the front of the fireplace with an opening to attach a standard woodstove. This is meant to be pretty much perm, so you are going to lose the look of your fireplace. It almost seems to me that it would be easier to buy a small(5000W) generator.

-- David in NH (grayfoxfarm@mcttelecom.com), March 01, 2001.

A standard fireplace insert with an electric fan will continue to put out quite a lot of heat even if the fan isn't working. I don't have an insert, but two of my aunt's did, and both of their homes managed to stay pretty warm in cold weather even when the electricity was off. It will not keep the entire house toasty warm if your house is large, but will keep the room with the fireplace very nice and warm. Otherwise, you may have to go the wood stove route.

-- (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), March 01, 2001.

I have seen an insert made of pipe, in the shape of the inside of the fire box, from top to bottom. It had a blower attached to the bottom row of pipe openings [which was removeable]. The fire wood was placed in the 'nest' so that all of the pipe would be heated and hot air shoot out into the room from the top row of pipe openings.

-- Thumper (slrldr@aol.com), March 01, 2001.

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