Fireplaces turn up the heat on style

Warm up for winter with more efficient designs that also look good.

Much as we love our fireplaces, though, the common masonry box and chimney design is dirty and only 10 percent to 15 percent efficient — 85 percent or more of the heat goes up in smoke.

Technological advances to manufactured fireboxes and inserts over the past few decades have improved that efficiency rate to as much as 90 percent, but as the efficiency increased, the beauty of wood-burning open flames was sacrificed. The stylistic options of the fireplaces themselves were also limited, often not fitting in with every decor and sometimes just plain ugly.

Today, as efficiency continues to improve, wood- and gas-burning fireplaces are also becoming more stylish and eco-friendly than ever. As an added bonus, these modern systems require less continuing maintenance than their masonry ancestors, which means that that special-occasion fire just might be on the verge of becoming an everyday event.

With installed costs starting at a couple of thousand dollars and up, upgrading an existing fireplace or adding a new one won’t likely jump to the top of the average home improvement “to do” list, but as energy costs continue to rise and super-efficient fireplaces and stoves become viable alternative heat sources, the long-term dividends might well be worth the investment.

Some of my favorite new designs for style and efficiency include models from Avalon Firestyles, Napoleon, Morso and Regency. Here are a few fireplaces that might suit, depending on your home.

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Cleanning a Fireplace

A fireplace that has build-up of creosote and soot is dangerous and a major source of chimney fires. Most fireplaces are in Europe and America, but now some families have appeared fireplace shadow,when the winter is over, cleanning the fireplace becomes a trouble thing , we all hope that the better the farther away from the fireplace, in fact, cleaning the fireplace is not that a headache,  According to the following steps to clean it ..

Step 1
Remove large debris from the fireplace. Put all debris that will not fit in a vacuum cleaner in a trash can.

Step 2
Vacuum soot and ashes out of the fireplace. Use a shop vacuum for the best results. A home vacuum will work, but this is tough work and will clog filters.

Step 3
Lay a tarp on any carpeting near the fireplace. Put newspaper on top of the tarp at the hearth and inside the fireplace.

Step 4
Make a solution of one gallon warm water and one cup bleach. Use a scrub brush and the water to scrub soot and creosote off the interior of the fireplace.

Step 5
Throw the newspapers in the trash. Wipe up any remaining water with old rags.

Step 6
Clean the floor of the fireplace. Use the same solution of water. Mop up the water with paper towels afterward and throw them away.

Step 7
Clean fireplace grates outside. Lay down several layers of newspaper and lay the grate on top. Use oven cleaner or bleach water to clean the grate.

Step 8
Use glass cleaner and newspapers to clean glass fireplace doors. Polish any exterior metal.

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How to Increase the Heat From a Fireplaces

 

Fireplaces are often discouraged as a source of heat. They can be inefficient and often end up costing more than using other methods to heat a home. However, many people find the look, smell and sound of burning wood to be appealing and prefer it as a heat source. There are a number of ways to increase the effectiveness of your fireplace and increase the amount of heat that enters your home, rather than escaping out the chimney.

1

  Clean the fireplace and chimney to ensure that the fireplace is safe and working properly.

2

Keep the damper closed when not in use. An open damper pulls warm air out of the house.

3

Open any glass or metal doors when the fireplace is in use. Keep them closed otherwise to prevent heat loss to the chimney.

 4

Place an insert called a fireback against the back wall of the fireplace. These metal sheets reflect heat back into the room even after the fire has burned out.

 5

Install fans that blow heated air into the room. These fans prevent the heat from escaping through the chimney by directing the heated air back into the room.

 6

Install a wood burning stove into the existing fireplace opening. Wood burning stoves radiate more heat and will provide warmth after the flames have been extinguished. They provide a more efficient source of heat than a traditional fireplace.

Through the above approaches can Increase the Heat From a Fireplace,you can try them!

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Gas Fireplace Installation Guidelines

 
Gas fireplace installation is not a difficult task, but some things should be kept in mind in order for the process to go smoothly. Consider the following guidelines in order to properly install a gas fireplace in your home.

Proper Location

Finding the most appropriate and functional place for your fireplace is essential. Place blocks and boxes in several positions around your room to see where it would fit best. Also, make sure that the potential walls you’d like to place your fireplace in are all outer and not inner walls. Walls that are close to the outside of your home will allow for proper venting of the fireplace.

Choose a Platform and Surround

If you are installing the fireplace into a newly constructed area or in an existing fireplace, you’ll need to build a platform on which it can rest. This platform is best made from plywood, although it is not your only option. Once the fireplace is installed, be sure to choose a surround. Some homeowners use wood for a traditional look and others prefers stone, brick or decorative metal for a more modern look.

Adequate Venting

A direct vent gas fireplace does not need a chimney to vent the heat and gases. You can use special fireplace piping to connect the fireplace to the outside for proper venting. When installing the venting, be sure to cut a hole near the gas fireplace, which is a little larger than the diameter of the venting pipe.

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Wood Pellet Stoves: Tips and Tricks

 

Wood stoves are basically freestanding fireplaces that are used to generate indoor heat. Operating on similar principles, wood stoves burn fuel to create heat and carry smoke outside a building using a flue system. They do not, however, require a full chimney and can be placed anywhere the flue can be properly installed for ventilation.

Wood pellet stoves are stoves that burn compressed wood for heating residential spaces. Wood pellets are fed from a storage container in the burn-pot area in the stove. This creates constant flames in wood pellet stoves and requires little or no physical adjustment like you would in wood burning stoves.

Over the years, wood pellet stoves have undergone a large change from the earlier boxy, workhorse designs to modern decorative pellet stoves. Wood pellet stoves are available as standalone appliances, or those that fit into fireplaces, and are vented with an existed chimney.

Modern wood pellet stoves are versatile appliances. Most wood pellet stoves are self-igniting and have thermostat controls. Some may even be equipped with remote controls.

Wood pellets burn very cleanly and produce a fine fly-ash layer as a byproduct of combustion. However, the grade of the wood pellet you use determines the performance of wood pellet stoves and output of fly-ash. For example, if you use premium grade pellets you can expect the out to be as low as 1%. Low grade pellets require a higher level of maintenance.

If you maintain wood pellet stoves properly you can avoid formation of coal-tar creosote, the inflammable substance that is responsible for chimney fires.
Ensure that you buy wood pellet stoves that are certified for double wall venting, commonly with a stainless steel interior of at least three inches diameter and galvanized exterior. Since pellet stoves are equipped with a forced exhaust system they do not require a vertical vent. Despite that, you should opt for a five foot vertical vent to prevent leakage in case of an outage.

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Advantages of Heater

There are a wide variety of backyard heating options to choose from. One of the options that has become more popular over the last few years are table top patio heaters. These are small devices that sit in the middle of a table that will help keep those around the table and on the patio a bit warmer than without it. There are advantages that this type of device does offer.

The first is that you have nothing large or bulky sitting on your porch or patio area. Many times the larger heaters take up space. For small patios this is a problem. A table heater won’t do this to you as it rests on the table that is already there.

These heaters are also very easy to move. This is important for a few reasons. First it makes it easy to put out on the table and put away. Secondly, these types of heaters work best and have a much longer lifespan when you bring them indoors to protect them when not in use. This is easiest done with a portable heater like this.

These types of heaters run on propane. This means that you don’t have to have natural gas line or electrical cords on your patio area to worry about bumping or tripping over. Also with propane you are free to put the heater wherever you wish.

Not only do you get heating but you also get a side benefit of a bit of light over the table area. With eating food or reading, this is an advantage since that little bit of light will make things easier to see. The heat is sufficient for those around the table. While this won’t heat as well as a full sized model, it does exactly what it needs to be doing.

These devices have a lower cost. This means in many cases you can get two of these smaller ones for the price of a large model. With two, you have more options of heating the yard giving you an advantage over just one.

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Modern Fireplaces Are More Efficient Than Ever

I caught an article on fireplaces that addressed some of the big advances that have been made in the realm of fireplaces and stoves powered by wood, pellets, corn, gas, and even electricity.  These advances have helped make them a lot more fuel efficient, putting out more heat for your money.  But is a fireplace really an economical alternative for heating your home?

Basically it depends.  A wood stove (or one that burns corn or pellets) is designed to put out a lot of warmth and not waste a lot of energy.  Open fireplaces, on the other hand, aren’t that great because heat escapes up the chimney.  Electric fireplaces, though more realistic than ever, are essentially just space heaters.  Gas fireplaces can heat up a room nicely (though rarely the whole house) and can be nice in areas where gas is the most affordable fuel.

There are several fireplace choices today, but there’s nothing like spending an evening around a real wood-burning fire. If you’re building a new home or buying an existing home, I recommend looking into a wood-burning fireplace or wood stove for reliable heat when the power is out.

Electric Fireplaces–These are plug-in devices with fake burning logs. Requiring electricity, they may be a good choice for someone who wants a fireplace, but lives in a condo or other situation where a chimney is not an option.
■Gas Fireplaces–Despite using natural gas or propane as fuel, these fireplaces typically also require electricity for their ignition control systems. Like electric fireplaces, they feature fake burning logs.
■Pellet Stoves–Pellet stoves are very efficient at heating and they show off a real burning glow. However, the pellet feeding and blower mechanisms both require electricity in order to function.
■Wood-burning Fireplaces–Wood-burning fireplaces provide a very nice ambience. They are not especially efficient at heating; however, they can easily heat a room or cabin in the event of a power outage.
■Wood Stoves–Wood stoves may not offer exactly the same romantic atmosphere as a wood-burning fireplace, but they are quite effective at providing heat for small homes. Like wood-burning fireplaces, they do not require any electricity to operate. You can also use a wood stove as an old-fashioned humidifier by placing a pot of water atop the radiant metal wood stove.I caught an article on fireplaces that addressed some of the big advances that have been made in the realm of fireplaces and stoves powered by wood, pellets, corn, gas, and even electricity.  These advances have helped make them a lot more fuel efficient, putting out more heat for your money.  But is a fireplace really an economical alternative for heating your home?

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How to Make Your Fireplace More Efficient

As you sit by the fireplace enjoying the glow on these cold winter nights, are you content knowing you’re using a renewable fuel to warm your home? Depending on the type of fireplace you have, it may actually waste more energy than it creates throughout the season. The problem is that most heat goes up the chimney, drawing cold air into the house to replace the heated air. When a fire isn’t burning, warm air can still escape through the chimney. Many products are promoted as increasing the efficiency of your fireplace, but not all of them are as effective — or safe — as you might like them to be.
1、A fireback is simply a heavy sheet of metal (traditionally cast iron) behind the fire. In addition to protecting masonry in the back of the fireplace, a fireback theoretically reflects heat into the room (instead of all the heat going up the chimney). But don’t expect significant results if you add a fireback to your fireplace. Wood-heat expert, John Gulland, says, “Firebacks had a little validity 100 years ago when there weren’t many good alternatives, but these days they are mostly decorative.”

2、The damper is the metal plate that regulates airflow through the chimney. Some dampers fit snuggly when they’re new, but frequently warp within a year or two, producing a loose fit and allowing air to leak past them. Chimney cap dampers close the entire top of the chimney, so they reduce heat loss when the fireplace is not being used, but don’t improve efficiency otherwise.

3、Fireplace doors are supposed to reduce the amount of air that would otherwise be siphoned up the chimney. Depending on the type of glass in the doors, some heat still radiates through the doors into the house. “Cheap doors use tempered glass, which breaks if you close the doors when a fire is burning. Ceramic glass doors can produce a small efficiency improvement but are stunningly expensive. Fireplace doors are almost never tight enough to prevent cold air from backdrafts when the fireplace is not being used,”

4、Grate heaters and radiators aren’t as large as complete fireplace inserts ,but capture a significant amount of heat from the fire and force it into the house. “I consider these to be a hazardous product because they actually make heat,” Gulland says, “But a decorative masonry fireplace isn’t designed for heating, and the building code clearances were established before this kind of thing was contemplated. So, they don’t prevent overheating of adjacent combustibles. I don’t recommend these at all.”

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Investment casting

Investment casting is an industrial process based on and also called lost-wax casting, one of the oldest known metal-forming techniques. From 5,000 years ago, when beeswax formed the pattern, to today’s high-technology waxes, refractory materials and specialist alloys, the castings allow the production of components with accuracy, repeatability, versatility and integrity in a variety of metals and high-performance alloys. Lost foam casting is a modern form of investment casting that eliminates certain steps in the process.

The process is generally used for small castings, but has produced complete aircraft door frames,
steel castings of up to 300 kg and aluminium castings of up to 30 kg. It is generally more expensive per unit than die casting or sand casting but with lower equipment cost. It can produce complicated shapes that would be difficult or impossible with die casting, yet like that process, it requires little surface finishing and only minor machining.

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