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02-09-2019, 03:41 PM | Topic Starter |
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Fireplace and chimney - value vs function
We have recently renovated our family room (thanks Bugeater) and exposed our fireplace that had been blocked by our entertainment center. Now the cold air that radiates off it has caused our room to be 2 degrees colder. Out of curiosity, I checked the temp at the base of the fireplace and its 54 degrees.
So now I'm debating what makes more sense. Remove it or renovate it so this is less of an issue. Not sure I can afford either option right now but curious what others have done in similar situations. |
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02-09-2019, 04:08 PM | #2 |
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Is it just radiant temperature change through the bricks or stones or whatever, or is it a draft through the flue?
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02-09-2019, 04:09 PM | #3 |
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The fireplace opening is completely boarded up. We haven't used this since 2004. I feel this is all radiant.
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My dear girl, there are some things that just aren’t done. Such as, drinking Dom Perignon ’53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs. |
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02-09-2019, 04:19 PM | #4 |
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Was your "entertainment center" a giant ball of insulation by any chance?
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02-09-2019, 04:19 PM | #5 |
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It seems like there's nothing that can fix radiant problems other than to put something in front of it (inside or outside) that would slow it down. But the flow would be based on distance, so I wonder if a fair amount of it is cold air in the flue, since that has a shorter distance to travel.
We had a water line that would freeze in our house whenever the temperature got below zero, and we couldn't figure it out. We assumed it was on an exterior wall, which seemed really wrong. Eventually we mentioned it to a contractor doing another project, and he figured it out. The line was inside an interior wall, but it ran next to a vent pipe that went up and out the roof. In subzero weather, the cold air inside that vent pipe was cold enough that it would freeze the water line that was running parallel an inch or two away from it. So I bet your flue is part of the problem. If you don't use it, can you put a hard cap on the top of it? Edit: or blow it full of foam insulation or something nonflammable so a cap doesn't kill the next owner.
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Active fan of the greatest team in NFL history. Last edited by Rain Man; 02-09-2019 at 04:39 PM.. |
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02-09-2019, 04:23 PM | #6 |
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In our old house we did a gas insert. Best move!!! Warm when we needed it. Off when we were done.
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02-09-2019, 04:33 PM | #7 |
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This!
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02-09-2019, 04:42 PM | #8 | |
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Quote:
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My dear girl, there are some things that just aren’t done. Such as, drinking Dom Perignon ’53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs. Last edited by 007; 02-09-2019 at 04:47 PM.. |
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02-09-2019, 04:58 PM | #9 | |
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Today's high was 0 and there is a nasty wind chill on top of that. I should have it going now.
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02-09-2019, 04:48 PM | #10 |
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I’ve got a gas one upstairs in the kitchen eating area that we rarely use but a real wood one in the basement that I’ve been using a lot lately.
I’m just a fan of the real wood heat and smell but it is kind of a pain to have to clean and such |
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02-09-2019, 05:01 PM | #11 | |
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I got home from school around 3:30 and went to work around 4:30, and my mom got home around 5:00. They wanted it roaring by the time she got home. If the fire was still going it wasn't terrible - just put some more wood in it and stir it around. But if the fire had gone out, which was a 50/50 proposition, I'd spend half an hour messing with it, which was generally my only free time of the day. Having a wood stove is a great way to get your teenage kid to move out of the house if you want to launch them.
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02-09-2019, 05:09 PM | #12 | |
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We just use ours randomly in the basement. If we’re okaying poker or something down there I’ll fire it up or if we’re gonna watch a football game or something I’d like to use it more as it’ll heat up the basement like a champ and save me some propane |
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02-09-2019, 05:20 PM | #13 | |
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02-09-2019, 05:43 PM | #14 |
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I really wish I could get natural gas ran up here but not likely unless I hit the powerball
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02-12-2019, 09:58 AM | #15 | |
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You can’t beat gas, 96% efficient and little to no maintenance costs. I sell a lot of gas fireplaces too, it’s the least efficient way to burn gas but people like the aesthetics of them.
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