Posted: 11/25/2013 6:19:47 PM EDT
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The fireplace in our recently purchased house isn't heating the room very well. The fireplace is pretty big - about 4 feet wide and 1-1 1/2 deep, and is made totally of brick. Is there something we can do to make the heat come out into the room? House was built in 1972, and the fireplace looks original. Previous owners obviously used the fireplace, as there was some small amounts of ash in the corners. |
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Hmm. Thanks for the replies. I'll mess with the damper tonight and see if that helps. We don't really NEED the fireplace, as we have a nice heater. We usually set the heater pretty low and run the fireplace during the evening before we go to bed, since we have an unlimited source of wood. |
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Don't bother doing anything unless you get a wood stove insert.
My house is a 1972 raised ranch ( split level ) in upstate ny. I just got a Jotul c450 installed this april. Been running it basically non stop since the beginning of october (ny).. It requires a stainless flex exhaust pipe run up thru the top of chimney and the cost of the stove was $2,900, install and vent kit were another $1,000. So im in it for $4,000 but it keeps my whole house warm (barely, raised ranch, chimney on far exterior end ) and the natural gas hot water baseboard almost never kicks on. 1,400 sqft. I had 13 pallets (now about 11) of split sugar maple im burning. Previously the fireplace was useless. Utterly useless. Get an insert or just plug it up. Your fireplace is about 20% efficient at most. A joke and waste of a potentially massive heat source. Also i have to insulate the attic, i bet i only have r13 or 19 now. Barely comes up to floor joists. I'll add unbatted r38 this spring. Will help tremendously. Maybe new windows also. |