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. [Reply]
It's cold air coming down the chimney (Cold air sinks). Just stuff some insulation up there out of sight or cut a piece of blue board or both. Just remove if you choose to use the chimney in the future or sell the house. [Reply]
Originally Posted by RetiredSeniorChief:
It's cold air coming down the chimney (Cold air sinks). Just stuff some insulation up there out of sight or cut a piece of blue board or both. Just remove if you choose to use the chimney in the future or sell the house.
Or close the flu.
If you have a ready source of wood, you can heat a fairly large house all winter with a good insert with fans. Like a Buckstove. [Reply]
Do you have a ash box on the outside of the chimney? If you do have one you can go either way, vented or vent less. The vent can go through the ash box. I only know about a vented system and it worked very well. [Reply]
Originally Posted by TrebMaxx:
Do you have a ash box on the outside of the chimney? If you do have one you can go either way, vented or vent less. The vent can go through the ash box. I only know about a vented system and it worked very well.
Originally Posted by luv:
Not sure exactly how they work, but, since my dad isn't a fan of fireplaces, he put in pellet stoves both in living room and basement. It was great during the ice storm when we were without electricity for a week. He plugged one into the generator, so we had heat.
They are nice.. John Deer had few made and sold them.
Friend that works for JD brought one home for his unheated machine shop. Takes about a half hour. But it warms that old half barn, half chicken coup, turned into a machine shop, right up. [Reply]
I'd rather have a home that didn't even have a fireplace. Who uses them anymore. They are just a pain in the ass and you have to clean them and repoint them if you use them. Dumb. Doesn't really save you any money either. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BWillie:
I'd rather have a home that didn't even have a fireplace. Who uses them anymore. They are just a pain in the ass and you have to clean them and repoint them if you use them. Dumb. Doesn't really save you any money either.
It’s fun to roast marshmallows with the kids inside.
Also doubles as a very effective attitude adjuster during Christmas time. Wrap some empty boxes and place them under the tree before Christmas. Every time a kid acts up throw one of the “presents” into the fireplace. Attitude changes real quick after that. [Reply]
