"Fireplace heaters" -- tube design.

[filter-flo_rob]

Has any one had experience with fireplace heaters that are composed of tubes which take in cold air at the bottom and throw out warmed air into the room at the top?

I am at a loss with words and nomenclature here, so here is a URL I found with pictures (I'm NOT endorsing this company -- I am simply using the website as reference)

Thanks.

Rob.

http://www.fireplacedoorsonline.com/acatalog/Fireplace_Heater.html

 

[oldhouseman]

They sound expensive

and are not attractive. I wonder how energy efficient they are?

 

[filter-flo_rob]

No, they definitely are not attractive, especially in a 200+ year-old house. Most websites I've visited boast 40 to 60K BTU, and am wondering if that's possible.

Rob.

 

[sudsmaster]

Offhand I'd say they won't be near as efficient as a sealed fireplace insert. That's because you'll still constantly be losing heated room air up the flue. The most efficient setup would be a direct vent (I think that's what it's called) insert that takes in outdoor air for combustion and recirculates room air for heating.

I have seen lower tech versions of the product you're looking at. They are simply big tubes that are open at the bottom to take in room air and at the top to expel it, once heated, back into the room. Some fireplaces also have had such passageways built into the brickwork.

If it were me I'd look at Craig'slist to see if anybody is selling or giving away an insert.

 

[jamiel]

I've got them on my fireplace with gas logs...there's a rheostat on the fan.

Never have used them, but I'm not a huge fireplace guy. I think you've got to be raised with a fireplace to want to bother. I use it only when entertaining.

 

[spankomatic]

There are some pretty hot looking fire place inserts out there these days. My sister had 2 installed in their Tahoe house. What a huge difference they made. The use natural gas,has a remote control to regulate tempurture,and look like the real thing (has real flame). They have radiant heat throughout the house but these new inserts makes the house feel really warm and cosey in the winter.

Jim

 

[intuitive]

Try these for size....

These are brillant Just drop in, whack on a flue & away you go... they throw out incredible heat too

Originally made in South Africa... now not too sure

http://www.jetmaster.com.au/files/jm_wood_gas_brochure_web.pdf

 

[jeb]

fireplace

In the ancient of times (when I was a child) we had one of these in our fireplace. The fireplace was made of fieldstones and to retro fit doors or an insert would have been cost prohibitive. I remember when my dad brought home the Grate-o-lator. My mother was not pleased with the look of it and we only used it a few years. (she had him take it out during the summer months so she wouldn't have to look at it). As a kid I do rember it did blow out alot of heat and circulated the warm air much better than the fireplace alone. Jeff

 

[gizmo]

the enclosed fireplaces with a glass door have much better efficiency - they make more heat from less wood. We had one in our old house and the heat was great, it heated most of the house and we live in a very cold damp area (by Australian standards). The old one was a fireplace insert, the new house will soon be getting a freestanding version.

This is the model of our older one:

Chris

http://www.barbequesgalore.com.au/products/productdisplay.aspx?productid=18231

 

[jaxsunst]

My house had one when I moved in. Useless.