Masonry Fireplaces
A traditional fireplace built by a mason, starts below the frost line with a concrete foundation and ends with a tile-lined flue that runs from the firebox – where you lay the logs – to well above the roof a masonry chimney. A damper closes the flue when the fireplace is not in use and an ash door on the floor of the firebox lets you sweep ashes into a chute that you can empty from the basement or into an opening outside. A masonry fireplace is a desirable is a desirable architectural asset to a house. However in use they can rob your house of furnace-warmed air and pollute the environment with unburned toxic gases while producing flammable creosote in the chimney and creating a fire hazard. If the damper doesn’t have a tight seal, a traditional fireplace can draw warm air up the flue even when it is not in use. A quick fix is to place a large sheet of the of clear acrylic over the fireplace opening when it is not in use. If the surround is smooth, suction will hold the plate tightly in position. You can improve the performance of a traditional several ways. Adding glass doors and a tubular grate are relatively inexpensive and should be considered if you use the fireplace at all. A fireplace insert is more costly but well worth the investment if you really enjoy a fireplace and use it frequently.
Glass doors can be mounted without much trouble in the fireplace opening. Better models will have vents above and below and will seal tightly to the fireplace. The glass radiates heat into the room and cuts the loss of heated room air up the flue. Most glass door assemblies also include metal mesh screens that pull across the fireplace opening for spark control when the glass doors are open. Glass doors are not difficult to install in square or rectangular openings. Manufacturer’s instructions vary, but typically you need to drill holes in the masonry, set masonry anchors, and fasten the unit in place with screws. Many fireplace stores and home centers will install glass door assemblies for you for a modest fee. Units to fit arched fireplace openings can be special ordered.
A tubular grate with extension tubes and a blower to circulate heat into the room improves fireplace efficiency. A fan draws cool air at floor level into the tubes, where it is heated and then blown back into the room. If your fireplace is a standard size, you can buy and install a tubular grate yourself, plugging it into a receptacle near the fireplace opening. Just be sure that the electrical cord is insulated properly to withstand the heat.
A fireplace insert is in effect a small wood-burning stove that fits into the firebox. The best models include catalytic converters and secondary combustion chambers to create higher fire temperatures and burn off pollutants and a fan to circulate the heat into the room.
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