I have two Superior Heatform fireplaces in my home, built 1993. The fireplaces have double walls, an outside air intake, a room air intake on both sides of the hearth, with fans that are supposed to bring room air into the fireplace walls. The heat from the fire in the fireplace warms the walls and the air inside the walls is blown out into the room. This part works fine. BUT — if there is no fire in the fireplace, very cold air pours out of the room air intake vents, and the warm air outlet vent above the fireplace, creating a constant cold draft into the room.
I have had numerous suggestions as to what the cause of the problem is from Superior Fireplace (Lennox Hearth Products) consultants, including adding more insulation (done with no improvement) to an accessment of inadequate air intake through the furnace (not the problem according to my heating contractor). Has anyone else had a similar problem with Superior Heatform fireplaces, and how was the problem solved? I am now some two years into trying to solve this issue with the company with no results.
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There is a make up air unit that is installed in a tight home. Every time the bathroom fan goes on, this allows the fresh air to come into the house and "make-up" the exhausted air. Most are near the furnace or in the utility room. sounds like you have your own version on the fireplace. The location you have is inconvienient as it creates drafts.
Hopefully someone here knows of your fireplace system and what you can do to combat the problem. Do you have a make-up unit for your furnace? Having one of those could relieve the problem. At least it would reduce the problem.
I know this is late but I was searching for similar problems. I have a Vestal Fireplace. It to works on convection to warm the air around the firbox and then blow it back into the room. This has been the worst part of my new home. Cold air pours down the flue. To conbat this I am told a chimney cap that seals off the outside air will help. Bu the bigger problem is those air vents.. Think of it this way. Hot air rises, right? So when you've got a fire going the hot air rises and comes out the upper vents and draws the cooler room air in to be heated. It's a convection cycle. The opposite occurs when with no fire, the air in the box is cooled, cold air falls. It falls out of the bottom vents and is displaced by warm room air through the top vents.
To temporarily fix this problem I have covered the lower vents with a wooden board that looks like a book end. This helps a lot. To fix the flue I have cut a piece of cardboard the shape of the opening and when there is no company over I place it in the fireplace.
A permanent fix would be to installglass doors in the opening and some kind of vent that can be sealed for the vents. I might even rebuild the whole fireplace. That's how unhappy I am.
Hope this helps,
Anthony, NY
No message is too late - our problem is still not resolved. We have made the same kinds of temporary adjustments that you have but fireplaces should not work that way. We finally got the factory rep to come out to take a look and he decided that the problem was not the fireplace (naturally!) but that we had a "negative air pressure" in the house which was sucking out the cold air from the fireplace. He said there was a test that could be performed by heating companies that would verify that. Our heating guy said he has never heard of such a test and feels we are getting an adequate supply of fresh outside air. In other words, he says that negative air pressure is not our problem. We are now trying to recontact the fireplace rep to talk with our heating guy and see if there is anything they can agree on. I would also consider rebuilding the firplaces (we have 2) but at this stage, have no confidence that the replacements would be better.
Glass doors.
Cheap and easy.
Also check the damper to see if it is tightly sealed. If you aren't closing it you've got a constant source of draft with a smoky smell. There is some mineral rope available that could "gasket" the damper. Fireplace stores would be your best bet for clues and supplies.
As for the heatalator type vents get a magnet (sheet type) and a picture or some decorative design to close off the upper vents as well. A piece of needlepoint comes to mind as a decoration on the magnet sheets.
Top dampers for fireplaces will solve the problem but cause another. A buddy had one and it never gave him a decent draft when the wind blew from one direction. Lotsa smoke. Plus the chain hangs down the flue thru the existing damper. There is a lot not to like with that solution.
Thanks for your thoughts, but the fireplaces do have glass doors installed. This minimizes the air coming down from the top, but with the "heatalater" type there are additional vents over the top of the fireplace opening and below to each side that emit cold air like the Anartic. The damper seems tight but your suggestion of a gasket sounds interesting. I don't think it will help the main problem but it sounds like a good idea in any case. Thanks.
You've pushed me on the other side regarding the heatalator type vents. It sounds like yours work rather well when the fireplace is heating. The downside is the times you don't have the home fires burning.
I need to build a masonry fireplace in the next year or so. (It is on an interior area so I can put it off on the cottage). I mused on having firebox ventilators like you describe but I think I'll keep it solid to minimize the drafts you describe so well.
Another thought is to go to an HVAC shop and see if there is an all metal damper you can buy or get modified to fit in the (10"square?) heat - vent hole. There are dampers for circular air ducts that are used in businesses. The ceiling heat vents in an office have a hole in the center that you can put a plastic square rod in. By turning the rod you open and close butterfly type of duct flaps. Those flaps are used to achieve a thermal balance in an office building. You could get a 10" version and cut it square with the hinged center running corner to corner inside your vents on the fireplace. Paint it flat black and fasten it inside the vent hole behind the grill with little strips of metal built like angle brackets.
When the fireplace is on, open the flaps so air runs thru. When the fire is done, close the flaps so no air runs thru. It would probably cost you less than 50 bucks for the parts.
Booch,
If you're looking for a good masonry fireplace, try a Rumford @ http://www.rumford.com
They're great!!!!!!!!! (ala Tony the Tiger)
Rod