This one goes out to anyone with knowledge concerning gas fireplace units. As a result of a recent tile floor instalation which revealed how out of square the existing fireplace unit was set to the room, I decided to demo the plain brick facade to get at the unit and realign it before carrying on with a new treatment. Since the fireplace was never very efficient at radiating heat I thought I might get in behind the firebox and set a small wall of bricks around it, close to the metal box to serve as a thermal mass. That way, the heat gain in the ventilation chamber that surrounds the fixture (this chamber is what the fan blowers are supposed to draw warm air from to heat the room. They are pathetically ineffective) is not lost to the dead air in the surrounding fireplace framing cavity. Other than having to do this in tight quarters and working around the return air supply ducts, I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be able to do this. Then again, since it is a metal unit and the chamber is separated from the firebox by an airgap, perhaps it could just be blanketed with insulation. Any thoughts out there?
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Replies
Any Thoughts?
Yes -- contact the manufacturer of the unit. Without that, I think you're asking for permanent problems -- as permanent as death by carbon monoxide. Even if the unit is properly vented to the flue, that open airspace surrounding it might be needed.
Or it might not be -- but you'll never know without contactin the manufacturer.
Don't want that! Thanks. I'll see if they have any solutions.
ANY modification of a manufactured appliance like that is asking for trouble.
Start with your concept that this was ever intended to deliver heat. It was not. It is there for cosmetice purposes. modification to increase delivered BTUs changes the way it is intended to be used. It was tested for underwriters labs seal before becoming available for sale and installation. Those tests were conducted as it is installed now, if installed according to their instructions. Change that and you void the warantee and the underwriters backup. Your homeowners insurance will not be happy with that.
Many places require inspection in a process like this.
Blanketing it with insualtion is the biggest concern I have. I have ssen fires from just this very thing.
The flue is probably a metal one. I'm betting it is only a "B" pipe for gas and oil units. If you are trying to get this to perform like a real fireplace, you'll need a new flue too.
Life is too good to piss away. Don't playu life-fire lotto.
Excellence is its own reward!
Do your homework and locate a premium unit that will meet your heating goals. Don't modify; your changes are their legal "escape route"