Do window air conditioners work if installed in a fireplace?

Question

Would the chimney function similarly to a window?

Answer 1

The simple answer, is yes it will work.

No, you do not want to do this.

A chimney is designed to draft air from inside your home, through the fire, and up the chimney. With the window unit in place, you won't have the natural draft that lifts the air up and out of your home.

A window mount air cooler works by removing the heat from the living space, and dumping the heat outside. As the air cooler runs, humidity in the atmosphere will collect on the evaporator coils, and condense in the lower pan. This water is then channeled to the condenser coil where the outdoor fan picks it up and throws it on the condenser to 1, aid in cooling the condenser, and 2, get rid of the water. If there is more humidity in the room than the condenser process can remove, you have excess water that will run out of the cooler, onto (normally) the ground. In your fireplace, this water will collect on the floor of your fireplace. Water is not good for the mortar in a firebox, as it will soak into the very dry brick, and this winter when you light the fire, the water will expand and crack the brick and mortar. Yes, I know that you are saying "well, when I rapidly oxidize hydrocarbons (burn a log), I get CO2, heat and H20. Doesn't this moisture hurt my chimney? No, it doesn't, as the moisture is in vapor form, not liquid, and is carried out the chimney.

Through-the-wall units are available, and if you are fairly capable of simple carpentry, can be installed by a confident homeowner, or by a reputable contractor.

Keep on Koolin'

Answer 2

the problem with this idea is.... you would lose a lot of efficency of the unit because the heated air it would blow out to cool the condenser into the chimney would also be the same air it would draw into the unit to cool the condenser.....thereby causing the air temperature to become so high it could not remove enough heat to allow your unit to work properly and would shorten the life of the compressor because it would always be running on a higher pressure because of the lack of sufficient cooling air for the condenser......you would not have to be concerned about the unit blowing soot or anything into your house as the air that is blown into your house comes from inside your house to begin with....you would seal the chimney from the house eliminating this problem...

Answer 3

I mean... It might work... If the chimney is insanely clean.

Otherwise you're going to be blowing soot all over your house!

Funny idea, though.

Answer 4

NOOOOOOO!!!! PLEASE do not do this! I sure hope this is a joke. lol.