Can a wood burning fireplace uses a metal chimney that run indoor to release all valuable energy before it cools down and goes out the wall (not roof)?
2007-08-07 10:07:39 · 8 answers · asked by Xiaopin R 1 in Environment ➔ Green Living
I'm a little confused by this question, but I'll try to answer it to the best of my knowledge.
99% of wood burning fireplaces are essentially 0% efficient. They are sold as aesthetic only. Typically, they ONLY heat the immediate vicinity around the fireplace. If you get a blower and a flue, it will increase the efficiency. There IS a fireplace called a Norwegian fireplace (I think that's what they are called) and they have a multi-baffled chimney, which causes the heat to slow it's upward ascent. The fireplace is typically made of stone, and the stones collect the heat. The amazing thing is, the stones get very hot to the touch, and they retain the heat for almost 21 hours per fire. So, you stoke one fire, and the fireplace heats the house well after it's extinguished. Just to note, gas fireplaces can be upwards of 70-80% efficient.
Typically, wood burning STOVES have black pipe in the room (fireplaces don't), which converts to double or triple walled insulated stainless steel pipe when they go through a wall or ceiling. Here are some words of advice. A chimney needs to be elevated approximately 4 feet above the roof line. I have seen people just stick a stove pipe out the wall and start a fire, but the problem is, occasionally hot embers are expelled out the pipe. If an ember doesn't extinguish before sticking to your wall, dry grass, or your roof you could start a house fire. It you don't install a wood burning fireplace/stove correctly and a house fire starts, here's what your insurance will tell you, "You decided to not install this in accordance to code, so we are NOT responsible for your negligence!" And, you won't get any money.
Lastly, the metal pipe needs to be maintained at a certain temperature, because heat rises, and smoke is very hot. If the pipe is too cold, you could have a problem with draw, or the smoke being released outside, so whenever you open the door to the stove, the smoke will belch into your house (it will follow the path of least resistance).
I used to install wood burners and chimneys, and believe me, it's nothing to cut corners on. Find out your local codes, consult your insurance agency, and do it right. Just because everyone has seen somebody do it a different way, doesn't mean it's done the right/safe way. Oh and clean out the pipes regularly. Creosote has started many a chimney fire, which has destroyed many a house.
2007-08-07 11:04:17 · answer #1 · answered by big k 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yep.
I have seen one chimney that was inside of a cob (sand, straw, and clay) bench. Gets really nice and toasty warm in the winter. Perfect place to sit. And the material of the bench absorbs the heat while the chimney is being used and then slowly releases the heat.
Got to make sure it is done right, as with any chimney. The side effects of a mistake are not good.
2007-08-07 10:26:41 · answer #2 · answered by Still Learning 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it can but there are several issues.. the most important one is safety..
Cooling hot flue gases from a wood burner will cause a film to deposit on the inside of the flue. Usually this is called creosole. Well creosole is highly flammable so your chimney can catch fire when it builds up enough. It is a very serious fire when a chimney catches fire.
This is the major cause of fires from a wood burner.. many many houses are burnt down every year because of crosole buildup inside of chimneys.
2007-08-07 10:27:09 · answer #3 · answered by Attorney 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Climb up onto your roof and start blasting away at whatever is in your chimney with a shotgun. If that doesn't work, you could go to your local hardware store (gun store) and get some dynamite to drop down in there. The latter suggestion might not be conducent to the integrity of said chimney.
2016-05-21 01:18:17 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, as long as the hot metal is kept away from flammable materials. Of course it will not transfer ALL heat, but the more surface area of the metal pipe that is exposed to the air inside the house, the closer you get to capturing all the energy.
2007-08-07 10:13:15 · answer #5 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They make chimneys that actually extract heat from the fire and use forced air to make it heat the room look up Versiheat.
2007-08-07 10:19:07 · answer #6 · answered by David J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No you need uncontaminated air to breathe
chimney´s do not produce that
2007-08-09 07:20:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
yes
2007-08-07 10:35:04 · answer #8 · answered by vladoviking 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋