[permaculture] conventional fireplaces

KNat knat at sprintmail.com
Sat Oct 13 19:51:07 EDT 2007


lbsaltzman at aol.com wrote:
> Has anyone ever come up with a way of retrofitting conventional fireplaces to make them more efficient?? Like many people we are stuck with conventional ones. It would sure be nice to fix them without having to build new ones in addition to the tow we already have.
We did our two to close them up for reducing heat loss. We have lots of 
fallen sticks to bag up in sacks for fires. I used to soak and make logs 
from junkmail but am much happier now shredding it for chicken bedding.
One fireplace has hollow grate w vent system to harvest heat, and glass 
doors. Not great but at least doesn't leak air out anymore. Called a 
heatilator (curbside find round here.)
The other, we added an insert stove found in someone's garage. It uses 
less wood, closes off when not in use, and heats water and a pot of 
beans on top.
The stove is enough to take the edge off until solar heats up. We 
usually use it at night. I've explored adding water heating to the 
process but salvaged some solar water panels so they'll be first.
Both draw room air to burn so I put in a solar air collector to add 
positive pressure (house built pre-1900.)

Peace,
Kathyann



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