outside air intake for wood burning fp

[mjmeyers]

I'm having a wood burning fireplace installed on an interior wall in the house that we are building. This is a heat circulating model (lennox superior bc-42) with blower fan. I had requested that they install the outside air intake mechanism. When the fireplace was installed, the installer did not install the air intake, which I discovered after the fact. The builder asked the isntaller about it and the installer said that it was overrated and did not do much good. In fact, they claim they very rarely do it for an interior wood fireplace. So, my question is: Should I demand that the outside air intake be installed? It's not too late as the drywall has not been installed yet.

Thanks!

Marv

[majakdragon]

Just my 2¢ worth. Fire needs air to burn. If it isn't getting it from an outside source then it will use the inside air. Lots of that air goes out the chimney. You did not say if the price was deducted from what you were supposed to get, but didn't. If you paid for it, by all means, demand it. I would also have to ask the company that sold it to you why the installer says it doesn't work. Good luck.

[mjmeyers]

That's what I thought, too. I am waiting for the installer to return my phone call. I report back with his response.

[Ed Imeduc]

With dragon here for sure. We built or make up duct work or just pipe to go into the firsplace here all the time you cant run one with out it. Have put them in the floor in front but they work best in the hearth right in front of the glass doors. This way any cold air goes right into the fire box and not across the home or room. From out side. I have had frost on the register there in front of the fire and the home just as warm as could be. I have said this before here but Ill go one more time A time back had a call to a home. Had high electric bills so used a fire place all the time. They called they had no water in the home . Went there and started to look around. now this was a big home on a slab. long hall way.Ran down the cold air and found that the fireplace had been getting its air from the dryer vent pipe and out the dryer. this made it so cold in the inside wall in the home that it froze the water pipes in the inside wall there on them. Then had a home we did. firplace on the first floor open stairs to the lower level or basement. Worked just fine first year. Then he went around the whole home and caluked every thing up. Next winter calls cold as H** in the basement now. Go to it big fire in the fireplace go in the lower level cold. Go on over to the flue on the gas furnace and boy is cold air comeing out of there. All going over to the stairs and up to the fireplace. I guess if this didnt happento start in the day and as cold as it was by the nest morning the carbon monoxide would have got them.

My .02 cents ED :wall: you need that intake for sure

[BobDeRitter]

We have a small woodburning stove in our downstairs FR (22" Consolodated DW). It does not have an outside air source, other than us opening a window a crack. If I were to add an outside vent, how large of a vent is needed? Because of stove placement I would have to duct the vent thru the ajoining garage, estimating a vertical run of 8 feet and horizontal of an additional 12. Would a run that long require a fan?

[Joe.Carrick]

I agree that it is a good idea to have outside air ducted to the fireplace. Most built-in metal fireplaces have provisions for it. For Masonry fireplaces the best solution is a ducted vent from the exterior to either or both sides of the firebox just above the hearth.

However, we have a freestanding swedish style fireplace http://www.malmfireplaces.com/carosel.html at our log home in the mountains of Southern California. This fireplace is on a raised hearth in the middle of the Great Room and has glass panels all around the fire pit. It has a large cone shaped metal hood and exposed metal chimney pipe going up to the roof ( about 12' of pipe ). There is no outside combustion air to this fireplace. Nevertheless, it heats the home very efficiently because of the large metal surface area of the hood and chimney pipe which radiates an enormous amount of heat back into the space. Combustion air is drawn into the fire thru the small spaces between the glass panels (mostly at the hinged panel) and the fire swirls like a little whirlwind. It only takes the equivalent of 3 14" long 2x4's to provide a roaring fire. Having a fire for about 1-2 hours when the temp outside is in the teens will keep the log home warm for 6-8 hours.

[Ed Imeduc]

BobDeRitter you wont need a fan in the pipe there it will draw the air in alright Id sa a 6" pipe and be sure and put insulation on it the paper side out to the garage.

ED ;)

[mjmeyers]

Here's my followup: I finally got a hold of the installer Monday. His excuse was that they usually do not install the outside air intake on a fireplace that is located on an interior wall. That was about it. He said they would put it in for me. So I got what I wanted in the end--I just had to ask for it twice. :wall: Lesson of the Day: Always check on the work of the subcontractors!!