Fireplaces, Heating Stoves, Flues and Chimneys - Heatilator & glass doors

My fireplace is steel lined (I think it is called a "steel form fireplace") and has convection chambers surrounding it within the brickwork. There are two low intake grills that pull cold air into the chambers and two high output grills with fans that force out hot air that has been circulating behind the stell form. Works very nice.

QUESTION: Are glass fireplace doors meant to be closed while the fire is blazing? Does it matter? We get more heat from the convection chambers than radiates out of the fireplace.

When you first start the fire and get it blazing, the doors should be open. Keep the screen closed to prevent sparks from flying out. After it dies down some, then you close the doors. If you have gas logs, then the door should always be open. If it's a see-through model, both doors should be open or closed at the same time.

For the sake of safety, make sure you have your chimney cleaned on a regular basis. A chimney professional can keep an eye on the condition of the crown. If you do not have a chimney cap, the chimney professional can install one.

Thanks. I definately intend to have a pro look it over every second year. Had a cap installed when we moved in 3 years ago. We use the f/p about 25% of the time when its real cold so its not on constantly. I also saw some pyro-ceram doors which I am going to invest in. Can keep the doors closed then and get the radiated heat. Will install one of those bulbous wire mesh jobs sitting out on the hearth to keep the kids away. Pyro-ceram is not tempered like "regular" fireplace door glass is.

I have the same thing but with no fan. Where is your fan located? My 2 high grills are only about 7" square.
I am thinking about bringing outside air in through the ash dump. Do you have an ash dump?

No ash dump. I'd like some outside air too -- just not sure how to get it. Fans are located on intakes (lower grill pair). They are about 7 & 3/4" X 7 & 3/4". Let me know if you come up with something else for outside air combustion. One thing - I am going to widen the grill slats on the intakes and output grills -- right now they are very tight.

Do you have any idea just how the chambers run? I have often wondered. Wish I had a gerbil with a hardhat and a camera:rolleyes:

Zero it looks like to me. With a flashlight I can see that it is just the steel jacket (the firebox) suspended in air, as it were. Between the jacket and the masonary structure is air. When the jacket heats up the surrounding air cushion heats up. Thats enough to crank out 40 C heat with the fan going. Those boxes get hot even with a moderate flame. Never have built a bonfire it it ). BTW, an inspectors mirror or such would give you an even better view... its pretty easy to see in there.