How to choose a place in the house for a fireplace so that there is good draft?

Rating of fireplaces for a country house with a water circuit

Such fireplaces look aesthetically pleasing and are suitable for creating a comfortable temperature at home. In the devices mentioned above, almost half of the heat escapes through the chimney. These devices improve the efficiency of combustion. However, the cost of installing such equipment will cost a little more. It is required to provide that water is automatically topped up. If this is not done, the pipeline may explode. Therefore, it is better to entrust installation and design to professionals.

Angara Aqua

Top sheet ovens must be safe, attractive and efficient. Angara Aqua meets all these requirements. It has a 10 liter heat exchanger. It does not have to be connected to the heating system, but it will still remain in working order.Before connecting the fireplace, it is imperative to pour water into the heat exchanger. You can use antifreeze instead of water.

Angara Aqua

Characteristics:

• wall type;
• 13 kW;
• top connection;
• heat exchanger 10 liters;
• glass door;
• weight 200 kg.

pros

• You can heat a cottage up to 200 sq. meters;
• you can use antifreeze;
• coal and firewood will be used as firewood;
• easy to mount;
• there is an ash box;
• nice appearance.

Minuses

not identified.

MBS Thermo Vesta

A very successful model from a Serbian manufacturer. It can be connected to an existing heating system for better performance. The door is cast iron, there is an ash pan that can be pulled out of the oven to completely clean it. This is especially convenient if the fireplace is used in the country, as the ash is often used as fertilizer. Water can be heated up to 90 degrees using just 2 barrels of pressure. Only the top panel is used for connection. Optionally, it can be connected to a solid fuel boiler for autonomous operation.

MBS Thermo Vesta

Characteristics:

• wall type;
• 11 kW;
• water circuit 9 kW;
• top connection;
• heat exchanger 4 liters;
• lining - vermiculite;
• glass door;
• weight 95 kg.

pros

• very light model;
• high performance;
• can work autonomously or through central heating;
• quality assembly;
• acceptable price;
• small price.

Minuses

no hob.

MBS Thermo Vesta with water circuit

La Nordica TermoNicoletta D.S.A.

The model is included in the rating of the best long-burning fireplace stoves. She has a wall position. In the production, cast iron was used to create a firebox.But the cladding is ceramic, so the fireplace has excellent aesthetic properties. There are several color solutions, which allows you to find the right option for a given interior. The chimney is installed from above.

La Nordica TermoNicoletta D.S.A.

Characteristics:

• wall type;
• 15 kW;
• water circuit 12 kW;
• chimney 160 mm;
• heat exchanger 4 liters;
• lining - vermiculite;
• glass door;
• weight 220 kg.

pros

• looks nice;
• several color options;
• quality assembly;
• space heating up to 350 sq. meters;
• any fuel other than coal;
• easy to mount.

Minuses

high price.

Stove-fireplace La Nordica TermoNicoletta D.S.A.

Eurokom Lotos 17 WT

It's probably the best stove for a summer residence. It is made of steel, and the firebox is made of chamotte. There is a lever that allows you to control the air supply. This is necessary to establish the burning rate. A very useful feature, especially at night. Glass can withstand temperatures up to 750 degrees. The chimney must be fed from above. The manufacturer also provided a hob, which allows you to save electricity in the country.

Eurokom Lotos 17 WT

Characteristics:

• wall type;
• 7 kW;
• water circuit 5 kW;
• heat exchanger 3 liters;
• lining - fireclay;
• glass door;
• weight 85 kg.

pros

• a small fireplace that is easy to install;
• it is possible to cook food;
• adequate price;
• high quality steel is used;
• Efficiency 75%, according to the manufacturer;
• there is a small woodshed.

Minuses

not identified.

These are the best long-burning stoves for home and summer cottages with a water circuit.

Important. If you plan to connect to a central heating system, you can significantly save fuel and space heating

But the building is getting warmer. The rating includes high-power models that are able to heat large cottages.

Necessary accessories

You need to prepare for the first kindling in your life. There are a few seemingly insignificant things that should be on hand when you start lighting a fireplace in your home:

Poker. It is necessary that she reach the back wall and the far corners of the furnace, then it will be convenient for her to work.

Scoop. It should be light, non-combustible, pass in width through the ash drawer door

When choosing, pay attention to metal scoops: they meet all the requirements.

Canvas gloves. The firebox door handle, poker and shovel can become hot

Canvas gloves protect the skin from burns and are comfortable to work in. Cloth vachegi, for example, are significantly inferior to them in terms of comfort. It is convenient to hold a thick crowbar in them, but not a poker.

Ways to improve traction

When the gases from the furnace try to get to the pipe, there is an effort called draft. How to properly lay out the fireplace so that it has good traction?

There are no loop chimneys in the fireplace scheme, which are typical for conventional stoves. The penetration of air into the chimney through small and inconspicuous gaps between the masonry bricks greatly worsens the draft. Such gaps must be urgently disposed of with their own hands.

Chimney section geometry

The next parameter for maintaining good draft is a small hydraulic resistance in the chimney pipe, which is determined by the configuration of the section. The round section is considered optimal, the resistance in the square section is worse. If the cross section is in the form of a rectangle, then the resistance is the highest.This is explained by the fact that the gases that arise during the combustion of fuel move worse in the pipes. Where there are corners. The product of combustion accumulates in the corners - soot. It is recommended to arrange chimney channels with a section in the form of a circle. Such pipes are made of ceramic or asbestos cement.

Section size

The walls inside the chimneys are made smooth, again, so that they do not become overgrown with soot. Sloped chimneys should only be used when absolutely necessary. In places of slopes there is additional resistance, which lengthens the path of gases. The deviation of the chimney by only 30 degrees is allowed. The size of the cross section of the chimney directly depends on the size of the opening of the fireplace insert. The pipe is one tenth or one fifteenth of the firebox. But the pipe cannot be quite small, the smallest size is 14 x 27 centimeters.

Header installation

The size of the pipe head installed on the roof, namely the width of the wall, is made in one brick. But if you decide to insulate pipes with plaster or other heaters, then you can make the wall thickness half a brick. For better traction, it is better to install a simple head without additional elements and protrusions. To protect against natural precipitation, nozzles are installed. And to protect the house from sparks, you need to put on a metal cap with a tight-fitting lid.

What is a fireplace?

A fireplace is a type of stove that generates heat by burning solid fuel. The classic option is firewood, like a conventional wood-burning boiler, but you can heat the fireplace with coal, and special briquettes or pellets.The fuel burns due to the air draft created by the fireplace design. The blower channel provides cold air to the main chamber, where combustion takes place. The smoke goes into the smoke box, and then is discharged through the chimney, providing sufficient draft for the active combustion process of firewood. The resulting heat is distributed throughout the house depending on the design of the fireplace.

The fireplace consists of four main parts:

1. Portal. This is the external, frontal part of the fireplace, which has both a constructive function and a decorative one. It can be made of brick, natural stone, marble, artificial stone. The portal is decorated with various decor, it can be made in any style suitable for the interior of the house. The top part is used as a mantelpiece.
2. Firebox. This is the central part of the fireplace, the chamber in which fuel is burned and heat is generated for heating. For the manufacture of the firebox, refractory metal or heat-resistant bricks are used. It may be open or have a door.
3. Khailo (smoke collector). Needed only for fireplaces with an open type firebox. It is a special chamber where smoke is collected before entering the chimney.
4. Chimney. A vertical pipe for removing smoke outside the house, providing draft for active combustion of fuel in the main chamber of the fireplace.

The fireplace has several varieties, each of which has its own design features, and therefore, fireplaces are classified according to several criteria.

Expert advice

Puzzled by the process of designing a fireplace in a house, experts in the ancient teachings of Feng Shui suggest paying attention to a number of subtleties that must be taken into account:

1. Every person who sits by an open fire must see the front door to the room.
2. Fireplace inserts are not installed in the direction of the front door, since such an arrangement does not contribute to the delay of the energy that the fire exudes.
3. It is not recommended to place the back of the firebox against the wall facing the outside, so, literally and figuratively, all the heat goes outside.
4. If it is not possible to change the location of the fireplace, then the outer wall must first be covered with a mirror screen so that it returns energy to the house.
5. It is strictly forbidden by the rules of Feng Shui to make a fireplace in the bedroom, such an arrangement contributes to the deterioration of health and general well-being of people living in the room.
6. The shape of the hearth should be soft and smooth, so it is preferable to make round or oval designs, abandoning standard rectangular or classic square fireplaces, if this rule is not followed, the balance is disturbed and disharmony is created.

Installing a mirror above the fireplace

These rules are mandatory. In addition to them, there are some other recommendations that, if possible, should be followed.

If the owners want to install a fireplace in front of a mirrored wardrobe, then this idea should be abandoned due to the fact that this object will reflect the energy coming from the fire, returning it to the chimney. It is better to install a similar element, or a large picture, on a fireplace, in this case, the heat energy will also be reflected, but it will remain in the room.

The practice of feng shui involves keeping the fireplace insert exceptionally clean.It is necessary to regularly wipe the grate, select the ashes and clean the chimney so that the energy in the room is not polluted.

The use of modern technology in the interior

In those situations when an inactive hearth is used, and its imitation, where there is no open fire, Qi energy is not generated and the design becomes only a decorative element. To prevent this, indoor flowers in pots are placed inside the firebox, and symbols of good luck, wealth, family well-being (coins with a red ribbon, own photographs, porcelain swans, etc.) are erected on the fireplace.

To stimulate the circulation of positive energy, it is recommended to install fresh flowers on both sides of the fireplace portal.

Experts insist that the fireplace under no circumstances should be located in the northern or northwestern part of the room. If this advice is neglected, then constant conflicts and quarrels will begin to flare up in the family, the position of a man as a family leader will be lost or weakened.

If you can’t install a fireplace away from the window, then you need to put aroma lamps and candles on the windowsill. They will help to keep the maximum level of energy that comes from an open hearth, without letting it out into the street.

The teachings of Feng Shui are quite ancient and wise. Experts from this field are completely and completely sure that not only the mood, but also the health of the household, the strength of family ties depends on the correct location of all objects in housing. If you are not sure that you will be able to independently choose a suitable place for the location of the fireplace, observing all the canons, it is better to contact an experienced specialist with this question.

Choosing a room for a fireplace

According to generally accepted ideas, the draft depends only on the design of the chimney and its geometric parameters. Moreover, the minimum height of the pipe cannot be less than 5 meters - it is measured from the level of the furnace to the upper end of the head, and the optimal one is not lower than the roof ridge. The cross section of the chimney cannot be less than 1/10 of the cross section of the furnace.

That is, the main place of the fireplace in the house is in a room with an area of ​​​​20 "squares". If you fold the fireplace in a smaller room, get ready for problems. Your hearth will smoke even at the kindling stage.

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Wood stoves for heating

Stove heating today it is not used in apartments, but it is relevant for houses.

Some may think that stove heating is an outdated option, but this is not so: today, the method of heating rooms in this way has acquired a new meaning, because. received new technological solutions.

Wood-burning stoves are classic solid fuel heaters designed to heat rooms up to 200 m2 or more. Recommended for installation in cottages and country houses, as well as in baths and saunas.

When choosing heating wood burning stoves give preference to models:

• long burning - they are the most energy efficient;
• with a firebox with a volume of about 30 liters. They are economical and do not require too frequent reloading of logs;
• with chrome steel body. According to customer reviews, they are the most reliable and durable;
• with compact dimensions.They weigh less and are quicker to install, and can fit into tight spaces.

Modern Russian wood-burning stoves for heating are distinguished by a well-thought-out security system and allow you to adjust the temperature regime at the heated object. Also, thanks to the introduction of engineering solutions and reliable automation, the traditional wood-burning stove has become much more efficient.

The wood burning stove has the highest efficiency. It is necessary to load fuel into it at intervals of 1 to 3 days.

Fireplace stoves are also well suited for use in country cottages. They are attractive with their noble design and are often the centerpiece of the interior.

For a steam room or a sauna, a sauna heater will be the best option. Its thermal power is enough to quickly warm up a room up to 40 m3 or more.

Such furnaces are available with and without a water circuit.

If you have a stove with a water circuit, it can heat rooms remote from the unit itself using water pipes: the water, passing through the stove, heats up, and then carries heat into the house.

You can purchase a cheaper and simpler option if you have a small one-room house, that is, your choice is a stove without a water circuit: then only the stove itself will radiate heat.

Fireplace fuel

Varieties of various trees are used as fuel for the fireplace. Spruce and pine wood is not very suitable for kindling. The wood of these coniferous trees burns out quickly, and due to the abundance of resin, a lot of soot is formed. It is best to take birch and oak, they burn for a long time, with a hot flame, retain heat well.To fire a fireplace on a grate, cleaned of ash, they put brushwood, splinter, paper, small chips with their own hands. Larger logs are placed on top.

By following all the rules for building fireplaces, you will get an excellent stove structure and spend unforgettable evenings in front of the hearth.

Additional factors

When building a fireplace or stove, you should not rely only on a physical phenomenon, since there are many factors that can greatly enhance its manifestations or minimize it. The task of a competent craftsman is to provide for the possibility of influencing traction during the operation of the fireplace by various means. But for this he must know what it depends on.

Have you noticed such a pattern that in winter it is easier to light a fireplace without smoke than in summer? Answering the question why the draft in the fireplace is greater in winter than in summer, we will have to return to theory. The buoyancy force depends not so much on the density itself, but on the difference between this value in the upper and lower layers. In summer, the temperature does not change so critically with increasing altitude. In winter, the temperature difference and, consequently, the density affects to a greater extent. Therefore, the magnitude of the force in winter is much greater.
The draft in the chimney depends on the length of its channel. The higher the chimney, the greater the temperature difference will be. But too high a pipe will cause the combustion intensity to be excessively high. Then the consumption of solid fuel will sharply increase without increasing heat transfer. Poor draft can be the cause of a pipe that is too low. It is believed that the height of the chimney, counted from the grate, should be a little more than 5 meters

But, when erecting a chimney in each specific case, the master pays attention to its orientation relative to the roof ridge, high structures located nearby, takes into account the direction of swirling flows, which is constant due to the location of the buildings.

Permissible elevations of chimneys above buildings

The area of ​​the smoke hole directly affects the draft. Even with a high pressure difference, a small area can increase air resistance

For the normal operation of the fireplace, it is important not only the amount of air consumed, but also the speed of its flow. Therefore, chimneys are built strictly in accordance with the developed schemes, in which all parameters are indicated, including the hole area.

An excessively large channel contributes to the release of useful energy with combustion products.

The products of combustion and warm air removed through the chimney steadily lead to a rarefaction in the room. If it is hermetically sealed, then after a while the pressure inside will become less than outside and cold air from the street, along with smoke, will rush back through the chimney into the room. This phenomenon is called reverse thrust. To prevent this from happening, it is required to ensure ventilation in the room, the supply of a portion of fresh air.

Basic design of furnaces

Different models may have more or less equipment with various functional devices, additional systems and options. But the basic equipment of each firebox always implies the presence of such elements as:

• frame
• door
• door glass
• convection holes for hot air outlet
• grate
• smoke box
• ash pan
• sliding door
• regulators for changing operating modes

As additional options, inserts can be equipped with various devices that increase heating efficiency and comfort of use:

• long burning system
• clear glass system
• automatic ash dump
• multilevel combustion air supply
• distribution of convection currents
• fine-tuning of combustion modes in a wide range
• automatic ignition
• remote control (automatic and remote control)
• control from smartphone or tablet
• the ability to use an insert in the format of an open fireplace
• hydro circuit for the organization of water heating and hot water supply
• branch pipes for connecting air ducts and distributing heat to other rooms
• clean flue gas afterburning system
• automatic closing/opening of the door
• protection against unauthorized opening of the door
• grill grate for cooking

Other types of fireplaces

In addition to wood-burning fireplaces, heating appliances that run on other fuels are on sale. Such models are installed much faster and easier than brick ones, as they are sold ready-made and require a minimum of effort to connect them or simply install them:

A gas-fired fireplace is easy not only to install, but also to operate, but it must be connected by a master who has permission for this. It is mandatory for the gas supply control organization to obtain permission to install it, and this is often the reason for the reluctance to install this device.

For a gas fireplace, you do not need to install a separate chimney - it will be enough to connect it to a coaxial chimney that is led through the wall.

Inside the firebox there are accessories that imitate firewood and live fire.

• An electric fireplace is suitable not only for a house, but also for an apartment. Such models can be stationary and mobile. Some stationary fireplaces are made in the form of fireplace inserts with beautiful portals around the hearth. Such a device does not require a chimney, it just needs to be installed and connected to an electrical outlet. Modern models of fireplaces are equipped with electronics, which allows you to control its heating, switching and turning off using the remote control.
• Recently, eco-fireplaces powered by ethyl alcohol have been actively coming into fashion. They do not require other fuel and are quite economical, but they will not warm the room, and serve only as a decorative decoration of the interior. It can be said that a biofireplace is designed to warm the soul and create a certain mood and atmosphere, rather than as a heating device.
• You can also make a simple imitation of a fireplace made of drywall and a metal profile. Of course, it will not be possible to light a fire in such a decorative fireplace, but it will perfectly decorate the wall and serve as a shelf for interior accessories.

If there is a desire to install a fireplace in the house, there will be no problems with this, just adequately assess your strengths, whether you are ready to lay out a brick fireplace or your zeal is only enough to buy and install a decorative fireplace. To date, the choice of materials and finished products is so wide that it is not difficult to purchase or build the desired version of the fireplace. The main thing is that you need to get together and get down to business in earnest, and if you have already started, be sure to finish building it to the end!

Which chimney is better

When arranging a chimney, the right material plays an important role.It is best to use pipes made of stainless steel. Outside, they are trimmed with bricks, blocks, laying out a pipe that looks like a classic fireplace. In this case, the brick can be used not only heat-resistant. The pipes have a high level of protection against heat, so the brickwork will not get very hot.

When installing a steel pipe in the form of an insert in a smoke exhaust duct, a door must be installed to inspect the system and clean it. Such doors are placed in places of inclination, where decomposition products can give out sediment. The smoke exhaust system is cleaned through the windows.

Ceramic pipes designed for chimney installation have proven themselves well. They are very expensive, which is why they are rarely used. Outside, they are ennobled with hollow expanded clay concrete blocks, bricks. As a result, the pipes of the smoke exhaust system are hidden inside an attractive box.

A headband is put on top of any type of structure. In places where pipes pass through combustible structures, reliable, refractory insulation is mounted.

Basic Criteria

If we consider the question of how to choose an electric fireplace exclusively within the framework of certain criteria, the following series of properties can be distinguished:

Dimensions of the entire structure. The choice of dimensions of an electric fireplace should be made based on the dimensions of the particular room in which it will be installed.

It is important to observe visual proportions, for large rooms look for large, massive and lush appliances, for small ones - small ones.

portal style. The appearance of the entire product must match the style of the design of the room.

It is also desirable to take into account the color scheme.In this case, the interior will be harmonious, balanced with a pronounced accent.

Decoration Materials. The material from which the portal is made can be different, wood, MDF, polyurethane are actively used, gypsum, stone, ceramics, marble are less commonly used. The worst option would be a frame made of plastic, an unnatural and not of the highest quality material, which, when heated, can evaporate harmful substances.

Device management. It is very good if the device has flexible options for setting up its work. For example, regulation of the heating level, increasing the intensity of the fire, its brightness, the height of the flame, the sound level.

Bright and pleasant design of the living room

Device power. This parameter is important if the system is equipped with a heating function. For normal heat transfer, a power of the order of 1.5-2.5 kW is required

At the same time, it is important what quality your wiring in the house is, whether it can withstand such loads. If the apparatus is used solely as a decorative element, this criterion can be omitted.

In this case, the device becomes truly energy-saving.

Sound accompaniment. Most devices have a sound range, but there are also models where such functionality is installed additionally, if desired. It is very good if the device has a USB through which you can control the sound, for example, turn on the burning of firewood, the rustle of the wind, splashes of water or music.

The possibility of using flavors. Some devices make it possible to generate a certain smell, which, as you understand, is directly related to burning wood. In principle, the smell can be whatever you choose.

Air humidification.Electric fireplaces with a steam generator allow you to additionally humidify the air in the room, which is very convenient. For a house outside the city, such functionality is not so necessary, but for small city apartments with unregulated heating it is very useful.

It makes no sense to recommend any specific manufacturers, since at present a large number of companies produce fairly high-quality devices. At the same time, it should be understood that the cost of a normal device cannot be minimal. In addition, often for a complete set you have to buy additional accessories. To create a good hearth in the house will require some budget, and this must be understood.

Having figured out what an electric fireplace is, having learned the main criteria for choosing it, you will certainly choose the right option for home use. A hearth of this level will bring peace, warmth and comfort to your home. At the same time, the understanding that your fake hearth may and will be present, but the fact that it works autonomously and does not require special care, will definitely set you in the most positive way.