The new house that we're building at work features a Heatilator Wood Burning Fireplace. Prefabricated wood fireplace inserts are becoming very popular especially with the price of heating fuels. Our customers chose the Accelerator by Heatilator which is a wood burning fireplace insert.
As you can see from the photo we've installed the fireplace early in the construction process. By installing the fireplace early on we can properly install it and make certain that all clearances are maintained as we build the house around the fireplace. Typically these type of fireplaces require some minimum distance between combustible materials. In this case we need to maintain a minimum of 2 inches between the fireplace components and any combustible materials.
This fireplace features two options that make this a great way to supplement your heat. First of all the unit comes with a dedicated fresh air intake. You can see the fresh air intake duct on the left side of the fireplace. It's really important to use outside combustion air in order for the fireplace to work properly. Outside air helps prevent effects from negative air pressure. This fireplace also features a circulating fan to help push warm air from the firebox out into the room. These type of fans really make fireplaces very effective in heating large spaces. This fireplace is located in a large family room that's open to the dining room and kitchen.
Probably the most important part of any wood burning fireplace is the chimney. The chimney has so many different requirements that I'll leave some of it for another day. For this house we'll be building a chimney chase on the roof (the chase will be sided to match the house). Inside the chimney chase will be a UL approved Stainless Steel Class “A” Insulated Chimney pipe. Most fires cause by wood burning fireplaces originate in faulty chimneys. I HIGHLY recommend you hire a certified, reputable company to install your chimney.
I'll write another post when we finish the chimney chase so you can see the finished product.
Tags: Home Improvement, Home Improvement Blog, Home Improvement Advice, Wood Burning Fireplace
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