[Greenbuilding] HELP: need opinions on Rumford fireplaces

[Corwyn]

On Nov 30, 2006, at 02:03, Jefro wrote:

> We will have back-to-back fireplaces, one pointing into the living room
> and one into an inglenook sort of area adjacent to the kitchen/dining
> room.  The space set aside for the masonry is 4'0" x 5'9", with the
> fireplaces facing on the 5'9" sides.

> We had originally intended to use zero-clearance inserts, but have been
> talked out of those by a local heating expert whom I trust.  He says 
> the
> gas ones are reliable, but the wood-burning ones are not.  So, we're
> going to spend the money on masonry and "real" fireplaces.  I know
> several of you are going to reply "woodstove insert", and we considered
> that very hard.  These are mostly decorative, though, and we really 
> want
> fireplaces rather than woodstoves.

My sister did almost exactly this.  She has a fireplace in the living 
room and another in the adjacent study.  Both rumfords, both with 
outside air.  They are moderately warm while running.  cold when not 
running.  And _really_ cold when the flue is left open (as it often 
is).  She often gets smoke down one flue when she has a fire in the 
other.  Even as 'mostly decorative' they are a huge heat sink.

   She also has a wood stove in the basement, which easily heats that 
whole space.  She now wishes she had put a woodstove insert in the 
where fireplaces are.

> Right now the plan is for an iron insert (with glass door) on the 
> living
> room side,

Why not just use a woodstove insert?  Or is that what you are doing and 
I misunderstand your terminology?

>  and a Rumford fireplace kit on the inglenook side.  Both
> fireboxes will have access to outside air through a vent in the
> supporting masonry underneath.

Outside air is a debated topic.  Some claim they perform no useful 
function.

> We would very much like to hear from others who have experience with
> Rumfords.  Our masonry contractor hasn't built one for several years 
> and
> is having trouble locating local people to discuss them with.  My
> understanding of Rumfords is that there can be problems with smoke
> coming into the room, and we need to avoid this.  We have heard of 
> other
> problems as well, but all seem to be related to air pressure changes
> that can be "fixed" in a number of ways.

Never found a solution to smoking problem other than opening the door 
wide.  At which point you are better off with no fire at all both from 
a heating and a decorative standpoint.

You will get no 'get out of green guilt free' card here.  Even if you 
never light them, they are a heat loss.   I recommend getting 2 
woodstoves (insert or otherwise).  Ones with glass windows are as if 
not more decorative than an open fireplace.  The flames of a proper 
woodstove fire have a transparent bluish quality which is impossible to 
duplicate in an open fireplace.

Thank You Kindly,

Corwyn

-- 
Corwyn
Kermit didn't know the half of it...
http://www.greenfret.com/
corwyn at greenfret.com