Replies

1. 
   PD | Mar 25, 2006 09:36am | #1

   I don't believe these vents play a role in supplying air for combustion. They are a passive air circulation system to better distrubute the heat so you don't lose so much up the chimmney.

2. 
   LeeLamb | Mar 25, 2006 02:48pm | #2

   Mine is simply a steel walled heat exchanger.  The inlets are floor level and the outlet registers are hidden at six feet alongside built-in shelves.  They put out enough BTUs to heat the house (1,300 sf). Only fault is that the heat is at the ceiling. I use a box fan to direct it down the hall. 

   There might (will) be a concentration of heat if you eliminate the airflow.  If they typically have all-day, roaring fires of hardwood I'd consult an engineer or the manufacturer. I think Donley Brothers of Cleveland, Ohio made the unit.  Good luck.

    

1. 
   webby | Mar 25, 2006 09:22pm | #3

   Hey, anyone game to help me figure out my fireplace.

   It is a Martin Industries model BWH 36 A. Circa 1983.

   It has confused me ever since I bought the house.

   First of all the firebox back looks like a real fire brick but it seems like it is laminated to a metal skin, anyway, when I knock on it with my knuckle it sounds hollow. It also looks like there is a gap or seam in the middle that I am not sure is sound, sort of like the back is made of two peices on each side.  The sides of the firebox are metal. It seems that there is a double wall type structure around the fire box as there are some large square vents with what looks like louvers up front near the spark screen, on each side.

   There are two fans at the base of the brick hearth one on each side. Above the mantle there are two heating registers which if I remember right come upwards from the fire box then turn out to blow into the room.  Outside on each side of the chimney there are two air inlets i guess for make up air. There is also a single wall 6 inch peice of duct that runs to the furnace and into the cold air return I don't know exactly where it attaches to the fireplace.

   I haven't used it for a long time and I really need to have a sweep clean the chimney and check it out. Last time I tried to use it smoke seemed to enter the central air system and get blown all over the house it was awful.

   Any idea how my system is designed to work.

   Webby

   Edited 3/25/2006 2:25 pm ET by webby