How do i build a fireplace heat exchanger?
Most states now ban the old-fashioned style of hearth fireplace in new construction and remodeling because it sends more heat up the chimney than into the room. One way to partially reverse that heat loss is with a fireplace heat exchanger. This utilitarian appliance works simply by drawing cold air from the floor level into pipes, heating the air, and expelling the rising hot air from the fire back into room.System SelectionPassively or actively, the exchanger can move air and increase fireplace efficiency. Design the exchanger to either use the natural air currents generated by the system to exchange hot for cold air or a fan for increased velocity. Requiring power for operations, the fan can move the air through the exchanger too quickly to fully heat. It heats a room more quickly than a passive system, but more energy is conserved with the passive system and the exchanged air is hotter because it’s in the pipes longer.Effective DesignThe heat exchanger replaces the fireplace grate
