Improving An Open Fire

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31349, 20 April 1967, Page 18

Improving An Open Fire

Specially-designed fireplaces which increase the efficiency of open fires are available on the New Zealand market Generally they produce convected-air heat from opentype fires.

One such unit is made to the shape of the interior bride-work of the traditional open fire, and uses heat that otherwise would become wasted into the fire-place brick-work and up the chimney. Cool air is drawn into hollow side hobs, which are equipped with heatexchange fins, and the air is rapidly

warmed. This warm air is converted to the hollow back, which also has fins, where it is heated further.

Flames and rising heat from the fire lick around a patented heat exchange unit at the entrance to the chimney, where still more heat is trapped and utilised. The air, which is now very hot, is expelled into the room.

Consequently the room is warmed by all the normal heat from an open fire plus

the additional large volume of heated air, which circulates into the room. The results vary according tn the quality and amount of fuel used, but a small tn moderate fire will adequately heat a large room and even make it necessary to leave a door ajar, which helps warm the rest of the house. An existing fire that fails to heat a large room, when equipped with the special fireplace unit, will make the same room pleasantly war n with a moderate fire. Models are available that heat air drawn from outside, so the air in the room is both warm and fresh. Such units are very similar in appearance to a normal open fire, and do not spoil decorative fire surrounds, nor is there a door to create a barrier between the fire and the room, as in some spaceheater units. Any type of fuel can be used.