I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.

On Sun, 05 Dec 2010 14:02:51 -0800, mike wrote Re
What's the R-value of a fireplace?:

I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. Any useful rules of thumb?

Brick has an R-value of 0.8 but there are other materials behind the
brick. You'll have to identify them and add their R-values to the
brick.

http://www.coloradoenergy.org/procorner/stuff/r-values.htm

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.

Both if you can do it.
--
Work is the curse of the drinking class.

"mike" wrote in message
...

I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.

Your local building permits office can probably advise.
You must provide basic information, e.g. whether the brick
wall is solid or hollow, how thick, etc.
If you want the general scientific background, the US NIST
can oblige (but its main interest appears to be fire
avoidance rather than heating fuel conservation.)

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

On Dec 5, 4:02*pm, mike wrote:
I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. *Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.

The fire box and chimney will convect in cold, I use a piece of
foamboard to seal my firebox up, mine is removable, held in place with
magnetic tape and painted dark, it helps alot.

mike wrote:

I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.


Have you talked to your tax assessor and your insurance company to see
how much you'd save each year if it wasn't there. Then calculate the
heat loss & how much it would cost to tear it down and put a proper
wall there. If you're not using it, you can probably make better
use of the wall space.

Jim

On 12/5/2010 9:36 PM, Jim Elbrecht wrote:
wrote:

I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.


Have you talked to your tax assessor and your insurance company to see
how much you'd save each year if it wasn't there. Then calculate the
heat loss& how much it would cost to tear it down and put a proper
wall there. If you're not using it, you can probably make better
use of the wall space.

Jim

Also walk around your neighborhood, and see what percentage of the
houses have fireplaces. If yours is the only one WITHOUT a fireplace, it
could make it harder to sell when the time comes, for you or your heirs.

--
aem sends...

On 12/5/2010 5:02 PM, mike wrote:
I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.

As pointed out the R value is not much. Whether you want thermal
mass inside is another matter, it'll take a bit longer to heat and cool off.

You may wish to consider pouring some insulation in the chimney, a
much better insulator than air. Probably would cut you cut your heat
loss dramatically. Not sure what condensation issues you would have
though. Either cellulose which can have some moisture content or
asbestos free vermiculite, I'd think.

Google "insulate unused chimney".

Jeff

On 12/5/2010 4:02 PM, mike wrote:
I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.

Why don't you put a good airtite insert into it and MAKE heat for free?

--
Steve Barker
remove the "not" from my address to email

On Sun, 05 Dec 2010 22:36:35 -0500, aemeijers wrote:

On 12/5/2010 9:36 PM, Jim Elbrecht wrote:
wrote:

I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.


Have you talked to your tax assessor and your insurance company to see
how much you'd save each year if it wasn't there. Then calculate the
heat loss& how much it would cost to tear it down and put a proper
wall there. If you're not using it, you can probably make better
use of the wall space.

Jim

Also walk around your neighborhood, and see what percentage of the
houses have fireplaces. If yours is the only one WITHOUT a fireplace, it
could make it harder to sell when the time comes, for you or your heirs.

Oh, but we're not supposed to think about resale value, here in AHR.

On Dec 6, 12:43*am, "
wrote:
On Sun, 05 Dec 2010 22:36:35 -0500, aemeijers wrote:
On 12/5/2010 9:36 PM, Jim Elbrecht wrote:
*wrote:

I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. *Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.

Have you talked to your tax assessor and your insurance company to see
how much you'd save each year if it wasn't there. * Then calculate the
heat loss& *how much it would cost to tear it down and put a proper
wall there. * * *If you're not using it, you can probably make better
use of the wall space.

Jim

Also walk around your neighborhood, and see what percentage of the
houses have fireplaces. If yours is the only one WITHOUT a fireplace, it
could make it harder to sell when the time comes, for you or your heirs.

Oh, but we're not supposed to think about resale value, here in AHR.

DAYUM KRACKMAN YOU ARE A REGULAR ASS OF ALL TRADES ARENT YOU.
PATECUM

On Dec 5, 5:02*pm, mike wrote:
I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. *Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.

The biggest heat loss I found with fireplaces is air leaks. Wind can
blow right in sometimes.
Create a negative house atmosphere and feel for leakage. There are
always holes
in the chimney. If you don't want the eye candy of the fireplace, seal
it with
something like rigid fiberglass, "ceiling tiles" Foam board is
illegal, but you can also
use polyethylene insulation sheets. which is semi fire retardant and
does not need covering by
drywall. For permanent seal, insulate and drywall.

R values are varied according to which chart you use. My typical
cinderbock gets up to R 3.5
or more with fiberglass inside the holes.

For the most part, R value usually means inches of dry wood. 1 inch =
R 1.

"Don Phillipson" wrote in news:idh4ct$ti7$1
@speranza.aioe.org:

"mike" wrote in message
...

I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.

I found the reference below in my files;

Concrete block (8")
R-Factor
Concrete block (8") 2.0
with foam insulated cores 20
with 4" on uninsulated stud wall 4.3

I very much doubt the middle value, R of 20 for just some foam in the cores
seems way too high. The first and last value seem in the ballpark.

I have a second reference that shows brick ranging from 0.10 to 0.35 per
inch thickness.

On Dec 6, 11:56*am, Reno wrote:
"Don Phillipson" wrote in news:idh4ct$ti7$1
@speranza.aioe.org:

"mike" wrote in message
...

I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. *Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.

I found the reference below in my files;

Concrete block (8")
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *R-Factor
Concrete block (8") * * * * * * * *2.0
with foam insulated cores * * * * *20
with 4" on uninsulated stud wall * 4.3

I very much doubt the middle value, R of 20 for just some foam in the cores
seems way too high. The first and last value seem in the ballpark.

I have a second reference that shows brick ranging from 0.10 to 0.35 per
inch thickness.

Seems I recall a figure of maybe adding R2-R3 for adding foam in the
cores.
I just started to install 1/2 inch foam to my block. This is glued and
taped
together to form a vapor barrier, from moisture getting in. On top of
that I will
install studs and fiberglass or mineral insulation, and drywall.
I see the Roxul products being superior for possible damp conditions,
and
superior fire and acoustic control, but I'm getting off track of the
OP.

On Dec 5, 11:51*pm, The Ghost in The Machine
wrote:
On Dec 6, 12:43*am, "





wrote:
On Sun, 05 Dec 2010 22:36:35 -0500, aemeijers wrote:
On 12/5/2010 9:36 PM, Jim Elbrecht wrote:
*wrote:

I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. *Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.

Have you talked to your tax assessor and your insurance company to see
how much you'd save each year if it wasn't there. * Then calculate the
heat loss& *how much it would cost to tear it down and put a proper
wall there. * * *If you're not using it, you can probably make better
use of the wall space.

Jim

Also walk around your neighborhood, and see what percentage of the
houses have fireplaces. If yours is the only one WITHOUT a fireplace, it
could make it harder to sell when the time comes, for you or your heirs.

Oh, but we're not supposed to think about resale value, here in AHR.

DAYUM KRACKMAN YOU ARE A REGULAR ASS OF ALL TRADES ARENT YOU.
PATECUM

YOUR CAPS LOCK IS ON AGAIN, DUMMY...

Joe

On 12/6/2010 12:37 AM, Steve Barker wrote:
On 12/5/2010 4:02 PM, mike wrote:
I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.

Why don't you put a good airtite insert into it and MAKE heat for free?

Only free if you have a wood lot out back, and if your insurance company
doesn't care. If you have to pay for firewood, it is almost always more
expensive heat than gas.

--
aem sends...

On Sun, 5 Dec 2010 21:51:48 -0800 (PST), The Ghost in The Machine
wrote:

On Dec 6, 12:43*am, "
wrote:
On Sun, 05 Dec 2010 22:36:35 -0500, aemeijers wrote:
On 12/5/2010 9:36 PM, Jim Elbrecht wrote:
*wrote:

I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. *Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.

Have you talked to your tax assessor and your insurance company to see
how much you'd save each year if it wasn't there. * Then calculate the
heat loss& *how much it would cost to tear it down and put a proper
wall there. * * *If you're not using it, you can probably make better
use of the wall space.

Jim

Also walk around your neighborhood, and see what percentage of the
houses have fireplaces. If yours is the only one WITHOUT a fireplace, it
could make it harder to sell when the time comes, for you or your heirs.

Oh, but we're not supposed to think about resale value, here in AHR.

DAYUM KRACKMAN YOU ARE A REGULAR ASS OF ALL TRADES ARENT YOU.
PATECUM

STFU, Roy.

On Mon, 06 Dec 2010 18:15:23 -0500, aemeijers wrote:

On 12/6/2010 12:37 AM, Steve Barker wrote:
On 12/5/2010 4:02 PM, mike wrote:
I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.

Why don't you put a good airtite insert into it and MAKE heat for free?

Only free if you have a wood lot out back, and if your insurance company
doesn't care.

...and if your time is free.

If you have to pay for firewood, it is almost always more
expensive heat than gas.

When I lived in Vermont I'd use wood as auxiliary heat. When it got really
cold the boiler (hydronic-oil converted to gas) wouldn't keep up, even running
flat out. A wood fire would make the place toasty anytime. No, it saved
nothing but it was nice. I went though a cord of wood every five years. ;-)

On Dec 6, 7:13*pm, "
wrote:
On Sun, 5 Dec 2010 21:51:48 -0800 (PST), The Ghost in The Machine





wrote:
On Dec 6, 12:43 am, "
wrote:
On Sun, 05 Dec 2010 22:36:35 -0500, aemeijers wrote:
On 12/5/2010 9:36 PM, Jim Elbrecht wrote:
wrote:

I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.

Have you talked to your tax assessor and your insurance company to see
how much you'd save each year if it wasn't there. Then calculate the
heat loss& how much it would cost to tear it down and put a proper
wall there. If you're not using it, you can probably make better
use of the wall space.

Jim

Also walk around your neighborhood, and see what percentage of the
houses have fireplaces. If yours is the only one WITHOUT a fireplace, it
could make it harder to sell when the time comes, for you or your heirs.

Oh, but we're not supposed to think about resale value, here in AHR.

DAYUM KRACKMAN YOU ARE A REGULAR ASS OF ALL TRADES ARENT YOU.
PATECUM

STFU, Roy.

EAT **** DRUG ADDICT, ROY DOESNT LIVE HERE ANY MORE.
PATECUM

On Mon, 6 Dec 2010 16:18:16 -0800 (PST), The Ghost in The Machine
wrote:

On Dec 6, 7:13*pm, "
wrote:
On Sun, 5 Dec 2010 21:51:48 -0800 (PST), The Ghost in The Machine





wrote:
On Dec 6, 12:43 am, "
wrote:
On Sun, 05 Dec 2010 22:36:35 -0500, aemeijers wrote:
On 12/5/2010 9:36 PM, Jim Elbrecht wrote:
wrote:

I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.

Have you talked to your tax assessor and your insurance company to see
how much you'd save each year if it wasn't there. Then calculate the
heat loss& how much it would cost to tear it down and put a proper
wall there. If you're not using it, you can probably make better
use of the wall space.

Jim

Also walk around your neighborhood, and see what percentage of the
houses have fireplaces. If yours is the only one WITHOUT a fireplace, it
could make it harder to sell when the time comes, for you or your heirs.

Oh, but we're not supposed to think about resale value, here in AHR.

DAYUM KRACKMAN YOU ARE A REGULAR ASS OF ALL TRADES ARENT YOU.
PATECUM

STFU, Roy.

EAT **** DRUG ADDICT, ROY DOESNT LIVE HERE ANY MORE.

You were never among the living, Roy. Living requires a brain.

On Dec 6, 9:15*pm, "
wrote:
On Mon, 6 Dec 2010 16:18:16 -0800 (PST), The Ghost in The Machine





wrote:
On Dec 6, 7:13 pm, "
wrote:
On Sun, 5 Dec 2010 21:51:48 -0800 (PST), The Ghost in The Machine

wrote:
On Dec 6, 12:43 am, "
wrote:
On Sun, 05 Dec 2010 22:36:35 -0500, aemeijers wrote:
On 12/5/2010 9:36 PM, Jim Elbrecht wrote:
wrote:

I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.

Have you talked to your tax assessor and your insurance company to see
how much you'd save each year if it wasn't there. Then calculate the
heat loss& how much it would cost to tear it down and put a proper
wall there. If you're not using it, you can probably make better
use of the wall space.

Jim

Also walk around your neighborhood, and see what percentage of the
houses have fireplaces. If yours is the only one WITHOUT a fireplace, it
could make it harder to sell when the time comes, for you or your heirs.

Oh, but we're not supposed to think about resale value, here in AHR..

DAYUM KRACKMAN YOU ARE A REGULAR ASS OF ALL TRADES ARENT YOU.
PATECUM

STFU, Roy.

EAT **** DRUG ADDICT, ROY DOESNT LIVE HERE ANY MORE.

You were never among the living, Roy. *Living requires a brain.

YOU ARE AN IDIOT, I AM NOT ROY.
I WILL BE VISITING YOU ON CHRISTMAS EVE.
WE'RE GOING ON A LITTLE TRIP TOGETHER.
PACK LIGHT, FOOL.

PATECUM

mike wrote:
I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.


Thanks for the inputs.
I realized that I have no idea how a fireplace is constructed.

I did open up all the unheated areas and opened the heater registers.
The gas consumption went up by about 20%, which sounds reasonable
given the area added includes the patio door and fireplace.

I was surprised that the temperature of the bricks was the same as
the adjacent wall. Measured with IR thermometer, so there may be
emissivity issues not yet investigated.

The exhaust fan over my stove can pull 5 Pascals of vacuum on the house.
I turned it on and went probing with my trusty incense stick.
There's a small amount of air coming out of the fireplace,
but it's not coming down the flue. The cap works.
It's coming from the bottom near the front. Need to pull out
the homebrew heat exchanger and look under there.

On 12/6/2010 5:15 PM, aemeijers wrote:
On 12/6/2010 12:37 AM, Steve Barker wrote:
On 12/5/2010 4:02 PM, mike wrote:
I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.

Why don't you put a good airtite insert into it and MAKE heat for free?

Only free if you have a wood lot out back, and if your insurance company
doesn't care. If you have to pay for firewood, it is almost always more
expensive heat than gas.


I've never studied that since i've never had to pay for wood. We have a
lifetime supply for at least 100 people of hedge (osage orange) and the
wood heat is so much more comfortable, I'd do it even if i had to pay
$100 a cord, i'd still come out ahead. you just have to have a good stove.

--
Steve Barker
remove the "not" from my address to email

Steve Barker wrote:
-snip-

I've never studied that since i've never had to pay for wood. We have a
lifetime supply for at least 100 people of hedge (osage orange) and the
wood heat is so much more comfortable, I'd do it even if i had to pay
$100 a cord, i'd still come out ahead. you just have to have a good stove.

$225 is the going rate in this part of the world. That'll get you
maple & oak if you're lucky. Hickory or osage would bring a premium.

Just wondering how you get that "free" wood to jump from the bushes
into your stove- and season itself on the way.g

Jim

mike wrote:

-snip-
I was surprised that the temperature of the bricks was the same as
the adjacent wall. Measured with IR thermometer, so there may be
emissivity issues not yet investigated.

Now go outside when the sun is off it and measure the outside temp.
The colder it is outside the better. I think you'll see your
difference there.

Jim

On 12/7/2010 6:55 AM, Jim Elbrecht wrote:
Steve wrote:
-snip-

I've never studied that since i've never had to pay for wood. We have a
lifetime supply for at least 100 people of hedge (osage orange) and the
wood heat is so much more comfortable, I'd do it even if i had to pay
$100 a cord, i'd still come out ahead. you just have to have a good stove.

$225 is the going rate in this part of the world. That'll get you
maple& oak if you're lucky. Hickory or osage would bring a premium.

Just wondering how you get that "free" wood to jump from the bushes
into your stove- and season itself on the way.g

Jim

I actually own two miles of hedge row and i can go out and cut ONLY the
already dead stuff and bring home a weeks worth in about an hour. Being
self employed, this task requires no special scheduling.

--
Steve Barker
remove the "not" from my address to email

Steve Barker wrote:

On 12/7/2010 6:55 AM, Jim Elbrecht wrote:
Steve wrote:
-snip-

I've never studied that since i've never had to pay for wood. We have a
lifetime supply for at least 100 people of hedge (osage orange) and the
wood heat is so much more comfortable, I'd do it even if i had to pay
$100 a cord, i'd still come out ahead. you just have to have a good stove.

$225 is the going rate in this part of the world. That'll get you
maple& oak if you're lucky. Hickory or osage would bring a premium.

Just wondering how you get that "free" wood to jump from the bushes
into your stove- and season itself on the way.g

Jim

I actually own two miles of hedge row and i can go out and cut ONLY the
already dead stuff and bring home a weeks worth in about an hour. Being
self employed, this task requires no special scheduling.

I understand not paying for the standing wood--- but having been there
myself many years ago, I know the amount of labor and equipment that
goes into gathering firewood. It is a good hobby and can be
cheaper than a gym membership for cardio workouts---- but it is *far*
from free.

Jim

On Dec 6, 10:51*pm, mike wrote:
mike wrote:
I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. *Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.

Thanks for the inputs.
I realized that I have no idea how a fireplace is constructed.

I did open up all the unheated areas and opened the heater registers.
The gas consumption went up by about 20%, which sounds reasonable
given the area added includes the patio door and fireplace.

I was surprised that the temperature of the bricks was the same as
the adjacent wall. *Measured with IR thermometer, so there may be
emissivity issues not yet investigated.

The exhaust fan over my stove can pull 5 Pascals of vacuum on the house.
I turned it on and went probing with my trusty incense stick.
There's a small amount of air coming out of the fireplace,
but it's not coming down the flue. *The cap works.
It's coming from the bottom near the front. *Need to pull out
the homebrew heat exchanger and look under there.

I the other house about 40 years old, the mortar had cracked and left
a lot of holes all around the front of both fireplaces.

I had tried stoves in those fireplaces, and it was hard
to seal gaps around the flue. It does not work well unless
you add another pipe the same diameter as the stove outlet in
the chimney. The draft is screwed up otherwise.

Now I intend on putting in a stove downstairs. I already have a
chimney,
but I just need to properly install it. The insurance people want a
professional install.
I have a lot of wood to burn on my property, otherwise a cord of wood
is
about $70 if you haul.

On Dec 8, 7:03*am, zek wrote:
On Dec 6, 10:51*pm, mike wrote:



mike wrote:
I've got this red brick fireplace taking up half a wall.
Capped the chimney decades ago, but it's still siting
there conducting heat outa' the place thru the bricks.
How would one go about calculating the "R-value"
to estimate the heat loss. *Any useful rules of thumb?

Trying to decide whether to put insulation over the bricks
on inside or outside or both.

Thanks for the inputs.
I realized that I have no idea how a fireplace is constructed.

I did open up all the unheated areas and opened the heater registers.
The gas consumption went up by about 20%, which sounds reasonable
given the area added includes the patio door and fireplace.

I was surprised that the temperature of the bricks was the same as
the adjacent wall. *Measured with IR thermometer, so there may be
emissivity issues not yet investigated.

The exhaust fan over my stove can pull 5 Pascals of vacuum on the house..
I turned it on and went probing with my trusty incense stick.
There's a small amount of air coming out of the fireplace,
but it's not coming down the flue. *The cap works.
It's coming from the bottom near the front. *Need to pull out
the homebrew heat exchanger and look under there.

I the other house about 40 years old, the mortar had cracked and left
a lot of holes all around the front of both fireplaces.

I had tried stoves in those fireplaces, and it was hard
to seal gaps around the flue. It does not work well unless
you add another pipe the same diameter as the stove outlet in
the chimney. The draft is screwed up otherwise.

Now I intend on putting in a stove downstairs. I already have a
chimney,
but I just need to properly install it. The insurance people want a
professional install.
I have a lot of wood to burn on my property, otherwise a cord of wood
is
about $70 if you haul.

==
All fireplaces are a waste of time, money, space and are heat wasters
in the grand scheme of things. Most of the heat simply goes up the
chimney. Wood burning furnaces or space heaters make far more sense if
they are designed properly.
==