Getting more heat from an open fire

There are few things as satisfying as an open fire roaring away in the hearth. The sights and smells are hard to recreate with anything other than the genuine article. Some fireplaces, especially older ones or incorrectly fitted wood burning fires can sometimes be disappointing in terms of the lack of heat that they give off. If a fireplace has been designed and built poorly, or incorrect modifications have been made, much of the heat can be lost up the chimney, rather than heating the room and its occupants. People are also disappointed when a wood burning fire is too small to heat the size of room, giving off so little heat as to barely be noticed. Because heat rises, much of the heat from incorrectly installed wood burning fire will, instead of heating the room, go straight up the chimney. This leads to more fuel (coal or wood) being added to the fire in an effort to increase the heat output. Using extra fuel on a problem wood burning fireplace can prove costly, and is not good for the environment as it wastes excess fossil fuels. Not only can this be frustrating, it also has a detrimental effect on the reputation of wood burning fires, leading many people to believe that a stove is a preferable option.

Whilst stoves give out a high heat output, often they lack aesthetic beauty or desired ‘feel’ that can only be achieved with a wood burning open fire. The best of both worlds however can be achieved if you choose a convection fire such as Thermovent to enhance your wood burning fireplace. Thermovent is up to 5 times more efficient than a traditional wood burning fire in its heat output. It is designed to capture more of the heat into the metal of the convecting fire itself, this metal then heats the air that has been drawn into the system and pushes it back into the room at a hotter temperature. This raises the temperature in the room more evenly using natural convection caused by hot air rising – no need for noisy moving parts! 

A convection open fire is also great at reducing any smoke issues and leaving a cleaner fire, as the ash is contained in one area rather than able to spill out, and smoke is directed more efficiently up the chimney. It is easier to control a convection system due to baffle controls, which can be open or closed to increase or decrease the draw of the fire, and fully closed when not in use. 

To find out more about the unique Thermovent convection system from Camelot Real Fires please visit their website www.camelotrealfires.co.uk

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Case study - inglenook fireplace

A couple in West Sussex had recently purchased a thatched cottage in need of some repair, and decided to take ok the challenge of a full renovation. Among many other things in this large project, the whole cottage roof needed re-thatching and they needed a solution for their inglenook fireplace. They had their heart set on an open fire to match the aesthetic and heritage of the cottage, but many companies they approached seemed to shy away from the open fire option, as this required more specialist knowledge. Eventually they contacted Camelot Real Fires, who are UK experts in inglenook fireplaces and open fires,who were more than happy to help. The additional challenge in this case was a short timescale –the thatcher had already been booked to re-thatch the entire cottage roof. This gave Camelot a window of just four weeks, as once the thatcher had finished the roof renovation, there was no other way to access the chimney. 

After a speedy consultation, the couple chose a Thermovent open fire with a beautiful steel canopy, and bespoke dog irons and grate front to match. Because the living room of the cottage had no heat source other than the open fire, Thermovent was the obvious choice, giving them a 50%+ efficiency and a 14kW heat output. 

The couples insurance company required that any fire or stove installed in the inglenook should have HETAS accreditation for safety reasons, as non-accredited fires would potentially pose a greater risk of thatch fire. Following some research, the couple found that a Thermovent open fire in the inglenook actually meant a lower insurance premium as there is a far lower risk compared to stoves. This gave them maximum protection for their new thatched roof and allowed them to use their existing 200mm flue system. 

The project was completed in just 3 weeks,and their new open fire was installed in their inglenook fireplace with plenty of time spare before the thatcher was due to re-thatch the roof. 

"Great to find a family firm giving a truly professional service using their superior knowledge of open fires and chimneys to manufacture a perfect open fire. Our new fire is absolutely fantastic!! It is all we wished for and more. It has solved all our problems, no smoke or smells, perfect performance, warmth around the room and the added bonus of being handsome and elegant. We will be in touch with you again Paul for our next project." 

Robert and Susan, West Sussex, May 2015 Find out how Camelot Real Fires can help transform your room by visiting them at www.camelotrealfires.co.uk 

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