The Problem of an Open Fireplace
Would you like to close an old open fireplace, inefficient and unusable? Discover how to reclaim your fireplace without giving up the beauty of the fire!
Open fireplaces are open-flame hearths, without glass, still present in many homes, especially in rural areas.
They are undeniably beautiful to look at and, once lit, immediately give atmosphere and character to the environment; however, they are not sufficient to heat a house, and the heat remains confined to the room where it is located. In short, they are inefficient.
The inconvenience of an open fireplace is also related to safety issues. When the fireplace is lit, it is advisable not to leave and to monitor the fire. Without any safety system, the flame should not be left unattended.
Moreover, lacking any combustion optimization system, the open fireplace becomes a serious problem for the emission of smoke and fine particles. Not surprisingly, in many urban areas, the use of open fireplaces is prohibited by municipal or regional regulations to limit air pollution problems.
Given these problems, a spontaneous question arises: is it possible to close the open fireplace, improving its energy efficiency and perhaps changing the fuel?
The answer is yes!
More and more families renovating an old house choose to close the open fireplace and replace it with a pellet stove.
How to Replace the Open Fireplace with a Stove
Installing a stove using the position of the old open fireplace is the ideal solution to make it functional, increasing its thermal efficiency and taking advantage of the benefits of a more efficient and less polluting appliance, which also falls under many forms of incentives.
An additional advantage is that the presence of the old chimney can be utilized. The pellet stove requires a smaller diameter flue for smoke exhaust compared to common chimney or boiler flues. Therefore, the installer will simply connect the new flue to the existing chimney without the need for invasive construction work.
Pellet or Wood: Which is Better?
Much depends on personal choices, perhaps related to the area where you live. If there is availability of wood from the surrounding countryside, one might consider installing a wood stove, relying on free fuel.
The "cons" of wood have already been highlighted: the stacks that must necessarily be made for seasoning the wood require space and attract insects and animals.
Pellet bags, on the other hand, are completely sealed; space is still required to store the bags, but it is more contained. Unlike wood, pellet is uniformly dried and has a certified yield. This detail is not insignificant: the moisture percentage affects combustion, and good pellet thus generates an advantage in terms of economic savings.
How?
The pellet stove reduces the formation of ash and fine particles thanks to the high-efficiency combustion chamber (combustion burns up to 90% of the inserted pellet) and the characteristics of the pellet, which, unlike wood, burns longer, limiting waste. This results in a reduced waste, lower CO₂ emissions into the atmosphere, and less ash to clean!
What Will the House Look Like with a Pellet Stove Instead of an Open Fireplace?
We have seen that transforming the fireplace into an efficient heating system is possible, but what about the aesthetic component? Will a stove have the same charm as the fireplace? Here are some examples.
In the first photo, the product is a small stove (the Decò ventilated pellet stove), ideal for insertion into the fireplace opening. In the second photo, the product is a pellet insert (the QBox insert), a sort of compact fireplace, which, completed with a plasterboard covering, completely closes the existing fireplace opening.
In both cases, the final effect is very classy, and the presence of the original chimney made the installation easy and fast.
Pellet stoves are appliances whose design is studied in detail to meet all style and furnishing needs. The design of each stove results from careful study on shapes and materials to ensure maximum efficiency and an unmistakable style.
With augmented reality you can preview how your stove will look in the house, replacing the open fireplace. This way, you will have a project tailored to your needs and a clear idea of how it will look once finished.
