Ancient fire pits were sometimes built from the floor, in caves, or in the middle of a hut or home. Evidence of prehistoric, man-made flames exists on all five inhabited continents. The drawback of early indoor flame pits was that they produced hazardous or annoying smoke inside the dwelling.Fire pits developed into elevated hearths in structures, but ventilation smoke relied on open windows or openings in roofs. The great hall typically had a centrally located hearth, where an open fire burnt with all the smoke climbing into the port in the roof. Louvers were developed during the Middle Ages to allow the roof vents to be covered so snow and rain wouldn't enter.
Additionally during the Middle Ages, smoke canopies were devised to stop smoke from dispersing an area and vent it out via a wall or roof. These could be put against stone walls, rather than taking up the center of the space, and this enabled smaller rooms to be warmed.Chimneys were invented in northern Europe in the 11th or 12th centuries and largely fixed the problem of fumes, more reliably venting smoke out. They made it possible to give the fireplace a draft, and made it possible to put fireplaces in multiple rooms in buildings handily. They did not come into general usage immediately, however, as they were more expensive to build and maintain.In 1678 Prince Rupert, nephew of Charles I, raised the grate of the fireplace, improving the airflow and venting system. Benjamin Franklin developed a convection room for the fireplace that greatly improved the efficacy of fireplaces and wood stoves. In addition, he enhanced the airflow by pulling air from a cellar and venting a longer place on very top. At the later 18th century, Count Rumford designed a fireplace with a tall, shallow firebox that has been better at drawing up the smoke and from the construction. The shallow design also improved greatly the quantity of radiant warmth projected into the room. Rumford's design is the basis for modern kitchens.
The Aesthetic movement of the 1870s and 1880s took on a more traditional spectra based on rock and deflected unnecessary ornamentation. Instead it relied on simple designs with small unnecessary ornamentation. From the 1890s the Aesthetic movement gave way to the Arts and Crafts movement, in which the emphasis was placed on supplying quality stone. Stone fireplaces at this time have been a symbol of prosperity, which to a degree remains the idea today.A fireplace is a structure made from brick, stone or metal designed to include a fire. Fireplaces are used for the relaxing ambiance they create and also for heating a room. Modern fireplaces vary in heat efficiency, depending on the design.Historically they were used for heating a home, cooking, and heating water for laundry and domestic uses.
Related Images with Dimplex Kenton 49Inch Electric Fireplace White SMP130WST : ShoppersChoice.com
Dimplex OptiMyst Pro Wall Mount Electric Fireplace Wayfair
On the exterior there's often a corbeled brick crown, where the casting courses of brick act as a drip route to keep rainwater from running down the outside walls. A hood, cap, or shroud functions to keep rainwater from the exterior of the chimney; rain at the chimney is a much greater difficulty in chimneys lined with impervious flue tiles or metal liners compared with the standard masonry chimney, that divides up all but the rain. Some chimneys have a spark arrestor integrated into the cap or crown.
Organizations like the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Washington Department of Ecology warn that, according to various studies, fireplaces can pose a substantial health threat. The EPA writes"Smoke may smell great, but it's not good for you.Kinds of fireplacesManufactured fireplaces are made with sheet glass or metal flame boxes.Electric fireplaces could be built-in replacements for gas or wood or retrofit with log inserts or electric fireboxes.A few types are, wall mounted electric fireplaces, electric fireplace stoves, electric mantel fireplaces and fixed or free standing gas fireplaces.
Masonry and prefabricated fireplaces can be fueled by wood, natural gas, biomass and gas fuel sources. Ventless Fireplaces (duct free/room-venting fireplaces) are fueled by either gel, liquid propane, bottled gas or natural gas. In the USA, several states and local businesses have laws restricting these kinds of fireplaces. They must be suitably sized to the area to be heated. Additionally, there are air quality control problems because of the amount of moisture that they discharge into the room atmosphere, and oxygen detector and carbon monoxide sensors are security essentials. Direct vent fireplaces are fueled by either liquid propane or natural gas. They are completely sealed in the area that's heated, and vent all exhaust gasses into the outside of the structure.
Dimplex Electric Fireplaces » Fireboxes Inserts » Products » 25quot; MultiFire XD Electric Firebox
Over time, the intent behind fireplaces has transformed from one of necessity to one of visual interest. Early ones were fire pits compared to modern fireplaces. They were used for heat on cold days and nights, as well as for cooking. They also served as a gathering place inside the house. These fire pits were generally centered within a room, allowing more individuals to gather around it.
Dimplex 36quot; Portrait Revillusion BuiltIn Electric Fireplace RBF36P Dimplex
Dimplex Electric Fireplaces » Mantels » Products » Jean Mantel Electric Fireplace
Many flaws were found in early fireplace designs. The most renowned fireplace performers of the time were the Adam Brothers. They perfected a kind of fireplace design which has been used for generations. It had been smaller, more brightly colored, with a emphasis on the level of the substances used in their construction, instead of their dimensions.
From the 1800s newest fireplaces were composed of two components, the surround and the insert. The surround consisted of the mantlepiece and sides supports, typically in wood, granite or marble. The fit was where the fire burned, and was constructed of cast iron often backed with decorative tiles. In addition to providing warmth, the fireplaces of the Victorian age were thought to bring a cozy ambiance into houses.Dimplex Electric Fireplaces » Mantels » Products » Jean Mantel Electric Fireplace Video
Some fireplace units include a blower that transfers more of the fireplace's heat to the atmosphere via convection, resulting in a more evenly heated area and a lower heating load. Fireplace efficiency can also be enhanced by means of a fireback, a sheet of metal that sits behind the fire and reflects heat back into the room. Firebacks are traditionally made from cast iron, but are also made from stainless steel. Efficiency is a complex notion although with open hearth fireplaces. Most efficacy tests consider just the effect of heating of the air. An open fireplace isn't, and never was, designed to warm the air. A fireplace with a fireback is a toaster, and has done so as the 15th century. The best method to estimate the output signal of a fireplace is if you notice you're turning the thermostat up or down.
Most older fireplaces have a relatively low efficiency score. Standard, contemporary, weatherproof masonry fireplaces though have an efficiency rating of 80% (legal minimum requirement such as in Salzburg/Austria). To boost efficiency, fireplaces can also be modified by inserting special heavy fireboxes designed to burn cleaner and may reach efficiencies as high as 80 percent in heating the air. These modified fireplaces are usually equipped with a massive fire window, allowing an efficient heating system in two stages. During the first stage the initial heat is provided through a big glass while the fire is burning. During this time the structure, constructed of refractory bricks, absorbs the heat. This heat is then equally radiated for several hours during the next phase. Masonry fireplaces without a glass fire window only provide heat radiated from its surface. Depending on outside temperatures 1 to two daily firings are sufficient to guarantee a constant room temperature.dimplex electric fireplace
No comments:
Post a Comment