Heating Repair Bethlehem, PA HVAC Contractor In Bethlehem, PA

Historical fire pits were sometimes constructed in the ground, in caves, or in the middle of a hut or dwelling. Evidence of prehistoric, man-made flames is present on all five inhabited continents. The disadvantage of early indoor fire pits was that they generated hazardous or annoying smoke within the dwelling.Fire pits grown into raised hearths in buildings, but venting smoke depended on open windows or openings in roofs. The medieval great hall typically had a centrally located hearth, where a open fire burnt with all the smoke climbing into the vent in the roof. Louvers were developed throughout the Middle Ages to allow the roof vents to be coated so snow and rain wouldn't enter.

Additionally throughout the Middle Ages, smoke canopies were invented to stop smoke from spreading through a room and vent it out through a wall or roof. These can be placed against stone walls, instead of taking up the middle of the room, and this enabled smaller rooms to be warmed.Chimneys were invented in northern Europe from the 11th or 12th centuries and mostly fixed the issue of fumes, more faithfully venting smoke out. They made it possible to give the fireplace a draft, and made it feasible to place fireplaces in multiple rooms in buildings conveniently. They didn't come into general usage immediately, however, since they were expensive to build and maintain.

In 1678 Prince Rupert, nephew of Charles I, increased the grate of the fireplace, improving the airflow and venting system. The 18th century saw two major developments in the history of fireplaces. Benjamin Franklin developed a convection chamber for the fireplace which 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 at the top. At the later 18th century, Count Rumford designed a fireplace with a tall, shallow firebox which has been better at drawing the smoke up and from the construction. The shallow design improved greatly the amount of radiant warmth projected into the room. Rumford's design is the basis for modern fireplaces.

The Aesthetic movement of the 1870s and 1880s took to a more traditional spectra based on stone and also deflected unnecessary ornamentation. Instead it relied on simple layouts with small unnecessary ornamentation. From the 1890s the Aesthetic movement gave way into the Arts and Crafts movement, in which the emphasis was still placed on supplying quality stone. Stone fireplaces now have been a sign of prosperity, which to some degree is still the notion today.A fireplace is a structure made of brick, stone or metal made to include a fire. Fireplaces are used for its relaxing ambiance they create and for heating a room. Modern fireplaces change in heat efficiency, based on the design.

Historically they were used for heating a dwelling, cooking, and heating water for laundry and domestic uses.

Related Images with Heating Repair Bethlehem, PA HVAC Contractor In Bethlehem, PA

water Chimney repair for old unused flue Home Improvement Stack Exchange

On the exterior there is often a corbeled brick crown, where the casting courses of brick function as a drip course to keep rainwater from running down the outside walls. A hood, cap, or shroud serves to keep rainwater from the exterior of the chimney; rain in the chimney is a much larger problem in chimneys lined with impervious flue tiles or metallic liners than with the traditional masonry chimney, which divides up all but the most violent rain. A few chimneys have a spark arrestor incorporated into the crown or cap.

Organizations like the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Washington Department of Ecology warn that, according to different studies, fireplaces could pose a significant health threat. The EPA writes"Smoke may smell great, but it is not great for you.

Kinds of fireplacesArtificial fireplaces are made with sheet metal or glass fire boxes.Electric fireplaces could be built-in replacements for gas or wood or retrofit with log inserts or electrical fireboxes.A couple of kinds 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 United States, some states and local counties have laws limiting these kinds of fireplaces. There are also air quality control problems due to the quantity of moisture that they release into the room atmosphere, and oxygen sensor and carbon monoxide sensors are safety essentials. Direct vent fireplaces are fueled by either liquid propane or natural gas. They are completely sealed in the place that is heated, and vent all exhaust gasses into the outside of the structure.

Chimney Repair Dr Sweep, Inc.

AccessoriesFor the interior, common in current Western civilizations include grates, fireguards, log boxes, andirons, bark baskets, along with fire puppies, all of which cradle gas and quicken burning. A grate (or fire grate) is a framework, usually of iron bars, to retain fuel for a fire. Heavy metallic firebacks are sometimes utilized to capture and re-radiate warmth, to safeguard the rear of the fireplace, and as decoration. Fenders are low metallic frames set before the fireplace to include embers, soot and ash. Other wider accessories may include log baskets, companion sets, coal buckets, cabinet accessories and much more.

Over time, the intent behind fireplaces has changed from one of requirement to one of visual interest. Early ones were fire pits than modern fireplaces. They were used for warmth on chilly days and nights, in addition to for cooking. They also functioned as a gathering place inside the home. These fire pits were generally centered within a space, allowing more individuals to collect around it.

Avenue Road Masonry: Masonry Fireplace Fireplace Repair Fireplace Rebuild

BART Fireplace Chimney Repair, Restoration, Rebuild Chicago, IL

Many flaws were found in early fireplace designs. Along with the Industrial Revolution, came large scale housing developments, requiring a standardization of fireplaces. The most famous fireplace performers of the period were the Adam Brothers. They perfected a style of fireplace design that has been used for generations. It had been smaller, more brightly colored, with a emphasis on the quality of the materials used in their construction, as opposed to their dimensions.

By the 1800s most new fireplaces were composed of 2 components, the surround as well as the add. The encircle consisted of the mantlepiece and sides affirms, typically in wood, marble or granite. The fit was fire burned, and was constructed of cast iron frequently backed with decorative tiles. In addition to providing warmth, the fireplaces of the Victorian age were believed to add a cozy ambiance into homes.

BART Fireplace Chimney Repair, Restoration, Rebuild Chicago, IL Video

Some fireplace units incorporate a blower which transfers more of the fireplace's heat to the air via convection, leading to a more evenly heated area and a lower heating load. Fireplace efficiency is also enhanced by means of a fireback, a sheet of metal that sits behind the flame and reflects heat back into the room. Firebacks are traditionally made from cast iron, but are also manufactured from stainless steel. Efficiency is a complex concept although with open hearth fireplaces. Most efficacy tests consider just the effect of heating of the atmosphere. An open fireplace is not, and never was, intended to heat the air. A fireplace with a fireback is a radiant heater, and has done so since the 15th century. The ideal way to estimate the output of a fireplace is if you notice you are turning the thermostat up or down.

Most older fireplaces have a comparatively low efficiency score. Standard, modern, wood-burning masonry fireplaces though have an efficiency rating of 80% (legal minimum requirement for example in Salzburg/Austria). To improve efficiency, fireplaces may also be modified by adding special heavy fireboxes designed to burn cleaner and can reach efficiencies as high as 80% in heating the air. These modified fireplaces are often equipped with a large fire window, allowing an efficient heating process in two phases. During the first stage the first heat is provided through a big glass window while the fire is burning. During this time period the structure, built of refractory bricks, absorbs the warmth. This heat is then evenly radiated for many hours during the next phase. Masonry fireplaces without a glass fire window only offer heat radiated from its surface. Depending on temperatures 1 to 2 daily firings are sufficient to guarantee a constant room temperature.fireplace repair