Fireplace advice

Snyper564 said:
Fireplace is working wonderfully! Thanks again for the advice guys!

Going to be a nice toasty cozy winter!
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It's 26° here in Gqeberhadefakiam. I started to pack away some cut Milkwood and opted for happy hour instead.
 
shadow_man said:
Step 1... don't make the fire to big / hot...
Step 2... wife ignores this...
Step 3... baffle / throat plate warped to f...
Step 4... try and drive your bakkie over it to bend it straight...
Step 5... admit defeat and buy a new one for R1400...
Step 6... try and fix the old one at some point... maybe?
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I think what most people don't realise that these fireplaces, and some makes more than others, do have maintenance parts. Our morso did this too, needing a new baffle plate every year. Depending on your headroom you can replace the baffle plate with the fire brick material vermiculite. A lot cheaper. Just need someone willing to install or you can cut it yourself.
 
cenredash said:
I think what most people don't realise that these fireplaces, and some makes more than others, do have maintenance parts. Our morso did this too, needing a new baffle plate every year. Depending on your headroom you can replace the baffle plate with the fire brick material vermiculite. A lot cheaper. Just need someone willing to install or you can cut it yourself.
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Agreed, but you really shouldn't be replacing your baffle plate yearly. This is 3 years in - and I'm only having to do it due to negligence. Typically you should see 5+ years from a baffle plate.

The trick I missed (and I learnt when watching videos on replacing the plate) is that the plate needs to be cleaned. In the Charnwood Country 8 model I have thats pulling it forward and down with the door tool --> sweeping all ash off and once a year adding some stove polish.

I hadn't been doing this...
 
shadow_man said:
Step 1... don't make the fire to big / hot...
Step 2... wife ignores this...
Step 3... baffle / throat plate warped to f...
Step 4... try and drive your bakkie over it to bend it straight...
Step 5... admit defeat and buy a new one for R1400...
Step 6... try and fix the old one at some point... maybe?
Click to expand...
Nice DSTV decoder,
 
I.am.Sam said:
anyone know of a good company in cpt who does chimney and fireplace cleaning
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Give someone like hyperfires etc a call and ask if they can recommend someone. I lost the number of the guy who cleaned ours each year.
 
Has anyone here installed a closed combustion Fireplace Insert (ie not a free standing wood stove)?

Care to share any pros and cons?
 
TheBadMadMan said:
Has anyone here installed a closed combustion Fireplace Insert (ie not a free standing wood stove)?

Care to share any pros and cons?
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Busy with the install. No idea how it works yet.

Reason for going the insert route, thats how the house was built, except previous owner put in a braai which just let the whole house smell like smoke..there was nothing that aligned the braai with the chimney, so smoke went up in the ceiling. Annoying.

Anyways, not sure what the pros/cons are. The unit I am installing still has a thermal fan. It actually has the ability to add vents(pipes) to 2 more rooms if I wanted to.

Id say, maybe the con is the price, they usually much more expensive and you have to get a builder to install it with the brickwork etc.
 
Snyper564 said:
Thanks for the advice all

Fireplace has been installed and gave it a spin this evening. Please note we went with a "small" closed unit of 5-7Kw this is Gauteng after all not aiming to heat whole house just the TV room/library and have nice cozy heat and great ambiance.

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Please ignore weird stretching on the gif


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Almost 4 years later :)

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I thought I would quickly pop up again and provide feedback. I couldnt be happier with the install. Heat from a closed combustion trumps the gas heater we had, the area is beautifully warmed up and the house is much warmer overall due to the heat traveling and insulation doing its job.

I typically start a fire at 5pm with 4 logs and then once a bed of coals add 1-2 every 45min to an hour.

Would I change anything nope, I followed all the advice here and im very happy with the outcome.

Oh would have done it years ago!
 
What must I do if I want something that heats and I can braai on? Are there like any hybrid cooking/heating fireplaces available to buy?
 
Benedict A55h0le said:
What must I do if I want something that heats and I can braai on? Are there like any hybrid cooking/heating fireplaces available to buy?
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I would honestly say this is a very bad idea.

All open fireplaces are ones that will be very very poorly efficient. Pick one or the other.

Whats nice with closed combustion is you can pop a flatbottom potjie on it, not braai but heading in that direction

If you want this just get a open braai any wood burning in there is like a fireplace anyway, thats what we do sometimes under our lapa in winter.

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just burn wood here, terribly inefficient but it works
 
Benedict A55h0le said:
What must I do if I want something that heats and I can braai on? Are there like any hybrid cooking/heating fireplaces available to buy?
Click to expand...
I agree with @Snyper564

A braai is a terrible fireplace. Needs a lot more wood for far less heat. Not to mention smoke does escape at time even if you do everything correct to prevent it.

I already have a built in braai in the braai room, and there its perfect. But for the house...closed fireplace is the way.
 
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