A fireplace with water heating is capable of simultaneously heating several rooms in a house with an area of about 100 m2, and in some cases also serve for floor heating and cooking in the house. Usually it is a firebox connected by pipes with an expansion tank and a water distribution circuit for domestic heating for supplying hot water to it. Exhaust gases from fuel combustion in the fireplace heat the tank and the water in it to 90 ° C. Hot water enters the heating radiators, heating the room.
Another name for this type of device is a fireplace with a water jacket, since structurally water can be heated by passing through a coil located in a jacket of two metal sheets behind the wall of the firebox.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantages of a fireplace with water heating
increased area of heating premises. Due to a well-designed water heating circuit, such devices allow you to insulate several rooms or a whole country house at once. Even furnaces of this type have been developed for apartment buildings
multifunctionality. In addition to the aesthetics and the direct task of heating the room, a water fireplace can heat the hob and thus serve for cooking in the house. It can also be a source of "warm floors" in the house
low cost of fuel. The main fuel used in these fireplaces is wood or peat. The fireplace system is completely autonomous and does not require additional expenditures of electrical or any other energy
beautiful appearance and the ability to use any facing materials. Whatever the finish of your fireplace - brick, tile or stone - it will attract admiring glances of guests
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compact size of the fireplace making it suitable for an apartment
disadvantages
Despite the impressive list of advantages, fireplaces with water heating also have a number of disadvantages:
low efficiency of water heating. It will definitely not be hot in the house from such a fireplace. The more extensive heating network is installed in the house, the lower the temperature of the water in the radiators will be. In this regard, it is not recommended to install fireplaces with water heating in regions with cold climates. It is optimal to use the heat from such a fireplace together with electric space heating
low degree of system automation. You yourself must lay down firewood or peat in the firebox, and also monitor the timely supply of a new portion of fuel. Also in these fireplaces there is a slow regulation of the temperature of the water supplied to the radiators
Choice
The choice of a water fireplace should be approached taking into account the following factors:
volume of the firebox. The larger the volume of the furnace, the greater the volume of combustion products. The large volume of the firebox provides increased power of the fireplace with a water heating system But the consumption of combustible materials will also be increased, which is not always justified for installation in small spaces
area of the heated space. Fireplaces with a water heating system do not quite effectively cope with the direct task in large rooms. Spacious houses should be provided with heat according to a combined scheme - an electric heater or a gas boiler plus a stove with water heating
dimensions of the room. In the apartment, a miniature version of the device will be more appropriate, and in the living room of the cottage it is advisable to mount a massive fireplace with a closed or open boiler
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Fireplace types
It is also important to decide on the type of fireplace design. Fireplaces with water heating are open and closed.
When installing the system open type the water tank is installed at the highest point of the circuit (usually in the attic). The water is heated in an open firebox when it passes through the coil. From the tank, water enters the heating elements under the influence of gravity.
Closed type fireplaces water heating differs from the open installation of a circulation pump for the movement of liquid along the water heating circuit. This has a number of advantages: firstly, such a fireplace can heat a large area of the room. Secondly, the possibility of overheating of the elements of the fireplace and heating is excluded due to the presence of safety valves in the system.
Heating stove installation
Before you start installing a fireplace with water heating with your own hands, you should think about the following points:
Before you start installing a fireplace with water heating with your own hands, you should think about the following points:
- location of the fireplace. Since the design of the fireplace implies an open firebox, it is undesirable to install it opposite windows or doors in order to avoid drafts. It should also be noted that when the fireplace is in operation, its rear wall heats up intensively;
- selection of material and dimensions of the furnace. A metal fireplace insert can be steel or cast iron. A cast-iron firebox allows you to keep heat in the fireplace longer, but it has more weight compared to a steel one. Steel sheet construction is more compact and lightweight;
- calculation of the size and depth of the furnace hole. For efficient operation of the fireplace, the area of the firebox window should be 1/70 of the area of the room in which it is located. The depth of the firebox should not be small, otherwise the smoke from the combustion of wood will fill the room, and will not go to heating the water. In a firebox that is too deep, its efficiency decreases.
If a fireplace is being built in a house or cottage and is intended to heat a large area, then before erecting it, it is necessary to build a foundation. The depth of the foundation is about 60 cm. It usually consists of a layer of crushed stone, a waterproofing layer and formwork, filled with cement mortar. After the formation and drying of the foundation, the brick base of the fireplace is built.
For small rooms or apartments, there are compact versions of fireplaces. They are not installed on a foundation, but on a heat-resistant coating sheet. This function can be performed by brick or steel screens mounted on the wall and in the floor.
Water circuit connection
You can connect the fireplace to the heating already available in the house. Pipes for supplying and removing water, as well as a chimney are connected to the fireplace. If it is necessary to heat the floor for a private house, additional pipes for water circulation are installed in the boiler.
When connecting the water circuit, the following important points must be observed:
When connecting the water circuit, the following important points must be observed:
- installation on a flat surface. If it is not possible to level the floor on which the fireplace will stand, you can use adjustable legs. Uneven installation entails danger during operation and a significant decrease in the efficiency of the fireplace;
- mandatory check for leaks after filling the system with water. First, check all pipe joints without applying pressure. Then, turning on the circulation pump, once again exclude leaks and leaks in pipes and joints. It is also necessary to ensure the tightness of the chimney by covering the joints with a heat-resistant sealant;
- checking the operation of the fireplace and heating the water. Do not be afraid of the smell from the fireplace during the first ignition - it will disappear within a short time. It is necessary to check the correctness of the automation: how accurate is the regulation of the temperature of the water in the radiators, is it possible to adjust the rate of its supply.
Exploitation
A fireplace with water heating requires attention during operation and has the following features:
A fireplace with water heating requires attention during operation and has the following features:
- it is necessary to periodically check the water level in the hydraulic tank in the case of an open installation. Water from such a system evaporates quickly, and if its level drops below the critical level, the heating system may fail;
- in winter it is recommended to drain the water from the system if the fireplace will not be used. Frozen water expands and can cause pipes to burst;
- customer reviews indicate a slow change in the temperature of the water supplied to the heating radiators. Accordingly, by lowering or increasing the heating temperature on the sensor, you will feel the effect only after a while. This is due to the thermophysical characteristics of water.
