The fireplace slowly burns fuel, so you can heat a small room with it. There are many types of the mentioned device, but the main purpose of any of them is fast heating of the house. In addition, it is a wonderful element for room decor. Manufacturers pay a lot of attention to the design of their creations, but some of them can be done with your own hands. Further in the article varieties of heating fireplaces will be described, as well as the question of how to make a brick model of this device yourself.
General classification
By the location of the fireplaces are the following varieties:
- Built-in models - the chimney and firebox of which are inside the wall.
- Island (or central) - fireplaces located in the middle of the room.
- Wall (front and corner).
By type of fuel hole, they can be:
- Open.
- Closed.
- Half open.
Models with an open firebox are considered traditional, but the efficiency (efficiency) of such fireplaces will not exceed 15%, and it is best to install them in the wall. The closed device has special doors, so this is a safe type to use, which is recommended to be mounted in the center of the room. A half-open, as a rule, is placed near the wall.
According to the method of heating, fireplaces are:
- Convection - popular models, the advantage of which is that with their help you can quickly heat the house. They work according to this principle: cold air passes through special openings and a firewood into the combustion chamber (firebox), and then, when it is already heated, leaves the upper part of the housing.
- Cumulative - fireplaces with liquid heat exchange. Such models work like heating stoves, while providing residents of the house with hot water.
Least of all heat gives an open fireplace. In addition, you can install a fan in the device, which will distribute and transmit warm air by convection, ensuring uniform heating of the house.
By the type of fuel used, heating fireplaces are classified as follows:
- Electric fireplaces.
- Gas.
- Fireplace stoves.
- Wood burning.
- Biofireplaces.
It is necessary to choose the right fireplace in advance, since each of the types has its own distinctive advantages. For example, if the question arises of which fireplaces use heating briquettes, the answer should be as follows: this type of solid fuel is often used to kindle wood fireplaces, which is their indisputable advantage.
First of all, you should decide in which room the device will be located and for what purposes it is used. Cooking, heating a house and lighting a room is a small list of the functions that it can perform.
In gas, wood and electric fireplaces, cast-iron furnaces are sometimes used, as a result of which oxygen will be constantly burned in the room, therefore, to solve this problem, you need to make a high-quality ventilation system. But, as a rule, such devices are made of stone or refractory bricks.
Wood burning fireplace: advantages and disadvantages
This is an ancient and well-known device for heating a room, which uses firewood, coal, wood briquettes (pressed wood processing waste) or pellets (biofuel obtained from peat and the remnants of agriculture and sawmills) as fuel. Such fireplaces have a complex structure, which consists of a portal-cladding, firebox and chimney. Models with open combustion chambers look prettier, and the most productive versions are those with closed furnaces.
Wood-burning fireplaces have advantages that must be taken into account at the design stage:
- If the furnace is made of cast iron or steel, the finished device will have a small weight and small size. But during the construction of a brick or stone fireplace, an additional foundation will have to be erected.
- Efficiency is 75-85%.
- Firewood can be planted during combustion.
- Long service life (up to 50 years).
- Cast iron models can be moved to another room or garage if necessary.
- Safe and inexpensive fuel.
- The mentioned long burning fireplace can work at one gas station for more than ten hours.
But there are a number of disadvantages:
- have to constantly clean the chimney from soot;
- Do not use liquid fuel (e.g. alcohol or liquefied gas);
- the need for the construction of a high-quality chimney: the pipe must be made straight and without a single bend;
- in order not to spoil the interior of the room, the brick structure must be carefully decorated;
- most of the heat will go into the chimney, so it is recommended that the pipe be passed through the entire room.
Firewood or other solid fuels should be stored in a dry and safe place. In addition, the masters advise at least once a week to turn on the device at full power: in this way, the accumulated condensate can be burned out.
Electric fireplace
If there is no desire to think in what place to install the chimney, it is better to use this model. The main advantage of this heating fireplace is the operation from electricity without additional fuel. In addition, it burns brightly and is convenient to operate, but the result is not a real flame, but its imitation. This type has a lot of other advantages:
- affordable price;
- simple installation - you need to put the device in the designated place and connect it to the mains;
- several operating modes (with heating and without);
- the electric fireplace does not need to be cleaned of soot;
- the presence of a fan heater;
- some models are equipped with remote control.
To quickly heat a country house, an electric fireplace is an ideal choice. For example, a model with a power of 2 kW can heat a room up to 15 m 3 .
Gas fireplace
The fire in the specified device is supported by an atmospheric burner, for the control of which an automatic system is provided. This model can work without connecting to utility networks. A gas fireplace with bottled gas is a good device for heating country houses, for the operation of which it is not necessary to erect a chimney, since it will be enough to bring the pipe directly to the street.
If the choice fell on this variety, you should initially study its distinguishing features:
- high cost of installation activities;
- You can install a gas fireplace only after obtaining the necessary permits from utilities;
- such a heating device must be constantly monitored - if this condition is ignored, accidents involving a gas explosion are possible;
- half of the heat will go into the chimney;
- Installation of the device is allowed for specialists who have approvals for all types of work.
Fireplace stove
The casing of this design is made of steel and cast iron, and fire brick is used for laying the combustion chamber. The door is constructed of heat-resistant glass, so the result is a safe and efficient device. As fuel, you can use gas, dry wood or coal briquettes. The features of the fireplace stove include the following parameters:
- Efficiency more than 50%;
- no additional reinforced concrete foundation is required for installation;
- it is possible to adjust the combustion mode;
- it is forbidden to use coal for the furnace;
- the outer case heats up evenly and quickly thanks to the convection method of heating cold air.
Bio fireplace
This is a modern heating equipment that works without a chimney. Bioethanol is used as fuel, which emits a small amount of water vapor and carbon dioxide during combustion, due to which the humidity level in the room will normalize. If you have chosen a fireplace of this kind, you need to know that:
- You can install it anywhere;
- during the heating of the house by the fireplace, you need to constantly look after it;
- the stylish design of the device allows you to install it in houses with a modern interior;
- the burner will be easy to clean;
- it is possible to regulate the intensity of combustion.
Biofireplaces are floor, table and wall.
Homemade brick heating fireplace: construction technology
The development of the drawing is the initial step for the construction of this object. On the sketch, you need to display the place where the fireplace will be installed, and also depict its approximate appearance, the shape of the portal, the location of the chimney, firebox and other elements. It is important to consider the design of the roof truss system, since the pipe will have to be led out through the ceiling.
You also need to make a sectional drawing on which the fireplace device will be displayed. In a private house, you can build a small heating equipment of this type, but in an apartment this will not work, because the overlap of such a structure is not designed for a large load (more than 700 kg). Masonry work must be carried out according to the ordering scheme, which can be done independently, or choose a ready-made option (one of the examples will be given below).
A traditional brick fireplace consists of elements such as:
- Reinforced concrete foundation.
- Fireplace base from several rows of refractory bricks.
- Ashpit.
- Pre-furnace site.
- Portal - open frame firebox.
- Smoke collector (hailo).
- Chimney tooth - an element that serves to take heat from hot gases;
- Smoke exhaust pipe that exits through the roof.
- Gate valve for regulating traction.
Brick fireplace can be tiled with tiles or stone (natural or artificial). But this is not necessary, since the masonry will look attractive anyway. To make a fireplace of long burning, it is necessary to perform the following operations:
- Select and purchase building materials.
- Prepare a toolbox.
- Build the foundation.
- Run the brickwork of the fireplace body.
- Make a chimney.
- Dry and kindle the fireplace.
Selection of building materials
The main masonry can be made of solid red brick, however, for interior decoration it is better to use chamotte (refractory), since it is more resistant to the negative effects of combustion products and keeps heat longer. It is necessary to consider several additional nuances when choosing this material:
- instead of refractory bricks, clay full body is sometimes used, which should be free of cracks and other defects;
- To save money, the fireplace body can be laid out from a used brick. The main thing is that it is durable and dry;
- to get a fireplace that does not require decorative decoration, it is recommended to buy a brick with rounded edges.
As a solution, it is better to buy a refractory dry masonry mixture. In addition, chamotte clay and mortar are sometimes used for these purposes. During the construction of the base, cement is allowed to be added to the mixture in an amount of not more than 20%.
For the device of a fireplace in a private house, it is recommended to make a closed fuel hole. A part for these purposes is a metal door, which is equipped with refractory glass. If a fireplace with an open fireplace is planned, the indicated element will not be needed.
In addition, you need to buy additional parts:
- dampers for regulation of draft;
- doors (blowing and cleaning);
- for the chimney you need a stainless steel pipe with a circular cross section.
The lining is made of plaster or ceramic tile, and the structure can be decorated with shelves and heat-resistant accessories.
Necessary tools
To build a heating fireplace with your own hands, you will need standard construction devices:
- small shovel or scoop;
- rubber mallet (regular is also useful);
- pickaxe;
- trowel and putty knife;
- building level;
- plumb line, tape measure, square and cord;
- grinder with a disk for concrete;
- a container for a solution (for example, a bucket);
- dense rag.
It is necessary to cut a brick with a grinder on the street, because during this process a lot of dust will be generated. In addition, do not forget about safety measures when working with this tool: you need to wear safety glasses, headphones and gloves.
Foundation construction is an important stage
Brick laying of the fireplace should be done on a separate base. The dimensions of the foundation should be 20-30 cm larger than the dimensions of the heating structure. The minimum foundation depth is 50 cm. The prepared pit is filled with a sand and gravel cushion, which must be tamped. To save the solution, it is recommended to fill the pit with rubble stone. After the side walls of the foundation must be treated with bitumen.
The formwork needs to be made of boards about 15 cm high, inside of which it is necessary to lay a reinforcing mesh. The next step is to fill the mortar, which consists of cement, sand and gravel in a ratio of 1: 3: 4, respectively. The mixture completely hardens after 28 days. After this time, you need to make the outer layer of felt, previously soaked with liquid clay.
Masonry is carried out only on a frozen foundation, the first two rows of which are zero. They are not taken into account in the order, since their goal is to protect the felt pad and base from high temperature.
Masonry Principles
An important stage is the formation of the first row, which is carried out according to this technology:
- Move 50 mm from the edge of the base and lay out the stones without mortar. First you need to install the outside, and then fill the middle.
- Align the bricks in a line using a square.
- Measure the length of the diagonals with a construction tape measure (the difference should not be more than 5 mm).
- Lay the bricks on the mortar.
Subsequent rows must be formed in the same way. The horizontal and vertical masonry should be checked with the help of a level and a plumb line, while you must adhere to certain principles for the correct performance of these works:
- 50 mm - the maximum allowable thickness of the seam;
- the brick should be free of chips, cracks, breaks and dirt;
- the first two rows are the base of the fireplace;
- Red brick masters are advised to pre-soak in water: thus it is saturated with moisture. And with fireclay it is customary to remove dust and dirt with a sponge;
- excess solution must be removed;
- the bottom of the furnace should be made so that it rises above the floor for three rows of masonry;
- the solution should not contain foreign elements and lumps. A mixture that has a uniform consistency is considered to be qualitative;
- it is better to erect a heating fireplace in the summer, because in the warm season the solution will quickly dry out;
- Before laying the smoke box, it is better to lay out the model of the part dry;
- the gap between the ceramic and fireclay bricks should be 3-5 mm. Sheets of basalt cardboard should be laid in free space;
- the doors must be wrapped with asbestos cord in places where it will be in contact with the wall;
- the valve is mounted on a clay solution.
Drying and kindling
The solution will dry after 14 days. During this time, it is necessary to monitor the manufactured fireplace. If small cracks or other defects appear on it, they must be repaired with a clay mixture. To make a trial kindling, you need to perform the following steps:
- Throw some firewood into the firebox. But for starters, you can use brushwood and slivers.
- So that the fire does not go out, you need to add small firewood to the fireplace.
- If after a few hours the heating device does not crack, then you can increase the amount of solid fuel.
Firewood for the fireplace is recommended to be used from such species as hornbeam, beech, oak, birch, maple and alder. The main thing is to take into account the heat transfer, humidity, size and condition of the wood.
If you follow the instructions described, you can make your own high-quality brick heating fireplace. If there is no desire to tinker or there is simply no time for this time-consuming task, then there is a simpler but more expensive way out - to purchase a ready-made device. Varieties of fireplaces were described in the article, therefore, there should not be any difficulties in choosing.