heat reflectors for fireplace, do they really work?
Karl and Steph
I was thinking about buying one of those heat reflectors for our
fireplace (the stainless steel type that goes in the back of the
fireplace). My question is, I realize that this is similar to using the
shiny part of aluminum foil, so yeah, it should work. But, wouldnt the
reflector get blacken rather quick, reducing its effectiveness, and
constantly need to be cleaned? Essentially, being more of a pain in the
neck than they are worth?
thanks!
--
------------------------------------------------------------
Karl and Stephanie Fritz
k...@home.com
ICQ#16694016
------------------------------------------------------------
Tom K
decorative. Go to any old circa 1800's restored home and you will find them
there. They are leaned on the rear wall vertically behind the fire. They
relected heat by means of a mass collector of the heat radiation or infrared
waves.
Where to buy a new one? Haven't a clue. I used to see these in flea
markets and junk shops. I wonder if Vermont Castings makes a fireplace
plate? Sand Hill in Peterborough NH was my supplier when I lived in
Massachusetts.
Tom K
Karl and Steph wrote in message <366B47F9...@home.com>...
Splatter
> fireplace (the stainless steel type that goes in the back of the
Traditionally, "heat refectors" (often called "fire backs", or something
similar) were made from cast iron. Not as effective as polished stainless,
certainly, but in England, in the past century the were almost a
requirement.
You probably already realise that most fireplaces are actually pretty poor
room/house heaters.
John Galbreath Jr.
They are mainly for protection of the back wall of the firebox.
Karl and Steph wrote:
>
> Hi,
> I was thinking about buying one of those heat reflectors for our
> fireplace (the stainless steel type that goes in the back of the
> fireplace). My question is, I realize that this is similar to using the
> shiny part of aluminum foil, so yeah, it should work. But, wouldnt the
> reflector get blacken rather quick, reducing its effectiveness, and
> constantly need to be cleaned? Essentially, being more of a pain in the
> neck than they are worth?
>
> thanks!
> --
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> Karl and Stephanie Fritz
> k...@home.com
> ICQ#16694016
> ------------------------------------------------------------
--
John Galbreath Jr.
http://www.FireLogs.com
mailto:Jo...@FireLogs.com
Maire
evidence that this, in fact, happens. Anyone got any references? Also,
even if the stainless steel goes black, it doesn't matter - we're dealing
with infrared radiation which black reflects.
Maire
Karl and Steph wrote in message <366B47F9...@home.com>...
George Schillinger
I have a stove five inches from a wall with a heat sheild in between and
with the stove cranking the drywall is warm but very touchable. But you
cannot stand that close to the stove for very long thats for sure. Where
the heat goes? Not into the wall is all I would be willing to say.
Cheers
Frank Duffy
<pho...@lightlink.com> writes
I think that George has picked Karl up wrong. The heat reflector is a
pannell that fits at the back of an open fire if I'm not mistaken,
rather than the heat shield behind a stove.
In theory I think that the reflector should help a little. In the UK we
have astandard component, a fireback which is shaped to provide a
throat and to help radiate heat in to the room. A shiny reflector might
actually be MORE efficient when it blackens because it will then radiate
a wider range of wavelengths - physisists talk about "black body
radiation". The shiny stainless is shiny because it is reflecting
wavelengths in the visible light range - who knows what it is doing in
the UV an IR ranges.
--
Frank Duffy
Personal email to fr...@chimney.demon.co.uk
at work...
ISOKERN - the safety chimney fdu...@isokern.co.uk
http://www.isokern.co.uk
jcamp
suggested. The walls never get warm.
--
Joyce
Please check out my homepage
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ridge/1543
Need a carpet or tile floor cleaned?
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PS: Beware of Geeks bearing .gifs!
Rob Gray
> Karl and Steph wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> > I was thinking about buying one of those heat reflectors for our
> > fireplace (the stainless steel type that goes in the back of the
> > fireplace). My question is, I realize that this is similar to using the
> > shiny part of aluminum foil, so yeah, it should work. But, wouldnt the
> > reflector get blacken rather quick, reducing its effectiveness, and
> > constantly need to be cleaned? Essentially, being more of a pain in the
> > neck than they are worth?
> >
> > thanks!
> > --
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > Karl and Stephanie Fritz
> > k...@home.com
> > ICQ#16694016
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
I use a fireback in my fireplace. These are the traditional cast iron backings
that are placed in a fireplace. You can purchase them from makers here in the
US. These will fit in all sizes of fireplaces. I use one in an old, walk in
cook fireplace, but you can get sizes for regular modern fireplaces as well. I
have found that the reflected heat from the cast iron not only makes the
fireplace produce more heat, but it also makes the fire burn better with the
intensified heat in the fireplace. The manufacturer that I bought from was:
Hope This Helps,
Rob
Dick Lucas
become hot surface radiators. The burning gases, while hot do not emit
much infrared because they have low emissivity. Most of that heat goes
up the chimney. Emissivity is a number which compares the amount of
energy radiated as compared to perfect black body. For a substance, the
emissivity is equal to the absorbtance, which for a gas is very low.
(gases are nearly transparent)
The reflector sits in or near the flames at the back of the fireplace,
and becomes very hot, hotter than the firebrick at the back. Polished
stainless steel would have lower emissivity than blackend steel, but the
polish would quickly disappear and the reflector would become more
efficient at radiating heat.
Dick Lucas
Rick Matthews
: In theory I think that the reflector should help a little. In the UK we
: have astandard component, a fireback which is shaped to provide a
: throat and to help radiate heat in to the room. A shiny reflector might
: actually be MORE efficient when it blackens because it will then radiate
: a wider range of wavelengths - physisists talk about "black body
: radiation". The shiny stainless is shiny because it is reflecting
: wavelengths in the visible light range - who knows what it is doing in
: the UV an IR ranges.
Keeping the reflector shiny should work the best. Essentially all
radiation that is reflected ends up in your room or back in the
fire, while any radiation that is absorbed will radiated equally
to the rear and front, as well as conducted to the air rising
to the chimney. So, clean and shiny is better.
Aluminum foil should work better than stainless steel. Aluminum
is extremely reflective in the infrared, and the foil is cheaply
replaced when it becomes dirty. A physicist friend of mine uses
aluminum foil and is please with the result.
Now, if the purpose of the metal is to be warmed by conduction from
the hot air in the firebox, leading to infrared radiation into the
room, aluminum would be a poor choice. It is a very poor radiator
when clean.
Fireplaces in old homes have much larger openings with a back wall
that tilts forward. Hot air from the fire warms the bricks which
radiate into the room. The fireplace is much taller than it is
deep. Most modern fireplaces are little cubes that are very
inefficient. Many actually *cool* the home.
--
Rick Matthews matt...@wfu.edu
Department of Physics http://www.wfu.edu/%7Ematthews
Wake Forest University 336-758-5340 (Voice)
Winston-Salem, NC 27109-7507 336-758-6142 (FAX)
USA
Frank Duffy
<matt...@wfu.edu> writes
>Frank Duffy (fr...@chimney.demon.co.uk) wrote:
>: - physisists talk about "black body
>: radiation". The shiny stainless is shiny because it is reflecting
>: wavelengths in the visible light range - who knows what it is doing in
>: the UV an IR ranges.
>
wavelengths.
>Keeping the reflector shiny should work the best. Essentially all
>radiation that is reflected ends up in your room or back in the
>fire, while any radiation that is absorbed will radiated equally
>to the rear and front, as well as conducted to the air rising
>to the chimney. So, clean and shiny is better.
>
>Aluminum foil should work better than stainless steel. Aluminum
>is extremely reflective in the infrared, and the foil is cheaply
>replaced when it becomes dirty. A physicist friend of mine uses
>aluminum foil and is please with the result.
OK Aluminium may be reflective when it is a foil but surely if it were
used as a fireback it would be in it's liquid state :-/
>
>--
>Rick Matthews matt...@wfu.edu
>Department of Physics http://www.wfu.edu/%7Ematthews
>Wake Forest University 336-758-5340 (Voice)
>Winston-Salem, NC 27109-7507 336-758-6142 (FAX)
>USA
--
Rick Matthews
: OK Aluminium may be reflective when it is a foil but surely if it were
: used as a fireback it would be in it's liquid state :-/
It's not so easy to melt aluminum foil by putting it near a fire.
Its high reflectivity in the visible and IR makes it very hard to
heat. The back side of the foil is rather effectively cooled
by conduction and convection.
And of course, many of us have wrapped food in aluminum foil
and put it over a roaring grill. Even the edges of the foil
not in contact with the food do not melt.
mathemati...@gmail.com
www.gratewalloffire.com
I have a 21 inch one and it works.
Combine the reflector with their vertical grate for definite warmth in the room and no smoke in room!
Bob F
up the chimney that it puts into the house. Get a modern insert if you
want heat in the house.