Shopping guide of closed fireplaces

First of all it is worth mentioning that a poorly constructed closed fireplace, has a wide spread of a good closed fireplace, as well as a traditional open fireplace with at least a medium closed fireplace.

For this reason it is very important to be particularly careful while choosing a closed fireplace.

Essential elements that a quality fireplace must have:

•    Shutter flap or else the final end of the outbreak.

This is even more practical to take place automatically when opening and closing the door, respectively. Shutter flap helps increasing the efficiency level,  because it reduces the flue gas temperature so it maximizes the heat obtained by the fireplace, in the interior of the house, as well as it reduces dramatically the wood consumption.

•    Monoblock , or otherwise integral combustion space.

In contrast to the cast iron fireplaces, the combustion space is so tight that the only exhaust vent is the neck, at the top of the devise, and only from there, to the point that the first stainless steel flue element is installed. More simply, the benefit of the monoblock fireplaces is that the area where the smoke goes around has no chance to come into contact with the area where the air is heated, with whom he comes in contact the user through the slats.

•    Chain rather than cables in the retractable door mechanism.

Otherwise, the door will rise with difficulty over the years and even worse, there is a serious likelihood of ropes to be cut and having to dismantle the entire top of the structure in order to replace it.

•    Stainless drivers with provision for tolerances for the retractable door mechanism.

Upon heating the metals are known to expand! If the drivers are FIX (stable), the expansion of the door metal that occurs during the lighting of the fireplace, will make it happen in the main body of the hob, which  results in coming up with great difficulty and even more likely to get stucked and may not be retracted before the fireplace has cooled down (after the fire is extinguished of course), which will cause contraction and restoration to the original position.

•    Air curtain for the fireproof glass

In our effort lighting the fireplace,  either with wet wood or without enough air among wood, until there is a rich flame ,spinning smoke is taking place that settles very easily ,among other points, in the interior of the glass, which blurs and turns black very quickly  resulting to lose the view of the fire.    Air curtain is a natural smoke prevention mechanism from being deposited in the glass. Many companies use air curtain without results at all. For  this reason we would like to point out once more how important it is to see the fireplace we are interested in, while working in the showroom. If it really meets practically all the above characteristics and not only theoretically!

•    INOX (stainless steel) cutters

At least two thick pieces angled , oppositely inclined together, to substantially prevent the heat in the flue, as well as the great waste of energy. The target of a real efficient closed fireplace is to transform the temperature of the exhaust into maximized efficiency in calories (KW).  In order to achieve this it is important , from the point that the flame ends upon the point that the devise ends, that there are not any obstacles (cutters) which prevent the escape of the heat towards the environment, as well as increasing it, for they are made of a good conductor of the heat (inox-stainless steel). The sufficient thickness helps in the longevity of the material.

•    Silent - Quality Fans by adjusting its speed!

Quality fans are made and adjusted into the entrance area , which is under the fireplace hearth  , in a away to prevent any concerted metal noise. Ask in any case to listen the fans of the fireplace that you are interested in the showroom. It is very disturbing if it's not right! It is also very important that there is an immediate access to the fans, in the bottom of the combustion space, so that there is no need of dismantling the construction in case that there is something wrong with the fans.

•    Particularly effective and direct regulation of the oxygen input into the combustion space.

From this will come many important factors in relation to the quality of the fireplace you choose.
In the bottom of the fireplace hearth, external and usually below the handle that takes up and down or simply opens the door, there is a small medal that goes in and out. If during this movement the flame does not increasing and decreasing respectively IMMEDIATELY! then there is a great problem for the possible buyer. It means that the door does not seal properly so the wood consumption is high and uncontrolled. The highest wood consumption a fireplace has it decreasing the efficiency level. It may sound weird but it applies UNEQUIVOCALLY! Quality devices need a small amount of wood to produce a lot of heat relative to the corresponding non-quality. Because a moderate fireplace can be upgraded with an exemplary installation and the opposite, it would be very good that the company someone chooses to buy a closed fireplace from, to undertake the complete installation and overall responsibility for the proper operation of the fireplace.