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Question
I own a tri-level home around 2000 sqft in kansas. If you really look at the house you could say it has 4 levels, the basement, the lower level, the middle and the upper. The lowere level is where a old heatilator prefabricated fireplace was and I put a appalachian 4n1xl wood insert in there. What I was wondering was, what is the best way to circulate the heat from it into the middle and upper rooms? I tried the furnace fan (even tried blocking off the other cold returns) and it seemed to lower the temperature. Any idea why that is? I do have a small fan sitting on my entertainment center trying to blow the air up the stairs. Is that the way to go? Do I need a bigger fan, or put it somewhere else? Any suggestions? Thanks, Landon
Landon,
The furnace fan will not really help as there is not enough concentrated heat to fill the ducts and be moved without losing too much heat energy in the process.
Heatilator prefabricated fireplaces were not approved for the installation of an Appalachian or any other type of woodburning insert except for Dovre which was manufactured by Heatilator.
You may have a potentially hazardous installation in place. I recommend calling a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep in your area. You can find one by going to www.csia.org.
Good luck with your project and thanks for using AllExperts.com!
Sincerely,
A. Bart Ogden, President
Home Safe Hearth & Chimney
Wichita, KS
Voice: 316-265-9828
Fax: 316-265-9890
www.homesafeks.com
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Answers by Expert:
Bart Ogden
Expertise
I can answer questions related to chimney and fireplace cleaning, construction and repair as well as questions related to the performance of chimneys and fireplaces. I can also answer questions related to clothes dryer vent cleaning and repair. Additionally, I can field questions related to masonry repair.
Experience
Experience in the area:
28 years experience in the chimney service/installation/repair field
President, Home Safe Hearth & Chimney, Inc. Wichita, Kansas
Professional Organizations:
Member, National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG)
Member, Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA)
Member, Kansas Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps (KGPCS)
Member, Midwest Chimney Safety Council (MCSC)
Member, Kansas Association of Real Estate Inspectors (KAREI)
Past At-Large Director of the National Chimney Sweep Guild
Past At-Large Director of the Chimney Safety Institute of America
Past Secretary, National Chimney Sweep Guild
Past Secretary, Chimney Safety Institute of America
Member, National Chimney Sweep Guild Technical Advisory Council
Member, Chimney Safety Institute of America Certification Committee
Past Chairman, CSIA Chimney Safety Education Brochures Committee
Past Chairman, NCSG Nomination Committee
Publications:
SWEEPING Magazine, The Journal of Chimney & Venting Technoloty, A Publication of the National Chimney Sweep Guild
SNEWS, The Chimney Sweep News
THE KANSAS SWEEP, The Voice of the KS Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps
Education/Credentials:
BA, Wichita State University
C.S.I.A. Certified Chimney Sweep
C.S.I.A. Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician
N.F.I. Woodburning Specialist
N.F.I. Gas Specialist
Chimney Diagnosis & Documentation Seminar
Ahren's Masonry Restoration School Graduate
Advanced Gas Certification
Master Gas Certification
Licensed Mechanical Contractor
Pellet Appliance Specialist
Venting Design Specialist
Dale Carnegie Course Graduate
Awards and Honors:
Superior Dealer Award, Ventinox Chimney Lining Systems
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