Does anyone here just have a masonry fireplace?

I run a masonry open fireplace in my 1700 sq ft open concept ranch. It has a blower on the wood rack that works pretty well, but there is always a draft from the garage door that happens to be behind my couch, letting the draft get my neck cold while in front of the TV, watching the fire. There is a draft/ ash chute at the bottom of the FP, that goes to the basement. If I open that, would there be less draft behind me from that leaky door? I know going to an epa approved insert, that it would burn a lot less wood and have more efficiency as well.

 

I would try it and see what happens. It cant hurt as long as no hot embers can make it to something flammable.

 

We have the ash chute thing too.It's located right under the grate, in the center of the fireplace. The access door is down in the basement.

I just assumed it'd be bad to let embers fall down there. In theory, even if something fell nothing would burn. It's not an air-tight seal though. I imagine that, even closed, air comes through.

 

Maybe by opening the ash dump and drawing air from the basement it may change the draft coming in the house. I'd try it and see if any significant change happens.

 

I had a fireplace and converted it. Bought this unit on CL, refurbished it. Stove, accessories, piping, etc. $500. I have saved $3000 in heating bills in 4 years and I am much, much warmer.

 

I bet you are warmer. Can't tell if that's an Ashley. We used one in the late 70s early 80s. I really liked the thermostat on the front that worked well. I wish our Liberty had one. Are there many stoves available today with that same type of themostat? Are Ashley's still being made?

 

My buddy had an Ashley and it was very similar. This is a Suburban "Wood Chief". It is just a little smaller than the Ashley. The thermostat control is nice, along with the big ash pan down below. I know it doesn't have the pretty glass to see the fire but it is highly functional. The convection heat that comes blowing out of the top is amazing (without any blower). As far as I know, Ashley's are still being made, I see them listed online at Northern Toll. Ashley's and the Wood Chief's are very similar, but I like where the fresh air intake is located on the Ashley better.


Looks Like They Have These Now:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_47723_47723

New Ashley's Here:
http://www.ruralking.com/hardware/c...tove-ashley-wood-circulator-heater-bec95.html

 

OK, got around to opening the vent, and cleaning out the chute below. I've owned this house since 2008. I pulled 6 big bags of ashes (40 lb solar salt bags) out of it. Granted, I never cleaned it out before, but I never let ashes go down there from my fires. I don't think it's been cleaned in decades. The house was built in the 60's. That said, there's less draft coming in from that garage door behind my couch with it open.

 

I did....till i put a stove init

 

That's my goal for next fall. New stove / insert. That also means I need to keep cutting and splitting wood this winter or early spring so I have an ample supply of dry seasoned wood. I'm sick of paying the power company as much as we do for ng.