How to Make a Fireplace Blower

Increase the efficiency of your fireplace with a blower. This is a simple principal that will really heat up your room.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pipe wrenches, pipe cutter
• tape measure
• welder
• electricians tools

1. 
   Check your flues operation.

   First you need to remove everything from inside your fireplace and completely clean it out. Make sure there are no loose bricks and the flue operates properly.

2. 
   Check for fit and ease of removal.

   Now you need to take accurate measurements of your fireplace inside area. You will need room for the heat chamber to fit with good contact against the hearth. The chamber has to draw air from outside the fire place and be long enough for the air to be heated before it is blown back out into the room.

3. 
   Design your chamber for heat contact and air flow..

   The chamber has to be constructed of a material that is strong enough to resist fire and high temperatures. Three inch galvanized or cast iron pipe should work quite well. If you can weld it can be constructed of heavy gauge steel. It has to be placed to take advantage of the maximum amount of heat. If it is too short the air will not have time to heat up. Too many turns can strain your motor.

4. 
   You can mount blower to one side.

   You will want to consider how it is going to work and how it is going to look. Then you have to come to a balance between the two. The motor and intake has to be outside the fire place. The exhaust also has to do the same. There are two main rules good heat contact and good circulation. The blower can be mounted to the front or the side but a side mount will require a stronger motor.

5. 
   Check the finished unit outside the fireplace.

   You will need to test the unit before placing it in the fire place to make sure everything works ok and it has good ventilation.
   The fan will be dealing with high temperatures so it has to be heat resistant even though it should never come in contact with ashes or flames. There should be a strong steady flow coming out the far end and the motor should not sound like it is straining. Check for leaks at joints.

6. 
   thermostats will be a big help.

   A thermostat can be installed at the motor to shut it down if it gets too warm. Another can be placed at the far end to control operation of the motor.

7. 
   Take it easy!

   Place completed unit in fire place, build fire and relax.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure all the materials are strong enough for the job.
• Check your design carefully before fabrication.
• A smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector should always be in a room with a fireplace.

[deedavis]

on 7/10/2009 This is not a talent of mine. Great information on how to make a fireplace blower. Great article.