It is known that in the simplest classification all fireplaces are divided into devices of open and closed type. In addition to various technical nuances, the main distinguishing feature is the fireplace door. To emphasize its functional purpose, we will conduct a comparative analysis of some features of the operation of fireplaces of two different types.
Closed fireplaces are always associated with steel or cast-iron models, which implement new technologies for the efficient use of released energy. But, despite this, classic fireplaces with an open firebox are not inferior to their popularity and occupy a certain niche among their consumers.
In addition, such a fireplace device provides some distinctive advantages. First of all, it is a living flame, which can be observed directly, admiring the magical dances of fiery languages.
The fireplace is a source of heat and it does not matter how much its share is used to heat the room. Heat from an open structure is generated using infrared radiation. It is believed that such energy is more useful than heat from convection motion. Open flames can be adapted for additional purposes. Food is cooked on it by upgrading the device of the fireplace, and not the least important distinctive advantage is that the open fireplace is able to quickly heat the owner who came from the street.
Naturally, such a fireplace has a lot of disadvantages that designers of closed types of fireplaces use. The efficiency of the fireplace with an open hearth is slightly more than 20%. With such heat dissipation, it is impossible to rely on the fireplace as a serious source of heat. Even during its operation, the device is not able to accumulate energy. This means that immediately after burning wood, the fireplace will stop heating the room. We should not lose sight of the low degree of fire protection, especially in the presence of children. Sparks from firewood often fly out of the furnace and can cause disaster.
Decor and other features of the fireplace door
Against the background of the shortcomings of the open firebox, the fireplace door is simply a wonderful salvation from all of the shortcomings listed. Even though the flame is hidden behind the glass door of the furnace, you can continue to admire it through the clear glass. Everyone knows about the decorative functions of closed fire chambers, so let's move on to technical issues right away.
A closed firebox allows you to install a water circuit in the fireplace, and this is a prerequisite for the full use of the fireplace as a heat-producing device, moreover, the main one.
Thanks to the special design of the door, slow burning technology is possible. By adjusting the air supply, they achieve better combustion of fuel, therefore, increase efficiency. By installing protection, you can be calm about security, even if children are playing in the room.
Do it yourself
Does it make sense to focus on such an obvious fact as a variety of models, and the fact that fireplaces of various types are widely represented today, in particular, with closed fireboxes, you can observe without conducting special studies, but simply by going to the store. These are freestanding fireplaces and built-in fireboxes. But each owner is interested in installing and manufacturing the door with improvised means.
This procedure is quite feasible, only for this you will have to show imagination, patience, acquire material and acquire the necessary tool.
Glass option
The most popular models are glass doors. They are quite functional and will allow you to open the furnace space for a panoramic view of the process of burning wood. The device of such a door is based on the fact that a special quartz glass for a fireplace, which has high heat resistance, is mounted on a metal frame. Glass is mounted in a special recess, it is necessary to immediately provide for the possibility of its dismantling and maintain a certain gap between the glass and the frame to ensure expansion.
A self-made fireplace door with glass should provide protection, visibility, access to the firebox. In addition, a home-made design must have an aesthetic appearance.
- Before you make a frame, you must correctly remove its dimensions. The whole door should fit tightly into the fireplace opening. It is better to take a stock of 2 mm when determining the dimensions. If necessary, with the help of a grinder it will be possible to distribute a fireplace window to the desired degree.
- The frame is mounted from a metal corner. To comply with the geometry, all work must be done on a flat plane. Cut-to-size sides of the frame are welded. After that, you need to check the right angles and compare the diagonals. As soon as you make sure that the design is correct, you can weld all the seams. Then the weld points are treated with a grinder.
- Glass will be attached to the frame by bolts that are screwed into a corner along the plane. Thus, these bolts only keep the glass from falling out of the frame, but do not fasten it rigidly. The condition for thermal expansion is satisfied.
- A similar frame is welded from the same corner, which will play the role of an external lintel for the door. This perimeter frame is decorated with a decorative frame. Depending on the style of the decoration material for the fireplace, the door frame can be made of artificial forging elements or metal plates.
- The door and lintel are connected by awnings. With fairly accurate calculations, the dimensions of the lintel are slightly larger than the opening, and it should be so. We mark with a pencil the borders of the lintel on the wall of the fireplace and cut out the recess with the help of a grinder and a cutting wheel.
- The door is inserted into the resulting recess. But before this step, the glass should be removed to avoid damage. The lintel frame is wrapped on the outside with an asbestos cord and coated with a heat-resistant adhesive solution. For the cord to enter the opening, it will have to be pushed with a screwdriver. This work is painstaking, therefore, it is necessary to choose the adhesive composition with low adhesion properties. An asbestos cord is needed as a seal so that heat does not escape from the furnace through gaps.
- Only after the glue dries, can the glass be replaced. Having inserted a glass door into the fireplace, you can think of a lock and a handle. Although this stage is permissible to carry out at the very beginning of installation. The metal parts of the door should be painted with special heat-resistant paint. It will have to be applied in several layers to hide irregularities after processing the welds.
Metal
Rarely, but still there are models in which the door is completely deaf. The technology of its construction is exactly the same as that of glass, only an iron sheet is used instead of glass.
After making the frame, the material is cut to the size of the inner part. However, some overlap should be added to them so that the sheet overlaps the frame, forming places for welding.
Forged
Real forging is very expensive, so you can use its imitation. But since the design is not so strong, it should be created on the basis of the frame. Two corners are used for this. The frame will not turn out to be integral, but only representing the lower part of the door and the one to which the hinges will be attached.
Forged doors are usually made in the form of double hinged. Forged elements are welded onto the frame created. The main thing is that they should be identical in pairs on two doors. Such fireplace doors will not delay the flying coals, and this should be constantly remembered.
