How Does a Fireplace Blower Work?
Still debating whether or not you should install a fireplace blower? Keep reading.
A gas fireplace can make a beautiful addition to your home, whether you enjoy the romantic dance of flames at night or the warm feel of a fire on a cold night, there are literally hundreds of models and variations to choose from. While everyone's reason for choosing a gas fireplace is different, many of us purchase fireplaces for their ability to be used as a heating appliance. While it's true that some gas fireplaces are more efficient than others, most gas fireplaces are wasteful heating appliances.Gas fireplaces are designed to vent the heat and gas created in the firebox out of your home. While a moderate amount of this heat is radiated into your home, most of the generated heat is lost through the venting process. Enter the fireplace blower and/or fan kit. Installing a fireplace blower allows you to recover this wasted heat by helping to distrubute the heated air before it's lost in the venting process. So how do these fireplace blowers work within the gas fireplace insert?
As illustrated with the image on the right, room air is drawn into the firebox through the lower louvre. Blowers are typically installed toward the rear of the firebox and push the air up and over your firebox. The air is heated as it travels around your firebox and exits your fireplace through the top louvre. The following video demonstrates this process more clearly.
Fan kit options
Not all fan kits are created equal. In fact, there are a number of options that set some fan kits apart from others. Here we will explain a few of the popular fan kit options and how they might pertain to your home setup.Variable speed control
Variable speed control is exactly as it sounds, a way of controlling speed or RPM. In a fireplace blower application, a variable speed control is used to increase or decrease the the RPM speed at which the blower's fan is moving. You might ask yourself why this is important. Wouldn't you want the maximum amount of RPMs from the blower at all times? Well, that really depends. While it's true that a blower running at maximum speed will delivery more air flow, it's also true that the ambient noise created by the blower will be higher. A variable speed controlled blower will allow you to ajust the speed of the blower to achieve a desired level of both air flow and noise.
Our variable speed controllers not only control the RPM speed of the blower, they also include a toggle for "ON" and "OFF".
Thermostat limit switch
Also known as a Therm-O-Disc or snap thermostat, a thermostat limit switch is most commonly used in a fireplace blower application when no designated wall switch is present for the blower. When a fireplace is installed, the installer has an option of installing a wall switch to control the electrical outlet below your fireplace. When no wall switch is present, a thermostat limit switch makes it possible to control the blower's on and off operation automatically.
A thermostat may be used in applications where a designated wall switch is present. In this case, the wall switch will be left in the "ON" position so that power is always being supplied to the outlet. The thermostat will control when the blower is turned "ON" and "OFF".
So how does a thermostat limit switch work? Great question. Thermostat limit switches work by opening and closing a cicuit at 2 set temperatures. In most fireplace blower and fan kit applications, these temperatures are 90°F and 120°F. The switch closes at 120°F (blower on) and opens at 90°F (blower off). Through repeated testing, we have found that limit switches with operating temperatures of 90°F and 120°F function best in most applications. In most cases, the thermostat is flush mounted on the underside of the firebox. Some thermostats are held in place with magnetic brackets, while snap thermostats are often times held in place by a small clip on the firebox. These clips are typically provided by the manufacturer of the fireplace or insert.
High temparture wiring
In the previous section, we discussed thermostat limit switches and how they're used in fan kit applications. While most of these limit switches are flush mounted underneath the firebox, some thermostats must be mounted in a way that requires the use of high temperature rated wire. This wire is included in some of our fan kits, but can certainly be requested for custom applications.
Ball bearing & sleeve bearing motors
There's been an ongoing debate in the fireplace blower world about the differences between sleeve and ball bearing blowers. At FireplaceBlowersOnline.com, we believe the proof is in the pudding, which is why we're moving to all ball bearing motors. For a full discussion on this topic, read Jason's blog post below.
Fireplace Blowers and Fans
Our wood fireplace backs up smoke into the house. Would a fan or blower help draft the smoke up the chimney?
Unfortunately, no. A blower is only helpful in circulating warmth from the fireplace into the room and can actually cause the drafting issue to become worse in some cases.
I have a 2-sided vent-less gas log fireplace, but I can't find the brand or model. I would like to install a blower unit. The fireplace is grilled above and below. There is plenty of space underneath the firebox and an electrical plug box is wired in there (which switches on/off at a wall switch). In that space underneath, there is an opening on both the right and left sides that go around the sides of the firebox to the space above it where the air flows out. The openings where the blower would go are large, about 17" x 5.5", so I think about any size should fit.
Use of a blower to supply air is purely optional, although most see through units are ducted in such a way that the blower will only supply air movement to one side of the room, depending on where the blower is placed in the bottom of the unit.
A universal blower that would work for you is the Skytech FK-165 Fireplace Blower Fan Kit. This fan assembly offers excellent air flow, with an output of 165 CFM. Noise level is rated at 55 dB, which is average for this type of fan.
How to Install a Gas Fireplace Blower Kit
Now that winter is here, we are starting to use our fireplace more often. Not only do fireplaces add a nice touch to your living or bedroom decor, but they provide an added source of heat for those cold winter days. Our house came with a gas fireplace which is very different from the wood burning fireplaces that we grew up with. Gas fireplaces are very low maintenance, meaning there is no firewood to purchase, no need to start a fire (you can just flip a switch), and no chimney maintenance needed. Drawbacks are that you don’t get that real wood burning smell and that great crackling sound of the logs as they’re burning. Also, gas fireplaces don’t emit as much heat as a wood burning fireplace and are not as efficient because most of the energy is wasted on heating up the firebox and the few inches of air space around it. This is why we decided to purchase a fireplace air blower to transfer the heat from the firebox and the heated air that surrounds it and distribute it into our living space. This will make the heating of our home more efficient and a fireplace that is more functional.
We found out the fireplace model from our fireplace owner’s manual then searched online for the blower/fan kit that will fit and work with our fireplace. Our fireplace manufacturer isHearth & Home / Heat & Glo model DV3732SBI, and the search result for the blower kit is Heat & Glo modelGFK-160A . We then shopped around online for it and ended up ordering from Amazon since the sellers on Amazon offer the best price with free shipping! The kit we ordered is actually a universal fit made by Rotom model R7-RB168 which is cross referenced to Heat & Glo GFK-160A, Royal FK-160. and many more. This kit should work with any fireplace that has at least 4.3″ high opening at the control compartment below the firebox when the bottom louver is removed. Below are the steps that I took to safely complete the installation of the blower kit.
CAUTION. Do not attempt to do this installation yourself if you do not feel comfortable or are not familiar with electrical wiring or following an electrical wiring diagram – A qualified electrician or a fireplace technician should perform the installation.
How to Install a Gas Fireplace Blower Kit for Heat & Glo model DV3732SBI or similar
Tools needed: Flashlight, needle-nose pliers, vacuum cleaner (optional).Materials needed: Fireplace air blower kit. protective gloves, dust cloths, and glue.
Duration of the project: 30-45 mins
Price Range. $100 – $125
Difficulty level. Moderate
Labor level. Light labor
D-I-Y potential savings. $100-$150
Step 2. Remove the top louver, the bottom louver, and the fixed glass assembly door of your gas fireplace.
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