Conventional Firebrick
Conventional Firebrick fireplaces are built with
special made firebrick, which tend to reflect the heat of the fire out into the room. The
main advantage of the firebrick fireplace, over the heatilator fireplace, is its durability.
The heatilator fireplace tends to rust over the years, requiring it to be replaced.
Heatilator Fireplace
Heatilator fireplaces use a metal firebox as opposed
to the conventional firebrick firebox. The heatilator firebox is made to draw cool air
into a jacket, where it is heated by the fire. The warm air is then forced out into the
room by fans. Although, the heatilator fireplace is more heat efficient, it requires
the installation of a cover over the flue to prevent water from entering the chimney and
rusting the metal unit.
Rumford Fireplaces
The Rumford Fireplace is primarily designed to be a
more heat efficient fireplace than either the Conventional Fireplace or the Heatilator
fireplace. The Rumford Fireplace has an opening that is essentially square or
roughly as tall
as it is wide. The throat on a Rumford Fireplace is smaller than Conventional Fireplaces,
typically about 4 inches, as opposed to the other types which are about 8
inches. The Fireplace Detail Page shows the Conventional and Rumford
Fireplace design differences. Superior Clay Corporation has a web site at www.superiorclay.com. They can supply the entire
Rumford Fireplace in a kit. Step by step instructions and details on construction of the
Rumford Fireplace can also be be downloaded from this site.
Note: Some of the information on this page is taken from the Masonry Fireplace and Chimney Handbook, Second Edition, James E. Amrcheim, S.E., Copyright 1995 by Masonry Institute of America.
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