Build Your Own Fireplace Blower Grate

Using a fireplace blower grate is the best way to save some money and also the environment. Simply put, it helps you to in the effective transfer of heat from your fireplace to all over your home. There are many popular models of fireplace blower grates available in the market. But you can even build your own fireplace blower grate.

How it Works

Before you start building the blower grate, it is important to understand how it works. A fireplace blower grate consists of an air inlet, pipelines or air tubes, and an air outlet. The inlet draws in cold air from the room. This air then passes through a series of tubes or chambers that pass through your fireplace. The air inside these tubes is heated by fire and is then expelled through the air outlet to heat the room. This method of heating ensures that almost 90% of heat energy from the fireplace is utilized in heating your room.

What You'll Need

• Cast iron, black iron, or steel pipes with threaded ends. Easily available from your nearest hardware store or junkyard.
• Elbow joints to join the pipes together. Remember to pick joints made of the same material as that of the pipe, otherwise uneven expansion of different metals can cause your fireplace blower grate to develop leaks.
• Exhaust fan
• Welding equipment

Step 1 – Planning

There are some basic principles that you need to keep in mind when planning your fireplace blower grate.

• The exhaust tubing should be higher than the inlet tubing because warm air rises higher than cold air. This is a key design feature; so do not forget to incorporate this basic design principle into your fireplace grate heater.
• Keep the exhaust fan well away from the rest of the room because it can be noisy. It is also a good idea to look for an exhaust fan that is not too noisy.

Step 2 – Taking Measurements

Now that you have planned out how your fireplace grate heater is going to be, you need to carefully measure your fireplace to ensure that the pipes will fit in properly.

Step 3 – Welding and Cutting

If you do not know how to weld and cut, consider getting some outside help. This process needs to be done with care as both welding and cutting are hazardous operations. Do keep a fire extinguisher standing by at all times when you are welding or cutting. Note that although threaded joints are easier than welded joints, they are more likely to leak. So if you are looking at keeping your fireplace grate heater for some time, you should opt for welded joints.

Step 4 – Installation

Next, you have to install the grate heater using clamps. Make sure that the entire unit is properly supported and all the clamps are well tightened.

Step 5 – Testing

Once your fireplace grate heater has been installed, you should test it thoroughly to ensure that there are no leaks. While testing the unit, keep a fire extinguisher handy. It is also a good idea to use an accurate CO (carbon monoxide) detector to check for leaks. In fact, with any fireplace grate heater, you should keep some CO monitoring equipment handy to ensure that the CO levels in the room are not increasing beyond the maximum limit.