Fireplace doors are a special device that performs a number of important and versatile functions. Its main task is to ensure fire safety during the operation of the hearth. In addition, the detail is part of the interior of the room, significantly influencing the formation of its style. There is a huge range of similar products. To choose the right doors for the fireplace, you should familiarize yourself with their types, features, pros and cons of this or that solution.
Types of fireplace inserts
The heart of any fireplace is the firebox - a compartment inside the portal in which fuel is burned.
Standard firewood, coal and peat combustion device:
- Cast iron grate (grates). Firewood is stacked on them, air is supplied, ash and ash wake up.
- Ash box. For collecting and removing waste material.
- Lining. Protects the back of the device from overheating, reflects the generated heat into the room.
- Deflector. Delays combustion products from being directly drawn into the chimney, contributes to an increase in the efficiency of the hearth.
- Exhaust pipe. Removes smoke and soot from the oven.
- Air supply regulator. Increases or decreases the volume of oxygen supplied to the grates.
- Afterburning system. Converts unprocessed fuel particles and gases emitted by them into thermal energy.
- Glass cleaning mechanism. Provides air to the door, preventing soot from settling on it.
By design, the fireboxes are open and closed.
In open structures, firewood is only fenced with a decorative grill. It is beautiful, exotic, allows you to admire an open flame. The downside is that there is a possibility of sparks hitting the floor, the efficiency of an open fireplace is extremely low, since almost all the heat in the literal sense of the word goes into the chimney.
Closed designs are more economical. The firebox is hermetically closed by a door, smoke collectors and fuel afterburning systems are installed inside.
Advantages and disadvantages
Each type of fireplace insert has its own advantages and disadvantages. They must be taken into account when choosing a product when buying or preparing for making it yourself.
Open type products have the following advantages:
- presentable appearance;
- the smell of wood and fire smoke;
- affordable price;
- ease of manufacture on your own;
- ease of maintenance.
Cons of this design:
- fire risk;
- danger of carbon monoxide poisoning;
- high fuel consumption with low heat transfer.
Hearths with open fireboxes are rather decorative components that serve to create an appropriate interior.
Fireplaces with closed chambers have the following advantages:
- Fire safety;
- profitability;
- good heat performance;
- the presence of additional devices that increase the efficiency of the product;
- the possibility of supplying circuits for heating water.
Disadvantages of the outbreak:
- higher price;
- difficulty in cleaning and maintenance.
Fireplace designs can be used to heat a single room or a small building.
Varieties of fireplace doors
The trade network offers a wide selection of fireplaces equipped with doors made of various materials. Each of them has its own characteristics, strengths and weaknesses.
The most common products are:
- Glass.The refractory material is able to withstand temperatures up to 1000 degrees, which is quite enough when using firewood as fuel. The sash can be transparent, colored, solid or with metal inserts. A fireplace with a glass door creates an atmosphere of comfort and coziness thanks to visible flames.
- Cast iron. This alloy is the most heat-resistant of all used in the manufacture of household appliances. The metal is resistant to corrosion, it is easy to clean it from dirt. During the heating and cooling process, cast iron retains its shape without yielding to deformation. To improve the aesthetic characteristics, the doors are coated with heat-resistant paint or finished with forged parts.
- Steel. The production uses a fire-resistant alloy that is immune to high temperatures. Steel doors are notable for their affordable price, practicality and reliability, but they are inferior to glass counterparts in aesthetic terms.
- Ceramic. Such designs look great and are highly efficient. The room is heated by the release of heat and infrared radiation generated by the firebox and the door.
The shape of the door for a fireplace with glass can be hinged (1 or 2 sashes), sliding, removable and lifting. Combined products made from metal and transparent parts are popular.
Choosing the size and design of the fireplace door
When choosing a fireplace door, you should take into account all the little things and nuances.
It is recommended to pay attention to the following criteria:
- Aesthetics. If the hearth is purchased for the interior, preference should be given to transparent doors through which the fire will be visible.
- The contingent living in the house. If there are children and animals in it, you will need a door with an additional protective shield that reduces the temperature to 40-50 degrees.
- The size. The larger it is, the better the heat transfer and the more beautiful the view of burning firewood. In this case, the material must be heat-resistant enough to maintain its size and shape under strong heating.
- Type of fuel. If coke and coal are to be used, cast iron is recommended. Glass and ceramics are suitable for firewood and briquettes.
- Opening method. The most effective are recognized two-leaf designs. They are distinguished by their reliability and ease of use.
- Functionality. It is advisable and promising to take products equipped with afterburning and water heating systems. This will allow achieving good savings on heating and preparation of hot water for domestic purposes.
When buying finished products or parts for making them, you need to prioritize in favor of quality. A fireplace is a fire hazardous structure, the slightest deviation from technology can cause a tragedy.
Making a door with your own hands
The manufacture of doors can be a stage in the construction of a new fireplace or part of a modification of a product assembled earlier. The procedure is complicated, but if you have the skills to handle household tools, it is feasible for a home craftsman.
Work begins with drawing up a project. The diagram shows the place of installation of the frame, the method of attaching it to the firebox, masking on the portal, the procedure for attaching the fittings. Based on the calculations, materials are purchased and tools are prepared. It is better to use refractory steel for the manufacture of the frame and sashes. It is almost impossible to process cast iron at home, while aluminum is corrosive and difficult to weld.
For work you will need:
- welding machine, electric drill, grinder;
- screwdrivers;
- riveter;
- tape measure, square, miter box;
- refractory steel;
- heat-resistant glass;
- cushioning non-combustible cord;
- heat-resistant glue.
In the future, you need to perform the following actions:
- Saw metal and glass (ceramics) blanks.
- Fasten the steel parts with clamps and weld them together.
- Drill holes in the sashes and frame and fasten the fittings with rivets.
- Glue transparent fragments to the doors or insert them into holders.
- Cover the frame with a fireproof insulating cord.
- Insert the frame with flaps into the firebox and fix it there with welding or bolts.
- Complete the finishing metal cladding and the renewed portal.
It remains to conduct a test furnace to make sure that the structure is working and safe.
