Can you put a fireplace in an extremely well sealed airtight house ?
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Can you put a fireplace in a hyper sealed plastic wrapped A rated home?
Kerry Forides
Sept. 24, 2020Last updated: Sept. 24, 2020
I want to build a rocket stove, thermal mass couch in my new passive solar home. if I have A hyper sealed, plastic wrapped A rated home and a fireplace or even an exhaust fan. Then isn't it the case that they will not suck air out as there is no air to replace it, and won't a fire place be a risk to your health for example carbon monoxide poisoning or simply lack of air. will your fireplace even start?
The more airtight a home is the better for performance and durability, but it can pose problems with things like wood stoves or exhaust fans that depressurize the home. We can’t advise you too much on anything related to rocket stoves for safety reasons, but I would propose you look into having a direct air feed from outside.
If you have a sealed air feed to a woodstove that provides air from the outside then it will not depressurize your home, it will simply act as a radiator. There can be a concern with backdrafts and possibly having embers return into the feed, but check with a local woodstove installer perhaps for more insight into that. Here is our page all about balancing air pressure in homes.
Thank you Mike. Even though a fireplace is unnecssary I think ill put one in with a direct airpipe especially as rockets burn evn more efficiently with injected air. About your work, I have been following your work in helping humanity and updates for years Im especially happy to see the straight windows but as i love the slanted look and to prevent overheating, especially when plants are low, have you considered external retractable awnings. Be well
Kerry