ᐅ Controlled ventilation system + fireplace + kitchen exhaust – does this work?

Yaso2.0 schrieb:

Okay, then I’ll get in touch with them, we’ll keep the same one 😀

There is no basement. But I’ll say what makes the most sense for us!

At the moment, I know that the balanced mechanical ventilation system will likely be a Vaillant recoVair, although there are probably many different models. We would like to have a panoramic fireplace again, operated with firewood/wood briquettes.

A maybe silly question, which might have been discussed several times before… But is a balanced mechanical ventilation system enough to remove cooking odors quickly from the house, so that an exhaust hood might not even be necessary?

If the house is very well insulated, think carefully about the panoramic fireplace. Lots of glass always means a sudden release of large amounts of heat, which can cause a room to overheat quickly. A masonry heater might be a better option in that case.

Regarding the ventilation issue: a fireplace should always be room-air independent. There are chimney systems where the fresh air is supplied through the space between the chimney wall and the flue pipe. Provided that the fireplace is DIBt-approved (these are usually only fireplaces with a flat glass front facing one direction), this can be sufficient. Otherwise, you cannot avoid using a negative pressure monitor. This device measures the negative pressure in the living space and in the chimney. If the negative pressure in the chimney is lower than in the living space (which could cause exhaust gases to be drawn back into the room), the monitor switches off the extractor hood and ventilation system. In practice, this has only happened once so far, during the fireplace’s warm-up phase (when the chimney draft is still low) while running the extractor hood at full power (we were frying fish at the time). However, in that case, it was clear that smoke was entering the room from the fireplace.

BBaumeister schrieb:

A lot of glass also means a large amount of heat is released all at once.

But only for a limited period. It is manageable, so no additional thermal mass should be installed. That way it works very well without turning into a sauna—you basically push the heat right back out through the chimney. Ecologically speaking, it’s different 😎

BBaumeister schrieb:

Regarding the ventilation issue: a fireplace should always be room-air independent.

As far as I know, chimney inspectors won’t accept anything else anymore. Mine couldn’t care less about a DIBt certification, by the way. He always demands a pressure monitor. That’s why over the course of the year I’m going for a technically simple model that is room-air independent but not certified. The money saved (which isn’t insignificant) can then be used for other things. The fireplace will have 11 kW at just over 20 sqm (215 sq ft) in the fireplace room.

nordanney schrieb:

However, only for a limited period. It’s manageable, and no additional storage material should be installed. Then it works very well without turning into a sauna – you basically push the heat straight out through the chimney again. Not very ecological though 😎

The question is how pleasant the heat feels. I have a heavy masonry stove. Its surface doesn’t get excessively hot, but it feels like the sun is shining in. So very comfortable, and if you heat it in the evening, it remains pleasantly warm in the morning.

As far as I know, the chimney sweep won’t accept anything else anymore. Mine couldn’t care less about a DIBt certification. He always demands a pressure monitor. That’s why I’m treating myself to a technically simple model during the year, which is air-independent but not certified. The money saved (which is not insignificant) I can then use for other things. It’s 11kW for just over 20sqm (215 sq ft) in the chimney room.

11kW is a lot already. Are there still ventilation slots for the convection heat? Maybe a water jacket would make sense. Then the heat could at least be used efficiently for hot water.

BBaumeister schrieb:

11 kW is quite a lot.

But it’s necessary to have a properly large glass surface (corner fireplace).

BBaumeister schrieb:

Are there ventilation slots for convection heat?

Of course. 400/600 cm² (62/93 in²) are planned.

BBaumeister schrieb:

Maybe a water jacket would be useful. Then the heat could at least be used effectively for hot water.

As I said, I’m not doing that complicated nonsense. Most of the heat goes back out through the chimney – I just want the look.

nordanney schrieb:

But it’s necessary to have a properly large glass surface (corner fireplace).

Of course. 400/600cm² (62/93 square inches) are planned.

As I said, I’m not going to do such a complicated nonsense. Most of the heat escapes through the chimney anyway – I just want the look.

I still have my doubts about whether you’ll really be happy with that. To prevent the large glass from getting covered in soot and needing constant cleaning, you also need to burn a sufficient amount of wood, and then it gets very hot very quickly. Just try placing an 11 kW (37,500 BTU) electric heater (construction heater) in the room and run it for 1.5 hours. Have you considered an alternative, like a gas fireplace or a panoramic ethanol fireplace? The look is the same, but you won’t have the temperature problem. Also, not that much heat actually escapes up the chimney, since a certain efficiency is required for a fireplace to be approved at all.

BBaumeister schrieb:

I still have my doubts about whether you’ll really be happy with that.

I have relevant experience with this. A few years ago, during our last house build, we had a similar fireplace (in terms of power rating – as a see-through fireplace; higher output for a larger area). It never became a sauna, not even with the windows closed. The heat actually just escapes through the chimney. Wood is not an issue here in the countryside either.

BBaumeister schrieb:

Have you considered a gas fireplace or a panoramic ethanol fireplace as alternatives? The appearance is the same,

I’m old-fashioned. A fireplace must be fueled with wood. It has to crackle and pop. Sparks should occasionally fly, and when I open the fireplace door, it should smell like burning wood. None of this can be offered by gas or ethanol flames. At that point, I might as well hang a TV there and just play a fireplace video instead. 😉