ABSTRACT

The purpose of this case study was to test the theory that the use of a traditional fireplace would cool perimeter rooms by drawing in more cold outdoor air than could be offset by the radiant and convective heat gains from the fire. Temperature in each room was recorded by HOBO temperature dataloggers for control (no furnace, no fire) and test (fire, no furnace) runs. Our results showed that although the fireplace was not adequate in heating the perimeter rooms of the house it could not be concluded definitively that operating the fireplace would increase the rate of cooling in these rooms.