What Is A Rumford Style Fireplace?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The Rumford fireplace is

a tall, shallow fireplace designed by

Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford, an Anglo-American physicist best known for his investigations of heat.

Are Rumford fireplaces better?

A Rumford fireplace cures all those problems with simple tweaks in design! A Rumford fireplace is taller and more shallow than a modern fireplace. … Rumford fireplaces

draw smoke up and out the chimney better than any other design

. And the heat they fill a room with is many times that of our modern fireplaces.

What makes a Rumford fireplace?

The This Old House website has a quick primer on what makes a Rumford different: In a traditional fireplace,

the fireback slopes forward to direct smoke up the chimney

. Incoming air spills over the sharp edge of a steel lintel eight or nine inches below the damper, mixes turbulently with the smoke and “rolls” upward.

How does a Rumford fireplace work?

The Rumford fireplace works on a different principle. The idea of the plumb fireback and rounded streamlined throat is to

let the dilution air flow as a sheet of clean air

that keeps the smoke and products of combustion behind it flowing up the fireback.

How deep is a Rumford fireplace?

Model Width Depth 36′′ Rumford 38.5′′

22.5′′
42′′ Rumford 44.5′′ 22.5′′ 48′′ Rumford 50.5′′ 22.5′′ Chimney Diameter Masonry Chimney: 15′′ UL 103 Metal Chimney: 12′′ (30′′ model only) or 14′′

How much does a Rumford fireplace cost?

Rumford fireplaces are tall, shallow fireplaces built to be more efficient than conventional types. These fireplaces are accordingly more expensive and require more expertise to install. According to the Buckley Rumford Company, the average Rumford fireplace costs

between $4,000 and $10,000

.

Are Rumford fireplaces safe?

The shallowness of the Rumford fireplace and the effectiveness of providing heat in the room came at the risk of burning logs and embers falling out of the fireplace, potentially causing a home fire.

What is the most efficient fireplace?


Electric fireplaces

are by far the most energy efficient option. Only 1% of the heat from an electric fireplace is lost, because it is in no way connected to the outside. And if you’re concerned about pollutants, electric fireplaces are also the cleanest for the air inside your home.

What is the most efficient fireplace design?


Ventless gas fireplaces

emit the highest amount of heat with 100% efficiency and are eco-friendly. They have the look and feel of a traditional fireplace, but don’t require a chimney. Instead, heated air is recirculated around the room and back into the fireplace keeping the space warm and cozy.

How efficient are Rumford fireplaces?

How efficient are Rumford fireplaces? The question keeps coming up and I can’t find anything on the website about the subject. Gary, We know from our emissions testing that Rumfords have an

overall efficiency of 63% – give or take 50 percent

.

Do fireplaces really heat a house?

Can a Fireplace Really Heat Your Home?

Absolutely!

And many houses already have a fireplace. It’s just a matter of using it to bring some much-desired warmth into your home.

How do you light a Rumford fireplace?

Open the damper and light the fire. Light a sheet of newspaper on top of the fire to heat up the flue and get the air in it going up.

Light the newspaper inside the bundle of kindling at the top

. The flame at the top of the fire burns up the smoke.

What is a Count Rumford fireplace?

The Rumford fireplace is

a tall, shallow fireplace designed by Sir Benjamin Thompson

, Count Rumford, an Anglo-American physicist best known for his investigations of heat.

What are the parts of a fireplace called?

  • Firebox. The firebox is the part of your fireplace that is typically inside of the wall. …
  • Mantel. The mantel is the top horizontal protruding shelf/ledge over a firebox. …
  • Mantel Shelf. The mantel may or may not have the depth or design to function as a shelf. …
  • Surround. …
  • Hearth. …
  • Corbel. …
  • Plinth.

When was the Rumford fireplace invented?

The Rumford Fireplace originated in London England

in the late 1700’s

. Named after it’s inventor, Count Rumford (Sir Benjamin Thompson), this style of fireplace became highly popular in London for its efficiency. Rumford designed the fireplace so that the firebox was reduced in depth but increased in height.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.