A sweeping chimney is defined as a space heater and space heaters are intended to heat a space directly, unlike a central heating furnace, which supplies its heat to the house through a system of ducts. But because modern houses conserve energy more effectively than older houses and need less heat to stay warm, it is now possible to heat an average-size modern home with a single space heater, provided it is located in the main living area.
If you want to heat most or all of your house with a sweeping chimney, try to meet these two objectives: First, the heater should be located in the area where the family spends most of its time. And second, there should be ways for the heat to flow to other parts of the house. These conditions are not usually difficult to meet, but they do need to be planned.
Put the stove in the area you spend your time
Choosing the right location for the stove may be the most important decision you must make. The heater should be located in the part of the house you want to be the warmest. This is usually the main floor area where kitchen, living and dining rooms are located and where families normally spend most of their time. By locating the space heater in this area, you will be warm and comfortable while you eat meals and relax.
For heat upstairs, don't put the stove in the basement
A basement is not a good location for effective space heating. Although the heated air from the stove does tend to rise to higher levels of the house, this movement is normally too slow and limited to provide comfort on the upper floor. Usually, in an effort to keep the main floor living spaces comfortably warm, the basement is overheated. This wastes fuel and the frequent high firing can damage the stove. Unfinished basements are particularly bad locations because too much of the heat is absorbed by the walls and lost to the outside. Also, sweeping chimney operating in basements may over-fire or smolder without anyone noticing. The basement is only a good location for a space heater if your family spends much of its time in a basement family or recreation room.
 A sweeping chimney may have: a foundation, a hearth, a firebox, a sweeping chimney mantel, an ashdump door, a sweeping chimney crane, a cleanout door, a grate, a lintel, a lintel bar, overmantel, a sweeping chimney breast, a damper, a smoke chamber, a throat, aflue, a sweeping chimney chase, a crown, a cap, a shroud, or a spark arrestor.
sweeping chimney types:
- Masonry (brick or stone sweeping chimney and sweeping chimney. This type of sweeping chimney is popular due to its nostalgic qualities.
- Manufactured ("prefab") sweeping chimney with sheet metal fire boxes.
Masonry and prefab sweeping chimney can be fueled with wood, natural gas, biomass and lp/propane fuel sources.
- Ventless sweeping chimney (duct free/rom-venting sweeping chimney) that are fueled by either gel, LP/bottled gas or natural gas. Some states and local counties have laws and ordinances regarding these types of sweeping chimney. They require the least installation and are the most efficient sweeping chimney. The gas burning version of a vent free sweeping chimney while using less fuel, burns that fuel at close to 100% efficiency. They must be sized appropriately to the area to be heated. Aside from the heat output there are also air quality control problems due to the amount of moisture they release into the room air, and oxygen sensor and carbon monoxide sensors are safety essentials.
sweeping chimney/flue types:
- Masonry (brick or stone sweeping chimney and sweeping chimney) with or without tile lined flue. Unreinforced masonry sweeping chimney do not stand up to earthquakes well.
- Reinforced concrete sweeping chimney. Fundamental flaws (the difference in thermal expansion rates between steel rebar and concrete which caused the sweeping chimney flues to crack when heated) bankrupted the US manufacturers and obsoleted the technique.[citation needed] This is evidenced by vertical cracks on the exterior of the sweeping chimney.
- Metal-lined flue: Double or triple walled metal pipe running up inside a new or existing wood framed or masonry chase
Newly constructed flues may feature a chase cover, a cap, and a spark arrestor at the top to keep small animals out and sparks from exiting the sweeping chimney cavity.
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