Best fireplaces & stove accessories according to redditors

My first thought was that it was a dustpan, likely one to be used for sweeping up ash from a fireplace like this one. Hard to tell from shadow if it has a flat enough base to stay upright or if they have something in the wood for that. If it can't stay upright on its own then no way it's a dustpan. The edge looks fairly straight and flat though so if it's not a dustpan it gets into that murky spade vs shovel space

How about something like this?

4-Blade Heat Powered Stove Fan

Looks like that's peltier-powered, not a stirling engine, but it might get the job done.

DIY version

If you're really set on stirling engines this site may help. What you propose is certainly possible, but it'd be a big job and even then I'm not sure you'd get enough power to match your bellows.

100 200 proof, 5 litres of high performance bio-ethanol

Keep doors to unused rooms closed. Electric is very efficient, it's just that it's usually more expensive than gas. Light bulbs double as 100 percent efficient heaters. Fans on low generate heat and, if spinning in the proper direction help circulate warm air from the ceiling. Depending on your gas heater, some thermoelectric fans are pretty helpful.

Agree with the CO monitors. I have a Nest monitor and it doubles as a nice nightlight.

If you have electric baseboards or forced air, they can be more efficiently controlled with a new thermostat. Chances are you have the shitty twist knob ones that heat the room to 90 then turn off until it's 50 again.

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https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-TL8230A1003-Line-Thermostat-Programmble/dp/B0016J2CYQ/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=baseboard+thermostat&qid=1571606653&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/TOMERSUN-Powered-Fireplace-Circulating-Efficiently/dp/B07VQNGKLK/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=thermoelectric+fan&qid=1571606558&sr=8-4

https://www.hansenwholesale.com/ceiling-fans/fan-direction-summer-winter

That is a really good idea. Were you referring to something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/VODA-4-Blade-Fireplace-Increases-Friendly/dp/B01CD2AIV8/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=oven+convection+fan&qid=1570733996&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Brite-51030-Fireplace-Scrub/dp/B0792JF8YQ/ref=sr_1_4

Both Rutland and Quick-N-Bright offer products that do this job fairly well:

https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Brite-Fireplace-Creosote-Chemicals/dp/B0792JF8YQ

https://www.amazon.com/Rutland-Sweep-Soot-Remover-1-Pound/dp/B00120R4ZQ

Just be aware that you will never be able to remove all the soot. It is incredibly fine, and gets into nooks and crannies deeply. You can make it look good, but will never get it to a brand new appearance.

Vinegar and water, or a commercial solution like https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Brite-Fireplace-Creosote-Chemicals/dp/B0792JF8YQ?ref_=ast_bbp_dp

Yes, it is tar and other residue left behind by the wood. It is black and sticky when fresh, and dries out glazed and rock hard. You can use a creosote remover, if you wish. There are many out there; this is the one I use. I put in in a spray bottle, and use it twice, three times a week during the cold months:

https://www.amazon.com/Liquid-Creosote-Remover-Anti-Creo-Soot-Dangerous/dp/B004SICUIK

For me, one gallon lasts about three years.

They run off piezo electric current Peltier Generator wherein the heat source needs to get hot enough to stress the materials which create the electricity required for operation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoelectricity) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_generator). There are wires that run from the solid material layer into the fan engine to power it, which then runs until the heat source cools down and it automatically shuts off (due to lack of heat power). The fans are relatively cheap too, I got mine on Amazon for like $40 and it works great and looks good as well. The main benefit is that they push the hot air off the top of the hear source (hot air rises) so instead of that air immediately going up to the ceiling it goes out in the room first before rising eventually. Mine usually kicks on when the surface it's touching reaches about 200 degrees and will run continually for as long as I keep my stove above that temperature. In case you want one, here's the one I bought off Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CD2AIV8/)

I got this one a few years ago. It's more of a novelty than anything else. It spins its little ass off when the stove is going, but I cant really feel any air moving from it. When it dies, I won't replace it.

You're almost there!! Everything is oriented very nicely. You need a big ol' shaggy rug (idea 1, idea 2, idea 3) and you have plenty of room for any style of coffee table (I am getting a rustic Scandinavian vibe from your current furniture, so maybe something like this or this or this. Put some curtains on those windows, and consider creating a mantle for your fireplace by mounting a wooden shelf on top. I would put a basket of blankets or some wood (even if you don't use it) at the other corner of the fireplace, and as others have said - plants! Can't go wrong. Lastly, bring that armchair in a little closer at a conversational angle.

A firewood log cart would help him get the wood inside. He doesn't have to fill it up:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N7HLP4V


Or a wagon like this might be easier:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BECQBZ0

As others have said, make sure he's wearing welder's gloves near the stove.


Good luck & best wishes. Thank you for caring enough to post this

Holikme 20 Feet Dryer Vent Cleaning Brush, Lint Remover,Fireplace Chimney Brushes, Extends Up to 20 Feet, Synthetic Brush Head, Use with or Without a Power Drill https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SQYX2FH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_RJqTDb97PXP83

I’m 99% sure what he bought is this one or something like it, from Amazon. We did it when we moved into our house last year, and it was messy but really not hard to do. You just kind of have to get in there and pull out the dusty junk out.

2x4 basics makes some plastic shelf links that could sit on the ground. Something like this.