No passwords, no registration, no paywalls, no popups, no AI

As an Amazon Associate & eBay Partner we earn from affil links

finishing.com -- The Home Page of the Finishing Industry

Search our quarter-million Q&As

Home of the finishing HOTLINE since 1989

-----

Can I use an automotive muffler in the fireplace as a heat exchanger?

I wanted to get some feedback on my idea of using an automotive muffler in my fireplace as a heat exchanger. I would position the muffer, so that the larger flat side would face forward (and backward), and rest just above the log grate on a bracket, and positioned near the back of the fireplace. I'd then clamp on 2 pipes for the intake & output, leading both pipes downward and out to the floor (so that smoke won't get channeled out into the room), then add a fan to the intake side.

Ken Ishida
Hobbyist - San Lorenzo
December 20, 2010

Hi, Ken. It is always dangerous to use an item for a non-intended purpose because you're in it alone, with no history to guide you unless you hear from others who have done it. Plus the baffles in a muffler will add a lot of resistance.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
December 20, 2010

Sorry! Finishing.com is temporarily Read-Only.
Ted Mooney is retiring but I have several offers to take it over.
We're working hard to make sure we find it the best new home.

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories: