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I purchased a Majestic DVR36RP vented gas heater in 1997. It…

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I purchased a Majestic DVR36RP...

I purchased a Majestic DVR36RP vented gas heater in 1997. It has a blower installed with the unit. When I first had the unit installed in my 20' x 24' the room would heat to 90 degrees within a 1/2 hour or less. In 2006 a technician replaced the fan unit and it seems like the efficiency has never been the same. When the weather is below 20 degrees the unit comes on and runs for at least an hour sometimes for 2. The rooms does not seem to get above 70 degrees unless it is a really warm day. I know these units work on sensors. Is there something I am missing here that may need cleaned or serviced? The last time I had the unit serviced the technician told me the fireplace was not intended to heat a room which I find hard to believe especially since the sales people tell me they are.

Submitted: 9 years ago.Category: Home Improvement

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2/23/2011

Home Improvement Expert: Jerry, hearth products replied 9 years ago

Jerry, hearth products

Category: Home Improvement

Satisfied Customers: 3,575

Experience: owned and operated stove retail and service 12 yrs

Verified

jerry :

Welcome to JA!

jerry :

This fireplace is a direct vent unit with a fairly high efficiency rating. It should heat this room fairly quickly with the blower.

jerry :

Without the blower operating you will get nearly the same efficiency but a totally different heating experience. Let me explain.

jerry :

If you were to set this up on a thermostat, which you may have it on, then with the blower on and operating on maximum, you will get what we call forced air heat, similiar to a furnace, you are warming room air mostly with just a bit of radiant heat. Now the room should warm up fairly quickly, like you say and then the thermostat will turn off the fireplace. Now the room will begin to cool down and it will cool down fairly quickly. Only to kick the thermostat on once more.

jerry :

Now if you were to turn off the fan, or not use the fan at all, the fireplace would turn on and it may take 2 to 5 hours to heat the room enough to turn off the thermostat.... but..... you have heated the room objects, the floor and cieling and it is a much more comfortable heat. not unlike a woodstove. in this situation you have all radiant heat and little or no forced air heat. so once its warmed and the thermostat turns the fire off.... it will take several hours for the fireplace to kick back on. So in true effeciency there is very little difference in the long term.

jerry :

There are other advantages to having a blower working at least some, that is more circulation effect if you have other rooms or hallways etc. and if you would like the wall area above the fireplace to keep cooler. But in true comfort it is better to have the room heated radiantly instead of air heated.

jerry :

As far as it not heating like it used to I would say you should look at your insulation in the attic, I would bet that it has settled considerably and you just arent getting the same R value as before. Same goes for the walls, windows, etc. I experienced very similiar things in my home and was shocked to find my attic insulation had settled by over 60 percent in 15 years!. Now Ive had it reblown and my gas heating stove works great again!.

jerry :

Thanks for using JA, I hope this has helped. Please respond with any questions and I will reply as soon as I can.

Customer:

I have a cathedral ceiling in this room with insulation and the wall has 2"x6" construction with lots of insulation to create an R25 value in this area(regular insulation, 2" thick foam on exterior under siding, wrap, etc.). There is a wall of windows but these are triple pane and do not seem to be leaking any air around anything. Is there any way to check the ceiling and if so is there any way to redo the insulation? I will try your suggestion to heat the room radiantly - makes sense.

jerry : Hmm with the cathedral ceiling its going to be tough to find out the value of the insulation. Unless there is access and it blown in. Otherwise you would need an infrared scanner to see where the heat loss is.

Jerry, hearth products

Category: Home Improvement

Satisfied Customers: 3,575

Experience: owned and operated stove retail and service 12 yrs

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