Dimplex inset fire heat experience?

shahpur

Anyone got a dimplex electric fireplace? 

Picked one up on ebay used, was sold as fully working  and hardly been used . 

Not too sure if I am expecting too much or the item is faulty but  my £10 fan heater throws alot more heat and warms up the room without cutting out every couple of mins.

When looking at the filament when in full it does not  light up, is this correct? 

Wasn't expecting to use it as a main source of heat but just to take the chill out the air while the radiators heat up. 

It's an dimplex dan20 inset fireplace fire.  

Any help would be much appreciated 

wittynamegoeshere

I've got a different brand but the same concept.  It's a 2kW fan heater in a pretty box.

If you've already built it in then you need to be aware of the airflow route.  The one I've got is pretty awkward, as it takes air from behind it.  This means I need to basically turn the fireplace into a sealed, clean and insulated alcove with a means of allowing airflow from the room.  It seems like a stupid design and this will be a lot of work, I might look for an alternative that draws air from the front.

We're currently using ours standalone and it warms the room very quickly, just as a 2kW fan heater should.  Is yours built in or currently freestanding?

I'd be wary of buying used electricals on ebay.  Thankfully they have a good way of resolving issues so you should get a refund if it is faulty.

shahpur

wittynamegoeshere said:

I've got a different brand but the same concept.  It's a 2kW fan heater in a pretty box.

If you've already built it in then you need to be aware of the airflow route.  The one I've got is pretty awkward, as it takes air from behind it.  This means I need to basically turn the fireplace into a sealed, clean and insulated alcove with a means of allowing airflow from the room.  It seems like a stupid design and this will be a lot of work, I might look for an alternative that draws air from the front.

We're currently using ours standalone and it warms the room very quickly, just as a 2kW fan heater should.  Is yours built in or currently freestanding?

I'd be wary of buying used electricals on ebay.  Thankfully they have a good way of resolving issues so you should get a refund if it is faulty.

Thanks for responding , its a built in inset type but I can remove it ( just slides into the fireplace surround )  .

Was unaware of the possible airflow issue , so could the problem be the chimney being blocked ( currently got a excluder in there )  and is not allowing the fireplace to draw enough air from behind ?   

MWT

shahpur said:

Was unaware of the possible airflow issue , so could the problem be the chimney being blocked ( currently got a excluder in there )  and is not allowing the fireplace to draw enough air from behind ?

That would make sense and could also explain the 'cutting out' you mentioned as it would overheat with insufficient airflow...

wittynamegoeshere

You definitely do not want to install one in an open fireplace if it's designed like my "Focalpoint" branded one.  I was surprised to see that it draws air from the back, it seems like a stupid design.  If you put it into an open fireplace then you'll be pulling cold, damp, sooty air down the chimney, heating it then blowing it into your face.

For mine, I need to build an insulated alcove into the fireplace that's completely sealed from the surrounding sooty walls and chimney, then ensure that air can flow from the room under the fire into this alcove.  Then it gets pulled into the back of the fire, heated and blown back into the room.

My impression is that whoever designed the one I have really hadn't thought about what would happen if installed into a fireplace.  Mine has an optional side surround so can also be used freestanding.  This works fine, although even then it might struggle if pushed flat against a wall.

The only reason I can think it might have been designed like this is to prevent it overheating at the back - this way it gets a continual flow of air past the back as it's being pulled in by it.

shahpur

Just found the manual online and it says 

" When installing this appliance in an existing fireplace opening, we recommend that an open chimney flue is blocked off. We recommend that non-flammable materials are used to block off the chimney flue. This procedure is important for the efficient operation of the heating unit and will also reduce heat loss up the chimney "  .

 I messaged the seller who said it was fully working and that only the opti flame effect was being used . Will pull the fire out of surround and see if it improves the heat .  

Grizzlebeard

Turn the thermostat up to max. You should hear a click when it gets set higher than the current room temperature turning the elements on. If you've already tried this then the fire is faulty.
Unlikely, but possible, the safety cut out is oversensitive.
If the element only partially glows then more likely the thermostat is faulty rather than the safety cut out.

Chimney's supposed to be blocked. It draws in air through the front, presumably under the flame effect bit.

shahpur

Grizzlebeard said:

Turn the thermostat up to max. You should hear a click when it gets set higher than the current room temperature turning the elements on. If you've already tried this then the fire is faulty.
Unlikely, but possible, the safety cut out is oversensitive.
If the element only partially glows then more likely the thermostat is faulty rather than the safety cut out.

Chimney's supposed to be blocked. It draws in air through the front, presumably under the flame effect bit.

I pulled the fire out of the surround and  it heats up a bit more than previously did  and does not cut out anymore so not too sure what is going on  .  When I turn the thermostat on full and leave it for a few minutes then back it off around 30 % I do hear a click  which cuts off the blower , but the element ( under the hood ? ) do no glow even if you leave it on for 20 mins .