Abstract: A fireplace comprises a firebox which has a flue and front, bottom, top, rear and side panels. An outer casing is spaced from and surrounds the firebox. A combustion air plenum is positioned at a point above the bottom of the firebox and is connected to a conduit that communicates with a source external to the room in which the fireplace is situated for supplying combustion air to the fireplace. The firebox has a combustion air entry port in at least one of side panels of the firebox near the bottom of the firebox for supplying combustion air to the interior of the firebox. The combustion air port communicates with the combustion air plenum through a first passage. The flue passes upwardly through the firebox and is adapted to be connected to a second conduit that is in communication with a source external to the room which the fireplace is situated for exhausting the combustion gasses from the fireplace.

Abstract: A fireplace comprises a firebox having a top panel, bottom panel, rear panel and a flue. An outer casing is spaced from and surrounds the firebox. A combustion air feed passage for supplying combustion air to the firebox is provided. A heat exchanger, which is located downstream from the flue for receiving the combustion gases and for transmitting the heat from the combustion gases to air to be heated, is also provided. The fireplace includes a passage for conveying the combustion gases from the flue to a conduit in communication with a source external to the room in which the fireplace is situated for exhausting the combustion gases from the fireplace and a switch for selectively coupling the heat exchanger in series with the passage. The switch is operable between a first position which the flue gases pass through the heat exchanger before being vented to the outside and a second position which the flue gases pass through the passage, bypassing the heat exchanger, and are then vented to the outside.