A dual-fuel fireplace apparatus is described. In one example, an apparatus includes an enclosure having a door disposed thereon and a wood burning compartment disposed within the enclosure. The wood burning compartment has an insulated housing configured to support temperatures associated with burning of wood within the wood burning compartment. A gas burning compartment is also disposed within the enclosure and has a gas burner disposed therein. A mechanism including a motor is configured to cause movement between a first mode in which the wood burning compartment is viewable through the door and a second mode in which the gas burning compartment is viewable through the door.

A dual-fuel fireplace apparatus is described. In one example, an apparatus includes an enclosure having a door disposed thereon and a wood burning compartment disposed within the enclosure. The wood burning compartment has an insulated housing configured to support temperatures associated with burning of wood within the wood burning compartment. A gas burning compartment is also disposed within the enclosure and has a gas burner disposed therein. A mechanism including a motor is configured to cause movement between a first mode in which the wood burning compartment is viewable through the door and a second mode in which the gas burning compartment is viewable through the door.

A wood stove monitoring and control device can include a mounting flange mountable to a chimney exhaust pipe of a wood stove. The device can include a ring removably mountable on top of the mounting flange, where the flange is suitably positioned vertically along the exhaust pipe so that the ring is positioned at least partially above an end of the exhaust pipe. The device includes an optical beam source disposed on the ring, and which generates and outputs an optical beam. The device includes an optical sensor positioned on the ring opposite the optical beam source to detect the optical beam output by the optical beam source as the optical beam passes through smoke exhausted by the wood stove through the exhaust pipe. The device can include a temperature probe disposed on the ring to measure a temperature of heat exhausted by the wood stove through the exhaust pipe.

A wood stove monitoring and control device can include a mounting flange mountable to a chimney exhaust pipe of a wood stove. The device can include a ring removably mountable on top of the mounting flange, where the flange is suitably positioned vertically along the exhaust pipe so that the ring is positioned at least partially above an end of the exhaust pipe. The device includes an optical beam source disposed on the ring, and which generates and outputs an optical beam. The device includes an optical sensor positioned on the ring opposite the optical beam source to detect the optical beam output by the optical beam source as the optical beam passes through smoke exhausted by the wood stove through the exhaust pipe. The device can include a temperature probe disposed on the ring to measure a temperature of heat exhausted by the wood stove through the exhaust pipe.

A wood stove monitoring and control device can include a mounting flange mountable to a chimney exhaust pipe of a wood stove. The device can include a ring removably mountable on top of the mounting flange, where the flange is suitably positioned vertically along the exhaust pipe so that the ring is positioned at least partially above an end of the exhaust pipe. The device includes an optical beam source disposed on the ring, and which generates and outputs an optical beam. The device includes an optical sensor positioned on the ring opposite the optical beam source to detect the optical beam output by the optical beam source as the optical beam passes through smoke exhausted by the wood stove through the exhaust pipe. The device can include a temperature probe disposed on the ring to measure a temperature of heat exhausted by the wood stove through the exhaust pipe.

A separate heat absorbing mass is secured in co-planar abutment with a bimetal strip controlling a fireplace damper to absorb heat from the flue gases. The mass transfers heat to the bimetal strip during the OFF cycle thereby delaying the opening of the damper and increasing the heat retention and efficiency of the fireplace.

A separate heat absorbing mass is secured in co-planar abutment with a bimetal strip controlling a fireplace damper to absorb heat from the flue gases. The mass transfers heat to the bimetal strip during the OFF cycle thereby delaying the opening of the damper and increasing the heat retention and efficiency of the fireplace.

An air intake control assembly for adjusting an air intake into a combustion chamber of a solid fuel burning appliance is provided. The air intake control assembly comprises a mounting structure having at least one air intake opening, a shutter mounted to the mounting structure and configurable between an open configuration and an at least partially closed configuration, a power supply, a motor operatively connected to the shutter and activable to modify a configuration of the shutter with respect to the at least one air intake opening, a temperature sensor electrically connected to the motor and the power supply to monitor a temperature representative of a temperature of the combustion chamber; and an electric circuit connecting the motor to the power supply and being operatively connected the temperature sensor. A solid fuel burning appliance and a method for controlling an air intake into a combustion chamber of a solid fuel burning appliance are also provided.

An air intake control assembly for adjusting an air intake into a combustion chamber of a solid fuel burning appliance is provided. The air intake control assembly comprises a mounting structure having at least one air intake opening, a shutter mounted to the mounting structure and configurable between an open configuration and an at least partially closed configuration, a power supply, a motor operatively connected to the shutter and activable to modify a configuration of the shutter with respect to the at least one air intake opening, a temperature sensor electrically connected to the motor and the power supply to monitor a temperature representative of a temperature of the combustion chamber; and an electric circuit connecting the motor to the power supply and being operatively connected the temperature sensor. A solid fuel burning appliance and a method for controlling an air intake into a combustion chamber of a solid fuel burning appliance are also provided.

A method and apparatus for controlling a combustion heater are provided. An example method includes measuring a room temperature, measuring a combustion heater temperature, and measuring a fuel weight. Adjustments are computed to an operational parameter to adjust a room temperature. An anticipatory alert is provided to inform a user of a predicted time at which the fuel weight will be too low to maintain the room temperature.