[rodbetts]

We have an Alpine STE-360 gas fireplace (I think it's a local manufacture's brand so you may not recognize the make and model). The problem is that it's so hot in the bottom back of the fireplace (where the fan's located) that it's bearings fry. The fan is great new but over time it continues to slow down and die.

Since 2006 when we bought this fireplace, we've replaced the original fan and now the second one has completely stopped. It just hums. Both fans have been fine the first year, sort of okay for an additional year, after that they don't move much or any air. We only use this fireplace in cold weather, which is about four months a year. That's a pretty poor service life.

Knowing I'm only likely to get a year or so of reliable service from a third fan, I'm looking for a better solution. It's really awkward and expensive to remove and replace the fan so the cost of doing so is high. It's really nice to use the fireplace on cold evenings. It heats up a small "sit and converse" area in the family room without unnecessary heating for the whole house.

HELP, I need a better solution! Any thoughts anyone?

Rod

[hvac1000]

We have an Alpine STE-360 gas fireplace (I think it's a local manufacture's brand so you may not recognize the make and model). The problem is that it's so hot in the bottom back of the fireplace (where the fan's located) that it's bearings fry. The fan is great new but over time it continues to slow down and die.

Since 2006 when we bought this fireplace, we've replaced the original fan and now the second one has completely stopped. It just hums. Both fans have been fine the first year, sort of okay for an additional year, after that they don't move much or any air. We only use this fireplace in cold weather, which is about four months a year. That's a pretty poor service life.

Knowing I'm only likely to get a year or so of reliable service from a third fan, I'm looking for a better solution. It's really awkward and expensive to remove and replace the fan so the cost of doing so is high. It's really nice to use the fireplace on cold evenings. It heats up a small "sit and converse" area in the family room without unnecessary heating for the whole house.

HELP, I need a better solution! Any thoughts anyone?

Rod

Find the manufacturer and ask them if they are aware of this problem. They may already have a solution.

Check to make sure the unit is installed according to the manufactures install instructions. No install instructions? Get them from the manufacturer. Many times these motors are designed to pull cool air over them to prevent them from overheating. If not installed properly this can be a problem.

Pull motor and take to motor shop to see if a higher quality motor is available. May times they are available since the manufacturer only wants to install the cheapest motor possible. Done this may times to fix a problem. Higher quality windings and bearings in motor helps a lot.

Make sure motor is lubricated with high temperature oil/grease. Fixed many problems with the proper lubricant especially in high temp areas.

Just to mention both fans on my wood burner fireplace are over 27 years old and they are the originals.

[rodbetts]

Thank you so much for your suggestions. The seller/manufacturer (I think they're the same) is the one who has been servicing the fireplace and they replaced the fans. They also did the new home installation. I don't have installation instructions but if I did, I'm not sure how much good they'd be as the fireplace is bricked in and changes would be difficult short of a major renovation of a 6 year old home.

When the service man came to replace the last fan, I asked him if this was a common problem and he assured me it was not. I also asked him if there was a better quality fan available and he said no. I asked him about re-oiling the fan and he said he'd tried it once and the re-oiled fan only lasted a few weeks.

I could perhaps try re-oiling myself but you almost need child-sized hands to reach and work in the confined space under the burner. You have to turn off the on-location gas petcock and remove a short piece of flexible gas line to replace the fan.. . A lot of work if you're going to have to do it all again in a few weeks.

Likely, the service man's loyalties are mostly to his employer so perhaps his comments weren't as accurate as they might have been although you'd think they'd also like to have a satisfied customer.

I might try contacting one of the many on-line fan suppliers and ask them about a better quality or higher heat rated fan. I think any fan similar in size and configuration would work in the fireplace since it just sits on the steel fireplace bottom. Perhaps a higher volume fan would be better as it would draw more cool through the fan?

Please let me know your thoughts and thanks again for your help.

Rod