is it worth creating a thermal break between the dome and flue/entrance tunnel? Getting Started Discuss is it worth creating a thermal break between the dome and flue/entrance tunnel? in the Pizza Oven Design and Installation forums; I guess the title sort of says it all. I am creating quite a sustantial flue/entrance out of fire bricks, ...

[builder brad]

I guess the title sort of says it all.


I am creating quite a sustantial flue/entrance out of fire bricks, and think that there may be a benefit in seperating this large thermal mass from the dome itself.

I think i could do this easily with either a mortar mix containing vermiculite or perlite, or even use some of the super insulating base board I have left over.

Is this worth bothering with?

Brad

[karl]

I suppose the flue gas exit from the arch will already contribute to reduced heat transfer to the entrance. As for the flue gas channel I would think it will mainly be heated by the flue gas itself and the heat loss will perhaps start to increase as the firing is over and the flue channel cools down. Insulating it, as you propose, should do no harm. But I doubth that the effect will be noticable (provided there is ample insulation around the dome and between the dome and the flue gas channel).

karl

[christo]

During construction, I had an arch failure and ended up adding 80lbs of concrete on each side of my oven opening to act as a butress to keep the front arch from spreading the side walls out (again).

No thermal break between the vent arch and sidewalls and the oven and I don't seem to have a huge problem with heat loss.

Putting in the insulated door at night after pizza time and the next morning the oven will still be in the 500+ range.

If I were to build another oven, I don't think I'd create a thermal break. I use my oven primairly for pizzas and occasional bread baking/roasting.

Christo

[asudavew]

This question has been asked before. And from what I remember, most felt it wasn't worth the extra effort.

But it's your oven, and you get to decide what is best for you.
It might really help.

A new guinea pig?

Good luck

Dave