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A balanced building ventilation system that employs a fireplace as an element of the ventilation system. The fireplace includes a firebox, and an exhaust gas flue is connected to the firebox for exhausting gas from the firebox to the outdoor ambient. A ventilation channel conveys outdoor ambient air

A balanced building ventilation system that employs a fireplace as an element of the ventilation system. The fireplace includes a firebox, and an exhaust gas flue is connected to the firebox for exhausting gas from the firebox to the outdoor ambient. A ventilation channel conveys outdoor ambient air into the building interior. A motor-driven draft inducer is connected to the exhaust gas flue for forcing exhaust gas flow out to the outdoor ambient. A motor-driven blower is provided for forcing ventilation airflow through the channel to replace building interior air lost to exhaust gas flow.

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1. A fireplace heat recovery ventilator device for use in combination with a fireplace within the interior of a building surrounded by an outdoor ambient, the fireplace including an exhaust gas flue connection for exhausting gas to the outdoor ambient, said device comprising:a flue section connectab

1. A fireplace heat recovery ventilator device for use in combination with a fireplace within the interior of a building surrounded by an outdoor ambient, the fireplace including an exhaust gas flue connection for exhausting gas to the outdoor ambient, said device comprising:a flue section connectable in series with the fireplace exhaust gas flue connection between the fireplace and the outdoor ambient;a motor-driven draft inducer connected to said flue section for forcing exhaust gas flow out to the outdoor ambient;a heat exchange structure attached to said flue section;a housing defining a chamber enclosing said heat exchange structure;said housing including an inlet connection connectable to one end of a fresh air inlet duct having another end connected to the outdoor ambient, and an outlet connection connectable to one end of a ventilation air delivery duct having another end connected to the building interior, said inlet and outlet connections being arranged such that air entering said inlet connection passes through said chamber past said heat exchange structure and exits via said outlet connection;a motor-driven blower connected for forcing ventilation airflow through said chamber and out through the ventilation air delivery duct into the building interior to replace building interior air lost to exhaust gas flow; anda temperature sensor thermally connected to said flue section and electrically connected to said draft inducer and to said blower for initiating forced exhaust gas flow and forced ventilation airflow when there is a fire in the fireplace. 2. A fireplace heat recovery ventilator device for use in combination with a fireplace within the interior of a building surrounded by an outdoor ambient, the fireplace including an exhaust gas flue connection for exhausting gas to the outdoor ambient, said device comprising:a flue section connectable in series with the fireplace exhaust gas flue connection between the fireplace and the outdoor ambient;a motor-driven draft inducer connected to said flue section for forcing exhaust gas flow out to the outdoor ambient;a heat exchange structure attached to said flue section;a housing defining a chamber enclosing said heat exchange structure;said housing including an inlet connection connectable to one end of a fresh air inlet duct having another end connected to the outdoor ambient, and an outlet connection connectable to one end of a ventilation air delivery duct having another end connected to the building interior, said inlet and outlet connections being arranged such that air entering said inlet connection passes through said chamber past said heat exchange structure and exits via said outlet connection;a motor-driven blower connected for forcing ventilation airflow through said chamber and out through the ventilation air delivery duct into the building interior to replace building interior air lost to exhaust gas flow; anda temperature sensor thermally connected to said flue section and electrically connected to said draft inducer and to said blower for increasing the rates of exhaust gas flow and ventilation airflow when there is a fire in the fireplace. 3. A fireplace heat recovery ventilator device for use in combination with a fireplace within the interior of a building surrounded by an outdoor ambient, the fireplace including an exhaust gas flue connection for exhausting gas to the outdoor ambient, said device comprising:a flue section connectable in series with the fireplace exhaust gas flue connection between the fireplace and the outdoor ambient;a motor-driven draft inducer connected to said flue section for forcing exhaust gas flow out to the outdoor ambient;a heat exchange structure attached to said flue section;a housing defining a chamber enclosing said heat exchange structure;said housing including an inlet connection connectable to one end of a fresh air inlet duct having another end connected to the outdoor ambient, and an outlet connection connectable to one end of a ventilation air delivery duct having another end connected to the building interior, said inlet and outlet connections being arranged such that air entering said inlet connection passes through said chamber past said heat exchange structure and exits via said outlet connection;a motor-driven blower connected for forcing ventilation airflow through said chamber and out through the ventilation air delivery duct into the building interior to replace building interior air lost to exhaust gas flow;a first thermostat having a relatively lower temperature set point, said first thermostat being thermally connected to said flue section and electrically connected to activate said draft inducer and said blower to operate at a reduced speed when there is a relatively smaller fire in the fireplace; anda second thermostat having a relatively higher temperature set point by said second thermostat being thermally connected to said flue section and electrically connected to activate said draft inducer and said blower to operate at full speed when there is a relatively larger fire in the fireplace. 4. A fireplace heat recovery ventilator device for use in combination with a fireplace within the interior of a building surrounded by an outdoor ambient, the fireplace including an exhaust gas flue connection for exhausting gas to the outdoor ambient, said device comprising:a flue section connectable in series with the fireplace exhaust gas flue connection between the fireplace and the outdoor ambient;a motor-driven draft inducer connected to said flue section for forcing exhaust gas flow out to the outdoor ambient;a heat exchange structure attached to said flue section;a housing defining a chamber enclosing said heat exchange structure;said housing including an inlet connection connectable to one end of a fresh air inlet duct having another end connected to the outdoor ambient, and an outlet connection connectable to one end of a ventilation air delivery duct having another end connected to the building interior, said inlet and outlet connections being arranged such that air entering said inlet connection passes through said chamber past said heat exchange structure and exits via said outlet connection;a motor-driven blower connected for forcing ventilation airflow through said chamber and out through the ventilation air delivery duct into the building interior to replace building interior air lost to exhaust gas flow; andan adjustment to facilitate adjustment of either the ventilation airflow or the exhaust gas flow so that the ventilation airflow balances the exhaust gas flow. 5. The device of claim 4, which further comprises an adjustable damper to facilitate adjustment of the ventilation airflow to balance the exhaust gas flow. 6. The device of claim 4, which further comprises a blower motor speed control to facilitate adjustment of the ventilation airflow to balance the exhaust gas flow. 7. The device of claim 4, which further comprises:an adjustable damper to facilitate adjustment of the ventilation airflow to balance the exhaust gas flow when said motor-driven draft inducer and said motor-driven blower are operating at full speed; anda blower motor speed control to facilitate adjustment of the ventilation airflow to balance the exhaust gas flow when said motor-driven draft inducer and said motor driven blower are each operating at a reduced speed. 8. The device of claim 4, which further comprises:an adjustable damper to facilitate adjustment of the ventilation airflow to balance the exhaust gas flow when said motor-driven draft inducer and said motor-driven blower are operating at full speed; anda draft inducer motor speed control to facilitate adjustment of the exhaust gas flow so as to be balanced by the ventilation airflow when said motor-driven draft inducer and said motor-driven blower are each operating at a reduced speed. 9. The device of claim 4, which further comprises:an adjustable damper to facilitate adjustment of t he ventilation airflow to balance the exhaust gas flow when said motor-driven draft inducer and said motor-driven blower are operating at full speed; anda blower motor speed control and a draft inducer motor speed control to facilitate adjustment such that the ventilation airflow balances the exhaust gas flow when said motor-driven draft inducer and said motor-driven blower are each operating at a reduced speed.