Hasty Heat "Hard Times Heater" HTH5 Heavy-Duty Tubular Fireplace Grate Heater with Blower
Introducing the Hard Times Heater HTH5—the ultimate high-efficiency, burnout-resistant fireplace grate heater. Re-engineered for maximum heat output and global shipping, the HTH5 replaces our classic 2008 design with a more universal, heavy-duty modular system built to cut your heating bills and survive a lifetime of heavy use.
If you are tired of losing 90% of your fire’s warmth up the chimney, this heat exchanger is your solution.
🚀 Why the HTH5 Outlasts and Outperforms Standard Grates
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Burnout-Resistant Steel Construction: Standard cast iron grates crack and warp under intense heat. The HTH5 utilizes a fan-cooled, thick-wall tubular steel log rack. Because the blower continually cools the steel, it never glows red-hot, preventing the metal from oxidizing, scaling, and thinning over decades of burning.
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Powerful 100 CFM Airflow: All the heat absorbed to protect the steel is blown directly out into your living space, converting your open fireplace into a high-output home furnace.
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Off-Grid & Emergency Power Ready: Built with survival and emergency preparedness in mind. The DC-powered fan can be run for hours off a common 12V car battery or a standard USB phone battery bank during winter storms and grid failures. [1]
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Fully Reversible & Modular (Daisy-Chained): Unlike our legacy models, the new HTH5 can be used right-handed, left-handed, or vertically. Need more heat? Multiple units can be daisy-chained together to fit massive hearths.
📐 How to Select Your Size (Horizontal vs. Vertical)
The HTH-5 is available in all standard widths: 14", 16", 20", 24", 30", and 36". To ensure your new heater fits perfectly behind your spark arrestor screen or glass doors, use our guide below:
1. Standard Horizontal Setup (Laying Flat)
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The Sizing Formula: The first number is your front width; the second is your depth.
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Example: A 20HTH5-16D means the unit is 20" wide laying down and 16" deep from front to back.
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Fitment Tip: Choose a depth equal to or slightly greater than your fireplace floor. If you use a freestanding spark screen, it is actually beneficial if the tubes protrude slightly forward of your mantle to mix the heated air deeper into the room.
2. Specialized Vertical Setup (Standing Up - Highly Recommended)
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The Sizing Formula: Flipping the unit vertically transforms the first number into your height.
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Example: A 20HTH5-16D placed vertically becomes 20" tall, and the top-back corner will project 16" deep into your hearth.
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Fitment Tip: Because the HTH5 profile is square, if the back wall of your fireplace slants forward, make sure to measure your fireplace depth at that specific height (e.g., check your depth 20" up from the floor) to ensure a proper fit.
3. Passive Natural Convection (Fanless Mode)
When used in the vertical orientation, the HTH-5 can run completely fanless! Thanks to solid-state physics, hot air naturally rises up the tubes, drawing cool room air over the blower components to protect them from heat damage. In this vertical natural convection mode, the unit still provides about 1/5th of the massive heat output generated when the 100 CFM blower is plugged in.
