How Can I Improve My Wood-burning Fireplace? - Fixanswer

Traditional fireplaces are very inefficient because they draw heated air up the chimney , pull cold outside air into the home, and cause your main heating system to work harder and longer.

How can I make my fireplace better?

Crack open a window nearest your fireplace. ...
Turn on central or room fans to circulate heat. ...
Use hard wood for fuel. ...
Add a damper (if your fireplace does not have one) ...
Use an inflatable flue plug. ...
Install a top-sealing chimney damper. ...
Bring outside air directly into the firebox.

Can wood-burning fireplaces be efficient?

A traditional wood-burning fireplace adds warmth and romantic ambiance to a home’s interior. But most are energy hogs, converting only 15% of wood’s energy into useful heat. Fortunately, new energy-efficient fireplace designs are helping wood-burning fireplaces achieve efficiency ratings of 75% or more .

Can I add a blower to my wood-burning fireplace?

Yes , you can add a fan/blower to most gas and wood fireplaces, inserts, and stoves. ... You will likely want a certified fireplace dealer to install your fan to ensure it is done correctly, is level, and doesn’t rattle. When shopping for a fireplace you will want to search for a unit that has the option for a blower.

What is the vent at the bottom of my fireplace for?

Bottom Air Vent – The bottom air vent on Old-Style Heatilator Fireplaces are where cool room air is drawn into the fireplace . The air is then routed around the firebox and exits through the top air vent where it returns to the room as heated air.

Do fireplaces make house colder?

The standard fireplace is among the most inefficient heating devices you can operate. In fact, it can be so inefficient that in some cases it actually makes your house colder . ... And although many modern fireplaces use renewable fuel, they’re not considered completely “green,” because they can add to air pollution.

Should you close glass doors on fireplace?

The doors should always be fully open or fully closed . Glass doors should be fully open when starting a fire and when the fire is burning strongly. The glass doors should be closed as the fire dies down to minimize the amount of room air going up the fireplace chimney.

Do you need to open a window when using a fireplace?

Open a window when using the fireplace to prevent the room from becoming smoky. ... The window needs to be open only a few inches . You can check to make sure the smoke will go up the chimney properly by lighting a match, quickly blowing it out and watching the smoke to see whether it’s going up and out.

Do fake fireplaces use a lot of electricity?

Do Electric Fireplaces Use a Lot of Electricity? Electric fireplaces use approximately the same amount of electricity as the average space heater. Since most fireplaces operate on a standard household outlet, they use 120 volts to power the internal heater and draw about 1,500 watts at 12.5 amps.

Is it cheaper to run furnace or gas fireplace?

Operating a furnace for one hour at 75,000 -100,000 Btu cost a homeowner $1.12 – $1.49 based on last month’s national average natural gas rate. By comparison, a natural gas fireplace running at 30,000 Btu per hour cost only 45 cents.

Does a fireplace help heat a house?

Can a Fireplace Really Heat Your Home? Absolutely! And many houses already have a fireplace. It’s just a matter of using it to bring some much-desired warmth into your home.

Can I put a fan in front of my fireplace?

It is not recommended that they be placed directly on top of a fireplace without some sort of buffer. Most fans, like box fans or tower fans, also have multiple energy-efficient speed settings. Save the highest speed for a hot summer’s day; your fan does not have to be on high to be effective at spreading heat.

How much does it cost to add a blower to a gas fireplace?

How much does it cost to put a blower in a gas fireplace? It costs about $100 to install a blower and fan in a gas fireplace. That’s in addition to the regular cost of installation.

How much does it cost to install a fireplace blower?

A professional fireplace service company charges about $400 to do the job (parts and labor). But you can replace the blower with a complete motor/fan blower assembly yourself in about an hour for less than $140. Many gas fireplaces use a blower to drive warm air out into the room.

Is it OK to leave the flue open overnight?

The smoke from burning wood contains carbon monoxide, so in order to prevent this toxic byproduct from entering your home, it is important to leave the flue open overnight . This enables a draft to carry the compound out into the atmosphere, instead of sinking down the chimney and saturating the room.