Products To Improve Your Fireplace Efficiency And Lower Heating Costs
Video Highlights:
0:08 A fireplaces inefficiency
0:37 Two key improvements for fireplace efficiency
0:48 Heat circulating grates
1:13 Firebacks help improve fireplace efficiency
1:22 Cast iron firebacks
1:50 Stainless Steel Fireback
2:31 Most effective solution for fireplace efficiency
2:40 Fireplace insert
Most fireplace-users know the warmth from your fire tends to stay in the area immediately around your wood-burning appliance – rather than circulating efficiently through the home. What most people do not realize is that a typical fireplace can suck more heat out of a house than it produces. This can lead to your furnace running longer in turn driving up utility bills. Even though you feel toasty warm directly in front of the flames, the rest of the house gets very chilly. I am Melissa from NorthlineExpress here with some simple things you can do to make your fireplace much more efficient and change it into an overall energy producer and money saver for your home.
The two key improvements that will improve the fireplace efficiency are reducing the amount of already-heated room air lost up the chimney and directing more heat from the fire out into the room. To accomplish both of these you can install a heat circulating grate in your fireplace. We have a variety of models of heat circulating grates including models with a built-in thermostat and a variable-speed blower. The thermostat turns the blower on automatically at 110 degrees and off at 90 degrees. Adding a heat circulating grate like the spitfire or the original grate heater is very easy; simply set them in place and plug in the blower and you are ready to feel the difference that it will make.
You can also use a fire back in the back of your fireplace to radiate more of the fire’s heat out into the room before it is lost up the chimney. Cast iron firebacks have been used for centuries to improve the fireplace efficiency. They are made of thick, heavy cast iron, which allows them to not only reflect heat, but also retain it and radiate it over time. Cast iron fire backs come in a variety of designs, including both traditional and modern motifs. Cast iron firebacks have a classic look, so they are perfect for older or colonial style homes. Because cast iron is heavy, these fire backs weigh a lot and can be difficult to move around. For more modern or easier to handle fire backs, consider one made of stainless steel. A stainless steel fire back captures and radiates the heat of fire, too, but unlike the cast iron fire back, its surface is highly reflective. It doubles the light of the fire and makes the room appear much larger and brighter. Either type of fire back has the potential to make your fireplace more efficient and save you money on fuel. An added bonus of fire backs is that they will also help protect the back wall of your fireplace from soot and erosion.
The best way to turn your fireplace into an efficient room heater is to install a fireplace insert.
Installing a fireplace insert, will draft-proof an open fireplace while the unit’s shell keeps heat in the room and away from the masonry. An insert is a cast iron or steel box that fits inside your existing masonry fireplace opening, making it work much like a wood-burning stove. Inserts can produce enough heat for 1,000-3,000 sq. ft., depending on their size. You will want to size your insert to the square footage you are trying to heat. Most inserts include a blower. The blower will circulate the warm air around the firebox back into the room for even more efficiency. This approach would be the most costly, but pays for itself by slashing those monthly heating bills because you can cut your other heating costs by 10%-40% with an insert.
We all love the crackle of the fire and the warm ambiance that comes along with is, but if you are not careful that beautiful glow and coming from your hearth could be costing you money. Almost all the heat generated by an open fire goes right up the chimney — often as much as 90%. By simply adding a heat circulating fireplace grate, a fire back, or a fireplace insert to your fireplace you can get all the good vibes while cutting your energy costs.