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\n<\/p><\/div>"}, How to Make a Fireplace More Energy Efficient, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Compared to woodstoves, fireplaces are extremely inefficient: Fireplaces frequently only have 10 percent efficiency, versus 60 percent or more efficiency from a wood stove. They use a series of resistances to make some heat that it heats the air through convention, then the air will heat the whole room. reply; Allison Bailes. Fire Prevention Week Oct. 8-14: Plan TWO Ways Out! How Often Does a Chimney Need to Be Cleaned? Fireplaces are a great way to relax on a winter evening, but they aren’t the most efficient way to heat your home. Fortunately, you can make your fireplace much more efficient by following these seven simple steps. Close the damper when the fireplace is not in use. Here are some ways to make sure your set is as safe and efficient as possible. If you want to block the escape route even more effectively, you can buy an inflatable insert, called a chimney balloon or fireplace plug, for somewhere between $50 and $65. Do Your Walls have Ghosting aka Soot Stains? According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association, installing a gas fireplace in the area of your home where you spend the most time could lower your home heating bills by as much as 40 percent. All good points, David. Here’s How to Tell. Convert wood burning fireplaces to gas logs. Vent-free gas fireplaces: Even more energy-efficient because they don’t send exhaust outside. While homeowners are frantically looking for ways to save money, most don't realize that their dollars are readily escaping through one of the biggest holes in their home - their fireplace. Maybe just have a towel or cloth under it while you iron it. posted by GeeEmm at 5:00 PM on January 6, 2014 Hydronic electric baseboard heater vs standard. Methinks those who would make the argument that unvented gas fireplaces are more efficient than a furnace are simply grasping at straws to rationalize a dumb product. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 92,150 times. While wood fireplaces aren’t generally as efficient as gas models, there are things you can do to make improvements. Burning seasoned wood that has been cut, stored and dried properly will produce more heat and burn cleaner. Its purpose is to protect the back wall from fire damage, and usually features a design that adds to the home's décor. Is Burning Wood Harmful to My Chimney or the Environment? Burn dry wood: Oak, for example, burns hot and slowly, which will reduce smoke and ash, as well as the amount of residue … reply; Allison Bailes. 8 Reasons to Choose Gas. posted by holgate at 7:20 PM on January 6, 2014 . Is Your Chimney Adding to Your Heating Costs? Propane is currently hovering around $3.00/gallon. To improve heating efficiency of fireplaces: Add glass doors to wood burning fireplaces. Gas Log Fireplace Safety. Conversely a wood burner takes longer to reach the required temperature and it’s much more difficult to regulate heat output. The challenges of effectively burning natural gas date back much further than one might think. Gas fireplaces use between 7,000 and 16,000 BTUs, are between 70 and 90% efficient at converting energy to heat, and cost around $60 a year to run.. Electric fireplaces have an output that is based on the electric current. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Regular service also is important to allow your fireplace to run safely, because chimney fires are one of the most common types of fires in the home. An extremely simple step that can be taken to make your fireplace more efficient is to simply find the nearest window to the fireplace and to open it just a little bit. Further Information. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. 5. Gas fireplaces come in three types: inserts, for folks who want to retrofit a wood-burning firebox with something more convenient and efficient; built-ins, for those who want a fireplace where there isn't one now; and log sets, basic burners that sit in existing, open fireplaces. Chimney Brick Spalling: What it Is & What to Do About It. Retailers usually provide an efficiency rating, as a percentage, in the information about the appliances, as well as an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating. Depending on the manufacturer, you may be able to add a thermostatically-controlled fan kit, which will push the heat it is producing into the room. Inset, glass-fronted models tend to be the most efficient as they’re more enclosed. Close it in the summer and reopen it in the winter when you're ready to use the fireplace. Fuel Efficiency Rating Most fireplaces have a fuel efficiency rating. Natural gas is a fairly inexpensive form of energy, so a gas fireplace is inexpensive to run. Wood-burning fireplaces provide great ambience, but they can't beat the easy, no-fuss efficiency of gas. A Wall of Fire grate is a high efficiency wood burning fireplace grate which features a unique, vertical design. If there is a damper, keep it closed any time you’re not using the fireplace. The last way you can make your fireplace more efficient is by only burning quality, well-seasoned firewood. Not all fireplaces are created equal, and not all uses of a fireplace produce the same results. Most fireplaces convert only 15% of wood’s energy into useful heat, but inserts can increase the efficiency of a fireplace by a factor of five. If not properly maintained and used, they can literally suck the heat out of a room when not in use. But if the heat produced by the fireplace is the whole point, converting with a gas insert is a good way to keep money from going up the chimney and make your fireplace more efficient. You can schedule an appointment or get your questions answered at (770) 691-6707. Alternative fuels include grain and corn; some appliances are specially made to burn these commodities. What is a Direct Vent Fireplace & How Does it Work? Chimney Dampers and How they Can Save You Money, Chimney Evolution – Elimination of Smoky Fireplaces, Chimney Inspections Are Similar to Medical Check-ups, Chimney Restoration: Time to Reevaluate Your Heat Source, Common Causes of Fireplace-Related Home Fires, Common Off-Season Chimney Repairs Made by Homeowners, Creosote & Chimney Fires: What You Must Know, Creosote in Your Chimney: Types, Causes, and Remedies, Crumbly Chimney Masonry and How to Prevent Spalling, Custom Fireplace Designs for Your Interior Fireplace. Higher efficiency = blue fire. Build a High Efficiency Fireplace (90% Efficient!) More expensive up front, but a better investment in the long run. Very energy efficient: electric fires are 100% efficient, meaning all the heat is emitted into your room as none is lost in a chimney or flue. In addition to saving us some precious time, gas fireplace inserts are also more efficient in comparison with some models reaching an efficiency rating of 99%. Do You Need a New Chimney? What are the benefits of a wood stove versus a traditional fireplace? Direct-vent gas fireplaces: Use two-way vents that supply outside air for combustion. They can be pricey and it’s important to make sure they’re properly installed. To make your fireplace truly efficient, you’ll want to install an insert approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Bailes. 7 Benefits of Heating with a Fireplace or Wood Stove, Ten Benefits of a Zero Clearance Fireplace, Why and How to Reduce Creosote in your Chimney Lining, Reasons Annual Chimney Inspections Should be a Priority, Fabulous Fireplaces- Celebrities, Movies, & the Titanic, Build a Fire that Has Your Favorite Characteristics, Child Chimney Sweeps: Dark Chapter in Sweep History, Understanding CSIA Certification & NCSG Membership, Why it’s Important to Choose Local Firewood, U.S. Household Fires Provide Lessons In Safety, How To Have a More Eco-Friendly FirePlace, National Fire Prevention Week is Oct 6 – 12, Don’t Cut Out Chimney Maintenance to Save Money, 8 Clues that Your Chimney May Need Repairs, 5 Benefits of Switching to a Fireplace Insert, Differences Between Masonry & Factory-Built Fireplaces, Burning Wood Is an Eco-Friendly Way to Heat your Home, Spring Cleaning Should Include the Chimney & Fireplace, 10 Things to Know Before Hiring a Chimney Sweep. Advancements in gas stove technology have paved the way to a more efficient, instant and controllable heat source, available at the push of a button or even remote control. By using our site, you agree to our. Current Natural Gas is the cheapest of the two types with the cost/therm being somewhere around $1.00/Therm. A properly burning fire will create more heat and burn logs more thoroughly than a fire that struggles through tightly packed and/or unseasoned (wet) logs. We use cookies to make wikiHow great.
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