Loading the Firewood Another way to control the amount of heat produced by a fire is in the way the firewood is loaded. Additionally, better efficiency from your fireplace usually means releasing less pollutants into the atmosphere, which in addition to reduced consumption, makes it an environmentally-friendly choice that helps both the planet and your local air quality. Here are four common ways to get more heat out of your builder’s grade fireplace. Answer: First, lets be clear on exactly what you have. As far as blower fans go, I am of the opinion that they do more to move heat through the space then provide more heat or efficiency from the fireplace. Before we get into how to make your fireplace more efficient though, let’s take a look at the most efficient fireplace types and do a little comparing. Seasoned wood vs. green wood. Remember: Fireplace glass doors were originally designed to prevent heat loss from inside your home when the fireplace was not in use. They also give an excellent focal point to the room, enhancing the appearance of your hearth appliance. The two key improvements are: 1) reducing the amount of already-heated room air lost up the chimney and 2) directing more heat from the fire out into the room. The most efficient inserts are double-wall units with built-in circulating fans that blow warm air from the fire into the room. A wood-burning fireplace insert fits inside your existing fireplace and acts as a well-insulated firebox made of steel or cast iron. The textbook definition of a BTU is, “ the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound … Luckily, there are things that you can do to help make the most out of your builder grade fireplace. To avoid the added expense and labor of burning through your log stash too quickly, follow these tried-and-true tips for maximizing each … What's more, they come in 20- and 40-lb. The basic advice is that whenever you start a wood stove fire, you should leave the damper fully open for 30 minutes to get the fire off to a good start and properly heat the chimney for efficient drafting. This is important for safety and to help prevent chimney fires but it can also increase the efficiency of your wood … Buyers of new stoves are sometimes encouraged to buy the optional fan that is offered by the stove's manufacturer. By running your furnace blower on continuous air circulation, the heated air in the fireplace room will be distributed throughout your house. The fireback improves the fireplace's efficiency by absorbing the heat from the fire and radiating the heat back into the room. There are two ways that we can feel the heat coming off our efficient fireplaces: The first is radiant (infrared) heat that flows through fireplace glass fronts. It sticks out 4.5 inches. In addition, some fireplaces produce less heat than others, and when combined with a good blower, the wall above the fireplace may get only slightly warm. The warmth, sights and sounds of a fire inside the fireplace is something most people love and enjoy. Some of the surrounds are made with sliding brackets that allow you to move the unit forward or backward depending on how big your hearth is. Discover how easy it is to start and maintain a hotter fire. It also can help you decrease your heating bill, but only if you use your fireplace properly. They’re simple to use when compared with the other alternative – wood fireplaces. Getting the most heat out of your wood-burning stove, fireplace insert or fireplace involves more than simply stoking the fire. 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. The thinking is that the fan will boost efficiency and help circulate warm air. Featured in news stories on CBS, in Time, Scientific American, New York Times. Burn the fire to heat the chimney or flue before adding more wood. A fireplace insert can turn your old, inefficient fireplace into a clean burning, heat generating machine. Gas vs Wood Fireplace Heat Output The first thing to understand in regards to heat output is how it is measured – in BTU’s (short for British Thermal Units). March 31, 2015. how do you get more heat from a wood burning fireplace with gas log-lighter? Nobody really wants to head out in the dead of winter to chop, stack and carry wood back to the house. Its purpose is to protect the back wall from fire damage, and usually features a design that adds to the home's décor. A wood-burning fireplace is a cozy addition to your home, providing a focal point in a room and a warm place to curl up on a cold night. As fuel bills rise, more home owners are expecting their fireplaces to provide heat in exchange for their log-carrying or gas-bill-paying. 3. The best fireplace grate uses laws of physics to direct more heat out into the room, less up the chimney compared to conventional fireplace grates. How to get more Heat from Your Gas Fireplace. Make sure the large log is covered on the top and the front by smaller pieces of wood to insulate it from the heat. i have a wood burning fireplace with a gas log-lighter. If you have a wood burning fireplace insert: One way to get the most heat out of your fireplace insert is taking advantage of depth adjustments the units may offer. Burning pellets used to require a pellet stove, but New Hampshire-based Energex has created an add-on product, called Prometheus, that allows homeowners to convert any fireplace or wood-burning stove to pellets. Off to ebay and went and bought a hood. Install a fireback - a cast iron plate that is placed at the back of your fireplace. This is probably burned with the doors open. The traditional look of a wooden mantel can play a prominent role in establishing a barrier between the heat produced by your fireplace and the sensitive electrical components of your television. Now the mantel gets hot. I figured I needed a fireplace hood. A fireplace grate can ensure more heat reaches the room by elevating the wood. Use the fireplace tools to carefully add the rest of the wood to the stove. Hey folks, I have a fireplace which I love and don't want to lose, however it doesn't give off enough heat. With the high cost of heating fuels more of us are turning to wood as an alternative heat source. Green wood can have a moisture content between 30 and 60 percent. In this case, these is little or no heat released into the home. Huddled around the open fire while it's snowing outside can help relax almost anyone. Your fireplace can be great for an enjoyable evening fire for the weekend wood burner but it is not an efficient heat … Most Efficient Fireplace Types: Gas vs. Wood-Burning Fireplace. 6 Ways to Get More Heat from Your Wood Getting the most heat out of your wood-burning stove, fireplace insert or fireplace involves more than simply stoking the fire. Ensure that at least 1 smaller piece of wood is touching the back part of the coals. #1 Add a blower One of the easiest ways to get more heat out of your builder grade fireplace is to add a blower to it. packages that are easier to store and transport than big stacks of cord wood. A colonial era fireplace accessory is gaining popularity as a way to maximize the heat fireplaces sends into homes. Thank you very much for your time. A traditional, wood-burning fireplace creates a comforting ambiance on a cold winter day. In terms of efficient heat production, not all glass fronts are created equal: Tempered glass, used in most fireplace fronts, inhibits heat flow from the fire to your room. If your thermostat is in the same room as your fireplace, heat from a fire may inadvertently trick the device into thinking that the ambient temperature is much higher than it is. Keep space between the firewood as you add more, and maintain a bright, hot fire – don’t let it smolder. Source: work at a gas/wood fireplace distributor & builder contractor. In the battle for most efficient fireplace, gas fireplace efficiency is always going to win over wood fireplace efficiency. If you want a wood burner in the basement to heat the upstairs, get a forced air furnace or boiler, not a wood stove. Gas fireplaces have become increasingly popular across Canada. This will cause the thermostat to shut itself off, as it assumes that there’s no need for it to continue doing its job. A--Although they add a nice warm glow to a room, a fireplace, especially a wood-burning fireplace, usually draws more heat out of a home than it adds. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a wood-burning fireplace is an inefficient way of heating your home since most of the heat goes right out the chimney. Gas fireplaces and fireplace inserts allow less air to be lost outside of the house and are made to operate more simply and cleanly than wood fireplaces. Heat always travels up, and it will do the same in a two-or-more story home. I doubt it would burst into flames, but its too hot to touch and would probably peel the paint off if left on too long. i just use the fireplace basically as a gas fireplace as i dont feel like going through the trouble to burn real wood. Sorry for typos etc. My guess, being as you mentioned a chimney, is that you have a wood burning fireplace with regular gas vented logs installed. Use more wood, preferably hardwoods, and build a larger fire when it’s cold outside and you want your fireplace or wood stove to produce more heat. Leave the Doors Open. A couple of years ago I bought a wood mantel, painted it white and hung it above the fireplace. To maintain proper airflow, regularly remove ashes from your fireplace, put them into a metal container with a cover and store it outdoors. However, it’s ability to warm your home can sometimes be a more complicated task than one might think. Since hot air rises, most of the heat that is produced by a fire escapes up through the chimney. Increase the efficiency of your fireplace with these tips and get some of that wasted heat back. Fireplaces are lovely and cozy to sit around but not to great for actually heating your home. To avoid the added expense and labor of burning through your log stash inefficiently, follow these tried-and-true tips for maximizing each and every load. 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