Fireplace
tips
With the cooler temperatures we have been
experiencing the past couple of weeks many people are putting their fireplaces
to use to help heat their home. However, a traditional open fireplace can be one
of the most expensive energy problems in many homes. This is because your
fireplace’s chimney is, in effect, a large hole in your house. This creates
drafts elsewhere in your home as cold air is pulled in to replace the air that
is sucked up your chimney. A fireplace is also an inefficient heating device.
The hotter the fire gets, the more house air goes up the chimney.
If your fireplace has a chimney damper, make sure it
is closed when you’re not burning a fire. This will slow the flow of warm
house air up your chimney. Be sure to open the damper before starting your next
fire. Perhaps you could hang a small tag from the damper to serve as a reminder.
Many fireplaces also have doors. These doors reduce
the amount of indoor air going up the chimney but don’t eliminate air leakage.
Keep these closed when no fire is burning to slow the loss of room air.
Fireplace inserts are a popular way to improve the
efficiency of open fireplaces. A fireplace insert is like a wood stove that is
designed to fit into your fireplace. The best inserts have fans that circulate
room air through spaces within the insert and distribute it around the room.
Many older fireplaces are never used. The best way to
reduce heat waste from these is to seal them off altogether. Seal the chimney
above the roof to keep outdoor water and air out of your home. This outdoor seal
should cover the top of the chimney and be made of waterproof galvanized steel
or aluminum. Inflatable pillows are also available that seal the area where the
fireplace connects with its chimney.