Gathering around your indoor wood fireplace should be more than visually appealing. It should be one way to feel nice and toasty with little to no help from your central heating system.
If you’re missing out on the added warmth an indoor wood fire can provide, here’s how to turn that around:
Fan the flames
Place a small fan in front of the fireplace, pointed directly at it. When the fan is operating, it will create the same kind of movement found in a convection oven. If you’re considering buying a fireplace insert, ask about a model with a built-in fan.
Cleaner
Have your fireplace and chimney cleaned every year. That alone will improve heating efficiency while helping to prevent a creosote fire.
Glass doors generate more heat
Doors help generate more heat, partly by reducing the amount of heat lost up and out of your chimney. Glass doors, properly installed, help prevent heat loss from your living spaces while the fireplace is not in use.
Install a heat exchanger
Consider upgrading your fireplace with a heat-air exchange system to blow warmed air back into the room. Think of it as heat recycling.
Install a fireback
This is a metal plate that lines the back of the fireplace. It’s designed to protect the masonry and radiate heat back into the room when the fire dies down.
Burn seasoned firewood only
If you try to burn unseasoned (not fully dried) firewood, it won’t work to its full potential since most of the energy is being used to remove moisture from the wood rather than produce heat. Seasoned wood burns more efficiently and effectively.
Use a fireplace insert
Fireplace inserts are one of the best solutions for enhancing heating comfort. Essentially, a fireplace insert is a wood stove installed inside your existing fireplace. For maximum safety and efficiency, the cast iron or steel box should fit securely in the fireplace and line up correctly with the chimney.
Still, neither a wood fireplace nor wood burning stove was designed to heat even small to average size homes. They are more for recreational than practical use. In turn, that means you still rely heavily on your heating system for your family’s winter-long indoor comfort. To help ensure you get all the heat you need, and as affordably as possible, contact Air Professionals today to schedule our preventive maintenance service. With an annual cleaning and inspection, you’ll get more problem-free years from your furnace and spend less money to heat your home.