How to Make Your Fireplace More Efficient

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ISTOCKPHOTO/OLIVER MALMS
An open masonry fireplace seems cozy, but it's not efficient for home heating.

<p>As you sit by the fireplace enjoying the glow on these cold winter nights, are you content knowing you’re using a renewable fuel to warm your home? Depending on the type of fireplace you have, it may actually waste more energy than it creates throughout the season. The problem is that most heat goes up the chimney, drawing cold air into the house to replace the heated air. When a fire isn’t burning, warm air can still escape through the chimney. Many products are promoted as increasing the efficiency of your fireplace, but not all of them are as effective — or safe — as you might like them to be.</p>
<ol>
<li>A <a title=”fireback” href=”http://www.firebacks.com/facts.html” target=”_blank”>fireback</a> is simply a heavy sheet of metal (traditionally cast iron) behind the fire. In addition to protecting masonry in the back of the fireplace, a fireback theoretically reflects heat into the room (instead of all the heat going up the chimney). But don’t expect significant results if you add a fireback to your fireplace. Wood-heat expert, <a href=”http://www.woodheat.org/” target=”_blank”>
<font color=”#800080″>John Gulland</font>
</a>, says, “Firebacks had a little validity 100 years ago when there weren’t many good alternatives, but these days they are mostly decorative.” Estimated cost: $75 to $350.</li>

  • Published on Feb 11, 2008
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