If you opt for firewood rather than turning on the thermostat, you can save a lot of energy. But how do you know if you’re getting the most out of your cozy fire?
Unfortunately, not all the heat generated by your fireplace stays in your home. It’s been found that a portion of that heat can actually be lost through your chimney. This heat loss creates a noticeable difference in the warmth inside your home.
Here are a few ways to trap the heat of your fireplace inside your home and create a warm and comfortable environment.
Firebacks
Using more wood to keep the flame alive can be costly and injurious to health. Nevertheless, you can consider placing a fireback against the back wall of the fireplace. It is a slab of cast-iron metal that helps retain the heat that you would otherwise lose. A fireback absorbs heat as the fire burns and then radiates it out into the room once the flame dies.
Firebacks are also a great solution for protecting the walls of your fireplace while keeping the room warm.
Seasoned Firewood
If the wood burning in your fireplace produces more smoke than heat, know that it is time to buy a fresh set of seasoned wood. Whether you are cutting your own firewood or getting it from a local source, always ensure that the wood you put in your fireplace has had time to dry.
Freshly cut wood typically requires 6 to 12 months to dry properly and contains 20% moisture or less. Seasoned wood, however, burns properly and generates a lot of heat — enough to keep the rooms around the fireplace warm.
Start Your Fire The Right Way
Many people don’t realize the importance of starting a fire the right way. While it seems simple, there is a technique to build a strong fire that produces more heat even with less wood.
Make sure to open all the air controls before starting with this process. This will provide an ample amount of air for your fire to grow. Before lighting the fire, put in small pieces of kindling and shredded newspaper and then add one or two logs on the top. This helps you build a fire that lasts longer and facilitates complete combustion while providing more warmth to you and your family.
Chimney Dampers
In the absence of a damper, your chimney offers a path for heat to escape. It is strongly recommended to install a chimney damper if you don’t have one already.
They basically function as a “lid” for your chimney, which you can open or close at will. Closing the lid of the chimney helps in eliminating a major source of heat loss. This way the heat radiates back into the room, keeping the place warm and enjoyable for long.
If you need to get your chimney and fireplace serviced or repaired, feel free to call our experts at Rusty’s Fireplace & Chimney. Our team is quick to respond to you and arrive at your place in no time to help you!
Skip to content