Clean Sweeps of Michigan's Blog

How to Turn your Inefficient Fireplace into an Efficient Alternative Heat Source

According to the National Association of Homebuilders fireplaces are one of the top three features new home buyers look for in a home. A warm, crackling fire is a welcoming and inviting addition to any living space during the cold months of winter. What many homeowners fair to realize, however, is that their fireplace may actually be losing more energy than it is creating.

As fireplaces and chimneys age, they may become more inefficient. As the warm air from a fire rises, cold air from outside can flow in, filling the room and negating the effects of the fire. Thankfully, there are several products available to homeowners to help improve the efficiency of their fireplaces, making them excellent sources of warmth all winter.

Fireplace inserts 

For many homeowners with traditional, wood burning fireplaces, a fireplace insert represents a low maintenance, high efficiency replacement option. Fireplace inserts are glass-fronted fireproof boxes that create a closed combustion system, trapping the hot air created by a fire before it can escape up a chimney. Inserts are able to efficiently heat a room, especially with the addition of a fireplace blower.

While fireplace inserts have traditionally been exclusively gas, they can now be powered by several different fuel sources including electricity, wood, pellets, or coal. This wider variety of choices gives homeowners the ability to choose an insert to better meet their needs. Although inserts are considered to be the most energy efficient choice for fireplaces, only inserts approved by the Environmental Protection Agency should be installed in residential homes. The EPA designation ensures that the fireplace insert has undergone rigorous testing regarding both its safety and efficiency.

Dampers 

Dampers, or the metal plate that separates a fireplace from the rest of the chimney, are designed to have a snug, airtight seal. Over time, dampers may lose their original seal, allowing cold air or moisture to enter a house through the chimney. Because they are exposed to both hot and cold air – as well as the elements – it is recommended that dampers should only be repaired or replaced by licensed professionals.

While closed dampers can prevent unwanted cold air from entering a room, dampers should always be left open when a fireplace is in use. Doing this prevents smoke and other harmful gasses from entering the home, allowing them to travel safely up the chimney instead.

Firebacks 

Sometimes seen as only decorative, firebacks are large metal pieces placed at the back of a firebox. The primary purpose of a fireback is to reflect heat back into the room, preventing warm air from travelling up the chimney and out of the room. In addition, firebacks protect the fireplace masonry from damage from long-term exposure to fire and heat. Because of the ease of installation and the number of different styles they are available in, adding a fireback is a fast and easy way to improve the efficiency of an existing fireplace without undertaking a major remodel.

Fireplace doors 

Professionally fitted fireplace doors are an attractive, decorative way to seal their fireplace when not in use. Like firebacks, fireplace doors are available in a number of different styles and finishes, giving homeowners the ability to choose a style that fits their décor and budget.

Similar to the damper, fireplace doors should always remain open while the fireplace is in use. The primary way they improve efficiency is through a combination of preventing cold air from entering and warm air from leaving when the fireplace is not in use.

The Advantages of Pellet Stoves and Inserts

If you are looking for a heating system that is both energy-efficient and economical, consider purchasing a pellet stove or fireplace insert. John Gulland, a wood heat expert and contributing editor for the original guide to living wisely, Mother Earth News, claims, “For someone committed to using a renewable energy source and is away from home for many hours at a time, a pellet stove can be a good choice.” Knowing the advantages of this type of heating system will give you a better idea if a pellet stove or insert is your best option. At Clean Sweeps of Michigan, we sell Regency Greenfire pellet stoves and inserts, and we would like to tell you more about the benefits of heating your home with a pellet stove or insert.

Easy and Safe to Operate

To use your pellet stove or insert, all you have to do is pull out the hopper and load it with wood pellets. With one load of pellets, you will get heat for at least 16 hours before you need to reload with more pellets. Since a pellet stove does not give off external heat during its operation, you can place it as close as one inch from a wall and not worry about it becoming a fire hazard. This quality also makes pellet stoves a great choice if you have children or pets in your home.

Clean-Burning and Environmentally-Friendly

One of the main advantages of a pellet stove over a traditional wood-burning fireplace is there is no smoke produced from a pellet-burning fire. You will never have to worry about smoky rooms, dry air, or unpleasant odors when you heat your home with a pellet stove or insert. Cutting down on air pollution is another benefit of its smoke-free operation.

Inexpensive and Cost-Effective

The average price of a 40-pound bag of wood pellets is approximately three dollars, and this amount provides sufficient heat for two or more days. This means your total heating cost each month will be $50 or less, even during the cold winter months. A typical home heating bill for fuel-heated homes runs about $250 for the winter season, so you can save at least $100 on heating costs with a pellet stove or insert.

Renewable and Highly-Efficient Fuel

Another environmental advantage of pellet stoves and inserts is the fuel source itself. Wood pellets are made from recycled wood from sawmills. Sawdust and wood shavings are compacted into tightly condensed pellets, and burning these pellets is a low-moisture, highly-efficient process. Fewer harmful gases are released when burning wood pellets as compared to regular wood-burning fireplaces and stoves.

Convenient Fuel Storage
You do not need as much space for storing wood pellets since they are so condensed and compact. A ton of wood pellets produces the same amount of heat as a cord of firewood; however, you will need at least 128 cubic feet to store a cord of firewood logs but only 80 cubic feet of storage for a ton of wood pellets. Additionally, since wood pellets are already bagged when purchased, you can store them inside your home, which gives you easy access to your heating fuel.

Want to learn more about the benefits and advantages of pellet stoves and fireplace inserts? Contact Clean Sweeps of Michigan today to find out more information about these cost-efficient and environmentally-friendly heating systems.