As the weather cools down, it's time to start thinking about energy efficient heating options. Fireplaces have long been a favorite among homeowners, as they create a wonderfully cozy ambience in any room, but they also cause a lot of cold air to circulate when they are alight.
Some statistics say that as much as 80% of the hot air can be lost up the chimney. If that is added to the amount of cold air that is pulled from the atmosphere, then the old log fireplace could almost be said to be mainly a visual experience.
A wonderful new scientific design now allows us to keep our old chimneys in place and still use our fireplaces for roaring fires, only now they won't harm the environment and will even give us more heat for less ash!
What is more, these newly designed fires are approved and rated by the new standards (EPA in the United States and CSA in Canada) which mean that replacing your old fireplace with an approved one will get you a grant in some areas.
So what's the secret? Well, how technical do you want to get? The short version is this: a box has been invented to fit inside your fireplace so you can still see the flames, but it works as efficiently as a wood stove.
Here's the long version. In the past, burning wood was commonplace, and no one seemed to mind that smoke was circulated into the air. Now there are clean air laws to obey, and manufacturers of wood stoves, fireplaces, and chimneys had to do their homework on pollution.
They came up with an internal design for a fire box that heats and houses the wood, smoke, and gasses, but has a secondary combustion zone which is utilized after the primary combustion. Result: less ash, less air pollution, less heat loss and more heat into your room.
These 'fireboxes' are chosen by measuring both the inside of your fireplace and your outside 'frame' size - length by height. All the dimensions of your inner fireplace must be measured. Often there are two measurements involved in the width, as this width is often wider at the front of the fireplace and narrows back toward the chimney.
You must also account for the depth and the height of your inner fireplace. Once you have selected the correct insert, you can ask your local fireplace distributor if they offer a checking service to ensure that their measurements agree with the model that you have chosen.
They will also check your existing chimney and lining and let you know that all is in order before your new insert gets installed.
Using an insert will completely reverse your efficiency. Instead of losing 80% of heat up the chimney, you will now be burning your wood at approximately 70% efficiency (exact figures will be in your manufacturers brochure), which means that your heating bills will be significantly reduced over time.
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