how can i make my wood burning fireplace more efficient

4 Ways to Improve your Wood-Burning Fireplace’s Efficiency.

• 1. Use the Damper to it’s full potential.
• 2. Use glass doors.
• 3. Burn only seasoned firewood.
• 4. Use a fireplace insert.

Full Answer

What is the best alternative to a wood burning fireplace?

• Alder (Red)
• Aspen
• Cedar (Red)
• Cottonwood
• Hemlock
• Pine (Lodgepole and White)
• Redwood
• Spruce (Sitka)

What is the worst wood to burn in a fireplace?

Never Burn These Kinds of Firewood Inside

• Driftwood. Unless it’s the only way to heat your cave on your castaway island, don’t burn driftwood indoors, and best not outdoors either — it takes on salt water while ...
• Wet/Rotted/Moldy Wood. ...
• Green Wood. ...

How to make your wood burn slower in a fireplace?

• Remove old ashes
• Stack the wood into a pyramid shape
• Pick the right type of log for maximum burn time
• Put the biggest log at the back of the stove
• Control the air vents
• Keep the fire burning safely

How to properly burn wood in a fireplace?

Burning wood produces particulate matter that ... Be smoke free: Wood stoves and fireplaces should be smoke free when properly installed and used correctly. Check your chimney: If opaque smoke is rising from your chimney, it means your fire is inefficient ...

How can I increase the efficiency of my wood fireplace?

4 Ways to Improve your Wood-Burning Fireplace's EfficiencyUse the Damper to it's full potential. ... Use glass doors. ... Burn only seasoned firewood. ... Use a fireplace insert.

Can a fireplace be made more efficient?

Turn on central or room fans to circulate heat One way to make better use of the heat from your fireplace is to use room fans or even the fan from your central heating system in “manual” mode to circulate the heat from your fireplace into other rooms of your house.

How do you radiate more heat from a fireplace?

Increasing Fireplace EfficiencyInstall a Glass Fireplace Door. Installing a fireplace door is an effective and inexpensive solution to get more heat out of your fireplace. ... Use a Fireback. A fireback is an accessory that attaches to the back of the fireplace. ... Upgrade Your Fireplace. ... Use the Damper to Turn Up the Heat.

How do you optimize a fireplace?

2:284:11Products To Improve Your Fireplace Efficiency And Lower Heating CostsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd erosion from time. But if you're looking for the very best way to be sure that your fireplace isMoreAnd erosion from time. But if you're looking for the very best way to be sure that your fireplace is going to be turned into an efficient room heater. It's going to be to install a fireplace insert an

Can I add a blower to my wood-burning fireplace?

Yes, you can add a fan/blower to most gas and wood fireplaces, inserts, and stoves. You will need to find a fireplace rated fan that will fit your fireplace and follow all instructions for installation in the unit's manual.

Should you open a window when you have a fire in the fireplace?

Open a window when using the fireplace to prevent the room from becoming smoky. The air coming in from the window will go up the chimney. Before making a fire, open the glass doors, pull aside the screen curtains, and place the kindling, newspaper and logs inside.

How do I heat my house with a wood burning fireplace?

0:005:23Heating Your House Efficiently with a Wood Burning Fireplace or StoveYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd if the air to your fire can come directly from outside into the firebox. Then it will save youMoreAnd if the air to your fire can come directly from outside into the firebox. Then it will save you from the heated air of your living space going up the chimney.

Why does my log burner not give out much heat?

The Air Vents Aren't Open Enough If your wood stove isn't getting hot, try opening up the air vents on the stove to allow more oxygen to get to the fire. If the air vents are closed, or closed by too much, then the fire will smolder and burn very slowly due to a lack of fresh air.

When should I close the damper on my fireplace?

A fireplace damper should always be kept open while the fire is burning. Furthermore, keep the damper open until all the embers are completely out; since smoke and dangerous carbon monoxide can enter the house. Once the ember bed is entirely out, close the damper.

How does a fireplace heater work?

A fireplace heater system pulls fresh air from the room, circulates it through a chamber that is heated by the fire, and then blows the heated air back into the room. These heaters are closed systems, so no smoke from the fireplace is invading the home.

Why do you need a glass door for a fireplace?

The fireplace glass door creates a barrier between the living space and the chimney, thus reducing the area that your furnace will have to heat. This alone is a good reason to install these doors, but it’s not the only reason.

Why do we need a fire back?

Its purpose is to protect the back wall from fire damage , and usually features a design that adds to the home's décor. The fireback improves the fireplace's efficiency by absorbing the heat from the fire and radiating the heat back into the room.

Do fireplace glass doors protect pets?

Fireplace glass doors offer another level of safety for the home by protecting children and pets from the fire . If you have a wood burning fireplace, you will want to purchase the screen mesh that is designed to go with the fireplace glass doors.

Can you install a fireplace heater with glass doors?

Depending on which kind you purchase, these heaters can make a significant difference in your home's temperature, even heating a full room on its own. Specific fireplace heaters can be installed with fireplace glass doors, saving you even more money. Install fireplace glass doors.

What is a fireplace insert?

A fireplace insert is a sealed metal box with a finished front that can be “inserted” into your open wood fireplace to make it more efficient. This is a great option because:

Can a chimney sweep install a wood stove?

Your certified chimney sweep will need to cut a hole in your wall or roof in order to install the flue to vent the gases from the stove, but having your chimney sweep install a wood stove is totally worth it and has a lot of advantages:

How to warm up a chimney before adding more wood?

Be sure not too leave too big of a gap otherwise the heat won’t transfer between the wood and the fire will burn more slowly. Leave the fire to get going, allowing the chimney to warm up before adding any more wood. As the fire and coals start to warm up you can start add logs that are bigger in size.

How to keep a fireplace going longer?

Placing larger pieces of wood in your fireplace more closely and densely together will keep the fire going for a longer period of time between each refill, and will provide the most heat output per piece of wood. Don’t wait until the fire is smoldering to add further logs to the fireplace.

Why does my fireplace need to be vacuumed?

The air lost from the fireplace needs to be replaced, and if there’s a lack of ventilation within the room then a vacuum can be created. This vacuum can lead to a reduction in the ability for the chimney to draw air from your fireplace, and therefore fresh air into the fire.

Why do you need a damper on a fireplace?

Check the damper in your fireplace to make sure that it’s wide open to allow for maximum draw of air up the chimney, which in turn will increase the airflow to the fire. A damper is usually shut between fires to prevent the loss of warm air from your home.

Why do you burn hardwoods?

Burn hardwoods to get the most heat over the course of the fire. Burn softwoods to get hotter but shorter lasting flames. Hardwoods are denser than softwoods and so burn slower than softwoods, meaning that you’ll use less wood over the course of the fire and get more heat out of every piece used.

Why is ash important in a fire?

The ash will help insulate the new bed of hot coals in the next fire and help to improve its heat output. A layer of ash will help with the combustion of the wood, and you may find it more difficult to get a fire really going if all of the ashes have been cleaned out.

What is the best moisture content for a fireplace?

A moisture content of 20% or less is usually recommended for use in a fireplace, as wood with higher moisture content than 20% starts to become harder to burn, and gives off more smoke as a result. Therefore use well seasoned or kiln dried wood with a moisture content of 20% or less to get the most heat from the wood that you’re burning.

How can we reduce wood smoke pollution?

Save money, time and resources. Use 1/3 less wood fuel for the same heat. Reduce creosote build-up and the risk of chimney fires. Lower wood smoke pollution both inside and outside, including carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4) and black carbon (particle pollution)

How to dry firewood?

Wet wood can create excessive smoke which is lost heat. Make sure firewood is dry, or “seasoned.” Moisture meters allow you to test the moisture level in wood, and can be bought at hardware stores or on the Internet. Properly dried wood should have a reading of 20% or less. To properly dry wood: 1 Split wood into pieces 6 inches in diameter or smaller for faster drying. 2 Stack off the ground, split side down. 3 Cover top of stack to protect the wood from rain and snow. 4 Store for at least 6 months for softwood, and at least 12 months for hardwood.

What is overall efficiency?

Overall efficiency is the percentage of heat that is transferred to the space to be heated when a load of fuel (e.g., firewood, pellets) is burned. Actual efficiency will vary depending on factors such as wood moisture, appliance operation and installation (e.g., ...

What does combustion efficiency mean in advertising?

Often advertisements will list combustion rather than overall efficiency since it is the higher of the two calculated efficiencies for any given device. For example, an advertisement on a website or brochure may say “85% efficient” and although not specified, it is the combustion efficiency.

How long does a wood stove last?

Store for at least 6 months for softwood, and at least 12 months for hardwood. If you smell smoke inside or see smoke coming out of the chimney, you may be burning wood that is too wet or have a problem with your stove or fireplace.

When will the EPA start certifying wood stoves?

Beginning on May 16, 2020, all models on EPA’s certified wood stove, hydronic heater and forced-air furnace lists will have an overall efficiency listed.

How to dry wood properly?

To properly dry wood: Split wood into pieces 6 inches in diameter or smaller for faster drying. Stack off the ground, split side down. Cover top of stack to protect the wood from rain and snow.

How can I make my fireplace more energy efficient?

The only true way to make your fireplace as energy-efficient as possible is to install an insert . An insert is pretty much just a wood stove with a steel liner that rests inside the chimney, but it's much more efficient than a traditional fireplace, especially if you buy one that has the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s stamp of approval. The one downside to installing inserts is cost. They typically run well over a thousand dollars, but they will pay for themselves in the long run.

How long should I leave wood in the fireplace?

When you burn wood in the fireplace, make sure it's not freshly cut. You should only burn wood that has been seasoned or been dried in the sun for at least six months. Burning fresh wood creates more smoke than burning dry wood and leaves behind a coat of resin in the chimney, which cuts down on efficiency.