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Does my fireplace need a blower?
There is no need for a blower in a gas fireplace. If the gas fireplace is well-vented, it is possible to use a gas fireplace for hours without a blower. The external unit of the gas fireplace blower is the reason for this. The fireplace will work well without a blower, even though most gas fireplaces use one.
Do blowers really help a fireplace?
With a fireplace blower, you won’t have to rely on your home’s central heating to create a warm and comfortable living environment during the cold winter months. Some heat will still be lost out of the chimney, but the blower will create warm air that’s expelled into your home. As a result, it will help your fireplace produce more heat.
Do fireplace blowers really work?
Well, let us reassure you that fireplace blowers do actually work, and they make a great contribution to any living space. They function by drawing in your home’s air, then heating it in a specially-designed tube that is installed near your fireplace. In other words, your fireplace is heating both your home and this drawn-in air at the same time!
What kind of fireplaces can use blowers?
You can install a blower in either a gas or wood-burning fireplace, assuming you have a “circulating” fireplace. While blowers are most commonly installed in gas fireplaces, they can still be installed wood-burning fireplaces. As long as you have a circulating fireplace, you can install a blower in it.
Why Do I Need a Blower for My Fireplace?
What is a Fireplace Blower?
Are Fireplace Fans Loud?
What Does a Wood Stove Airmate Do?
Does a Blower Affect My Wood Stove Burns?
Why does my fireplace fan rattling?
How does a fireplace work?
See 2 more
Does a fireplace blower make a difference?
Well, let us reassure you that fireplace blowers do actually work, and they make a great contribution to any living space. They function by drawing in your home's air, then heating it in a specially-designed tube that is installed near your fireplace.
Is a blower on a fireplace worth it?
A gas fireplace with a blower will circulate more heat around the room than a gas fireplace without a blower. This makes the gas fireplace more effective. Reduce the electricity bill. Without a fireplace blower, you might have to leave the gas fireplace on for hours so the room can get warm enough.
Will a fireplace insert work without a blower?
The fireplace will continue to produce radiant heat and warm up the home. If your unit has a blower, it will no longer work; however, a fireplace blower is not necessary for the operation or safety of the fireplace.
Does a fireplace blower use a lot of electricity?
Using a national average of $0.14 / kilowatt hour, running a 35-50 watt blower 24 hours a day for 365 days would cost between $35 - $50 annually. That's not terribly expensive when we consider the costs of running an efficient gas furnace.
How do I circulate the heat in my fireplace?
While fans can (and often do) help cool you down, their primary function is simply air circulation. Fans can also be utilized to spread warm air. If you have a fireplace that only heats the two square feet around it, a fan can help amplify the warmth to the whole room.
How can I get more heat from my fireplace?
Turn Up the Heat: Tips to FollowInstall a Fireplace Insert. ... Use Glass Doors. ... Use a Chimney Damper. ... Get Chimney Fans. ... Only Burn Dried Firewood. ... Use Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors. ... Keep Combustible Materials Away from the Fireplace. ... Clean Your Fireplace Regularly.More items...
Do all wood fireplace inserts have blowers?
Inserts are available for burning wood (or wood pellets) or for burning gas. Gas inserts can be direct vent, natural vent or vent-free. Almost all inserts come with a blower, though for some, it is an optional addition.
How long do fireplace insert blowers last?
It isn't uncommon to need to replace a fireplace blower or remote after 8 - 10 years of normal use.
How long does it take for a fireplace blower to turn on?
It takes a fireplace blower about 10-20 minutes to complete the process of it turning on and off. A fireplace blower cannot turn on and off instantly like a light bulb. When you turn on your fireplace, the firebox begins to heat up. Once its fan sensor switch detects the set temperature, it will turn on the blower.
Is it cheaper to run fireplace or furnace?
Operating a furnace for one hour at 75,000 -100,000 Btu cost a homeowner $1.12 - $1.49 based on last month's national average natural gas rate. By comparison, a natural gas fireplace running at 30,000 Btu per hour cost only 45 cents.
Do electric fireplaces raise your electric bill?
On average, electric fireplaces will raise your monthly electricity bill by $32.50. This represents a 28.3% increase for the average US household. Again, this assumes $0.15 per kWh and 5 hours of use per day, over 30 days, on max power.
Is it cheaper to run electric fireplace or heat?
As far as fireplaces go, electric is the least expensive. One of the reasons why is because electric fireplaces provide supplemental zone heating. Zone heating saves money by allowing you to lower the overall temperature of your home by 10-15 degrees. Then, you heat only the room that is occupied.
What are the advantages of a blower?
These types of blowers ensure that air can move continuously while maintaining an energy-efficient level of operation. High-performance blowers provide increased airflow, which reduces the amount of cold spots in the home and improves the performance of humidifiers and air purifiers.
How long do fireplace insert blowers last?
It isn't uncommon to need to replace a fireplace blower or remote after 8 - 10 years of normal use.
How long do fireplace blower motors last?
10 to 20 yearsThe bearings of the blower motor can also lose their initial lubrication and begin to dry out, causing increased friction in the motor. The blower motor in your home or office should last anywhere from 10 to 20 years. Modern sealed bearings and sealed bushings can push the lifespan to its maximum of 20 years.
How much does it cost to run a fireplace for an hour?
Small 10,000 BTU gas fireplace costs $0.15 per hour to run. That's $108 per month (absolute max. cost, gas fireplace running 24/7). Standard 20,000 BTU gas fireplace costs $0.29 per hour to run.
Where is the blower on a gas fireplace?
On a gas fireplace, the blower is usually positioned against the rear wall facing upwards, although it's not uncommon to see blowers positioned on either side of the fireplace. The blower draws in cool room air and forces that air upwards along the back or side of the fireplace.
What type of bearings are used in a fireplace blower?
Two for the motor (inside and outside) and a single outboard or wheel bearing used at the end of the assembly for the blower's wheel. The two most widely used bearing types used in blower assemblies are sleeve, sometimes referred to as bushings, and ball bearings. While there are pros and cons to each, we'll focus our discussion around their application with blowers vs a general discussion on the two bearing types.
What blower kit options are available?
Fireplace fan kits come in many forms and can often times include several different accessory options. Your owner's manual will typically recommend a specific blower kit option for your make and model fireplace. A blower kit will include everything you need for installation, with the exception of basic tools. Kits include the blower, power cord, mounting hardware (if required), wiring harness and required controllers. These controls can include thermostats, rheostats, remote controls and fireplace specific modules. Our aftermarket kits all come pre-assembled and pre-wired for easy installation, while the OEM kits we offer will vary in difficulty based on the manufacturer and type of kit.
What is included in a blower kit?
A blower kit will include everything you need for installation, with the exception of basic tools. Kits include the blower, power cord, mounting hardware (if required), wiring harness and required controllers. These controls can include thermostats, rheostats, remote controls and fireplace specific modules.
Why do people buy fireplaces?
While everyone's reason for choosing a fireplace is different, many of us purchase fireplaces for their ability to be used as heating appliances. While it's true that gas fireplace efficiency has improved over the years, gas fireplaces still exhibit some degree of heat and energy loss.
What is a fireplace?
A fireplace can make a beautiful addition to your home, whether you enjoy the romantic dance of flames or the warm feeling of a fire on a cold night, there are literally hundreds of models and variations to choose from.
What are the different types of fireplaces?
Before we continue, let's talk briefly about the different types of gas and wood fireplaces, since they're mentioned rather frequently here.#N#Gas fireplaces typically come in one of four different types. Vent-free, power vent, B-vent (natural vent) or direct-vent. Each has their pros and cons, so it's important to consider which is right for your specific application. We won't get into the specifics of each here, but what's important to note is that efficiency ratings and heat output can differ between the various types. So if you're considering a gas fireplace, it's important to discuss your options with a qualified expert, who can walk you through the pros, cons and features of each type.#N#The same goes for wood burning fireplaces. The most common types are masonry fireplaces, wood inserts, wood stoves, and wood fireplaces. There are even alternative fuel fireplaces that burn everything from wood pellets to corn. Again, the efficiency and purpose of each wood burning type is important to consider if you're purchasing new, so always discuss options with a qualified expert in your area.
How Does This Relate to a Blower Fan on My Fireplace or Stove?
Without a fan, you will get the radiant heat from the glass and the front of your fireplace. Without a fan, you will get radiant heat from the front, both sides, the top and even the back of your stove. But by adding a fan to your appliance, you will enjoy convective heat in addition to the radiant heat.
How much air does a blower fan move?
Most blower fans on fireplaces and stoves will move air in the range of 75 – 250 cubic feet per minute. In the low end of this range, that’s roughly the amount of air a bathroom fan will exhaust.
How do I adjust a gas fireplace fan?
Most fans on fireplaces and stoves use a rheostat to vary the amount of air the fan is moving. Turn the fan up and a higher volume of air is moving through the appliance. By turning the fan down, less air is picking up heat and blowing into the room. Fan adjustments can be done manually, or with many gas fireplaces today, can be done with a multi-function remote control. Fans will increase the heat transfer efficiency of your fireplace or stove.
Can you use a blower fan in a power outage?
Blower fans will not operate , of course, in the event of a power outage but you will still get the benefit of radiant heat. If reliability of power is a concern to you, or if you are off the grid, there are specific models of fireplaces and stoves designed to be strictly radiant heaters.
Is a fan quieter on a stove?
Fans today are relatively quiet, especially on the lower settings. However, keep in mind whenever a fan is operating by moving air, there will be some noise. A calm day is much quieter than a day with the wind blowing 25 mph. Same with the air moving through your stove or fireplace.
Can you heat a stove without a fan?
Without a fan, you will get radiant heat from the front, both sides, the top and even the back of your stove. But by adding a fan to your appliance, you will enjoy convective heat in addition to the radiant heat. As air from the room moves through convective air chambers designed in the fireplace or stove, heat is transferred from the hot surfaces.
What is the purpose of a fireplace blower?
The purpose of a fireplace blower is to help circulate warm air throughout the room. It has a fan motor and baffles that allow it to do the job efficiently. The fan draws cool air in and heats it up inside the baffles before being forced out into the room. The baffles are located in front of or on top of the blower fan. Instead of the heat emanating 3 or 4 feet away from the flames in a fireplace without a blower, the heat is felt in all areas of the room.
Why do people use blowers in fireplaces?
Many people enjoy a fireplace due to the calming and cozy effect of a crackling and colorful fire and don't count on it to provide additional warmth. Fireplaces have gotten a bad reputation in the past because some people believe it is only useful for its aesthetic value; adding a blower helps decrease your heating expenses.
Does a blower detract from a fireplace?
Fear of the blower detracting from the attractiveness of the fireplace is not a concern. The only apparent difference is a few small vents that draw in cold air, warm it and then expel the heated air out into the room, thus the addition does not detract from the aesthetics of the appliance.
What is a Fireplace Blower & What Does It Do?
A blower, or fireplace fan, is an electric device that goes into the firebox so that your fireplace is more efficient. A blower uses a little electricity to channel the heat from the fire back into the room without the accompanying smoke.
Is it good to have a fireplace?
Having a fireplace is a great idea, no argument from us. It not only increases your home’s value, but it also helps keep it warmer. Want to know how to make it a more effective heating device? A fireplace blower! Get the low-down on this fireplace accessory and why you’re missing out if you haven’t already invested in one.
Why Do I Need a Blower for My Fireplace?
A blower helps circulate the air in the room and pushes warm air out while pulling cooler air into the fireplace's air channel. The released air from the blower helps increase the ambient temperature of the air in the room and, therefore, increases the fireplace's effectiveness, insert, or stoves heating. It does not increase the heating capacity of the unit. The unit will always produce the same amount of heat; instead, it spreads the warm air out over a greater area. The whole room is a comfortable temperature instead of the immediate area beside the unit being really hot, and the far corner of the room is much cooler.
What is a Fireplace Blower?
A fireplace blower is a fan mounted on the exterior of the fireplace or inside the unit but outside the firebox itself. It is used to circulate air around the unit's hot exterior before pushing it back into the room. Fireplace fans help to circulate warm air and increase heat penetration into the room. However, they do not increase the fireplace's total BTU output; instead, fireplace blowers simply move air more effectively to increase the amount of airflow around the fireplace and the entire room’s ambient temperature.
Are Fireplace Fans Loud?
Fireplace fans are not inherently noisier than other fans in your home. Think of the fan in your hood vent above your stove or the fan in your bathroom – these always make some noise and are never completely silent. Unfortunately, a fan's reality is that it requires a motor to run and that motor will make some noise. Add the requirement for it to push large amounts of air through it, be as small as possible, and be heat-rated to withstand the fireplace. Today's modern fireplace fans are actually quite exceptional compared to those even 10-15 years ago. They are smaller, quieter, more powerful, and last longer than ever before.
What Does a Wood Stove Airmate Do?
An airmate is an accessory for freestanding wood stoves that directs the air from the blower into the room. With fireplaces and inserts, there is a channel between the outside of the firebox (including the top) and the exterior of the fireplace for the air to travel through. With freestanding stoves, this channel does not cover the top, so the airmate acts as this channel and helps funnel air from around the stove's exterior back into the room.
Does a Blower Affect My Wood Stove Burns?
No, a blower does not affect the efficiency , burn times or heat output of a wood stove. Instead, it pushes air around the stove's exterior, heating it and releasing it back into the room. Blowers/fans are always mounted on the outside of stoves and will not push air into the firebox. Therefore, it will not affect the draft or burn rate of the stove.
Why does my fireplace fan rattling?
A common cause of rattling with the fireplace fan is caused by vibration against the fireplace itself. A fireplace service expert can adjust the placement or add appropriate buffers between the fan and fireplace to reduce the noise.
How does a fireplace work?
Without a fan, a fireplace relies on radiant heat to warm up a room. Radiant heat is when a fireplace warms up everything in its direct path, including people and furniture ...