Matches Fireplaces

Fireplaces are very appealing; aside from providing heat and lowering your heating bills, it can also increase the value of your home. Of course, the savings in heating bills will also depend on the type of fireplace you used and fuel or wood availability in your area. 

The type of fireplace will have a large effect on its heating capacity. Gas and wood-burning fireplaces will tend to lose more heat through the chimney. On the other hand, electric fireplaces are usually more efficient in keeping the heat inside the area of the house you are trying to heat. But if you live in a place where a lot of seasoned wood is available on your property, a wood-burning fireplace is recommended.

How do you improve the efficiency of your fireplace?

It is gratifying and relaxing to sit near your fireplace during the cold winter season. That is the reason why many homes were built with fireplaces. Aside from the heating, the warm ambience that a fireplace brings to a home is worth it. 

But sadly, due to improper use and maintenance, a lot of the energy and heat production by fireplaces are often lost. According to plastering Hobart, one of the primary reasons for this loss of energy is the fireplace’s damper. 

A fireplace damper is a mechanism or device that seals the chimney when the fireplace is not used. It is usually manually opened or closed and allows exhaust to be vented out of the house. 

A damper that is kept open will increase the amount of air to the fire, improve combustion, and increase heat. The damper should be closed and properly sealed when the fireplace is not used to stop warm air from coming out of the house and keep cold air from coming in through the chimney. 

Will you be using any other means of heating when you’re using a fireplace?

Just seeing a fireplace blazing during a cold winter brings a sense of comfort and warmth. But sadly, a traditional fireplace has a lot of heat loss. By nature, fireplaces are not very efficient in keeping the heat due to the loss of heat caused by the chimney and other things around it. 

In other words, additional devices and heating sources are still used to supplement the heat produced by fireplaces. That is where fireplace inserts come in. Fireplace inserts increase a fireplace’s efficiency.

A fireplace insert is a fireproof box made from steel or cast iron with insulated glass that helps create a closed combustion system. Inserts can be powered by gas, electricity, propane or others. With a gas or electric insert starting a flame is as easy as pushing a button. On the other hand, Wood fireplace inserts give you the beauty of an open fireplace but with better heating capacity than a traditional wood-burning fireplace. A wood fireplace insert’s efficiency is around 50% compared to a conventional wood fireplace, which is less than 10%. 

When your warming one room or area, there is no need to used other heating sources, and a fireplace is enough. But if you are heating multiple rooms, using central heating would be the most practical.

Fireplaces have always invoked memories of a warm, cozy, and relaxing winter evening with family. But more than its practical value, a fireplace also adds to your home’s appeal and great ambience. 

Fireplaces can also become the focal point of your house and a great conversation starter. It’s always nice to see a place with a grand fireplace. It adds to its aesthetic appeal as well as its market value.

So when you are considering building a new home or remodelling a house, you should consider adding an indoor fireplace. It is definitely worth the investment. There are many types of indoor fireplaces. They generally fall into these categories: gas-burning or ethanol, wood-burning, or electric. Let us find out the details of each of these types of fireplaces. 

Wood Fireplace

The most classic and traditional fireplace is the wood-burning fireplace—the elegant look of a fireplace with wood inside. When people think of a fireplace, it’s always the wood-burning fireplace that they will picture in their head. 

There are different types of wood-burning fireplaces: Traditional open Hearth, Enclosed Fireplaces, Fireplace Inserts, and Wood Burning Stoves. A traditional open-hearth fireplace is fireplaces are the original fireplaces that have been used for centuries. You will see the wood, hear them crackling and smell the wood. This type of fireplace has a chimney the releases all the exhaust and smoke. Although it is the most authentic-looking fireplace, it is not as efficient as other modern types because of the heat loss caused by the open chimney. It also takes more time to build. 

An enclosed fireplace typically has a large glass panel, which lets you enjoy the ambience of burning wood and keep the heat. But unlike the previous type, it has less heat escaping from the chimney because of its enclosed design. 

Fireplace inserts are usually designed to fit an existing fireplace. They turn a traditional open-hearth fireplace into an enclosed one. Wood burning stoves, on the other hand, is an alternative to a fireplace. It lets you burn wood for heating without installing a traditional fireplace. 

Ethanol or Gas Burning Fireplaces

Ethanol or Gas Burning Fireplaces have a more minimalistic look and burn cleanly. They can create more heat but have a lower cost compared to traditional fireplaces. Since your burning Ethanol or Gas, they do not leave any residue and ash, making them easier to maintain and clean. They are also faster to install and can be easily customized according to the need and specifications. 

Electric Fireplace

The electric fireplace is the most cost-efficient type of fireplace. It was also more comfortable to adjusts the temperature using an electric fireplace. It is low maintenance since you are not burning wood or other fuels. There is also no risk of toxic fumes affecting people inside the house. Some models, like the Mantel Electric Fireplaces, can even mimic a built-in wood-burning fireplace. 

How long does it take to install a fireplace?

The installation length will depend on many factors and on the type of fireplace you want to install. With the right installer and contractor, generally, installation takes one day. But for installation that needs a fireplace renovation, including knockout, hearth, back panel, and fireplace surround, it will take from five to seven days. But it’s best to choose a technician that can complete the work faster without sacrificing the quality of work and safety.

Having a fireplace is a good investment. Aside from heating your home, it can also increase its aesthetic and market value. There is always an added value of sitting beside a fireplace on a chilly winter day while enjoying time with your loved ones. While enjoying a hot coffee or meal, looking at the flickering flame on your fireplace is always a good experience. 

There are a lot of things to consider in selecting a fireplace. The first thing you have to think about is what type of fireplace you need: wood-burning, gas, multi-fuel or electric stove fires. There is also a lot of design and choice of materials such as marble, stone, brick or cast iron fireplaces. 

The size of your room or house and the fireplace’s output is also essential. To maximize your fireplace, you have to balance between the heat source’s power and the room size you want to heat. 

How much heating to you need for your home

The unit of measurement for heat is BTU or British Thermal Unit. In other words, for fireplaces, the higher the BTU means, the higher its heat output. You will find the right fireplace based on its BTU output by knowing your home or room size. 

On average, you need 20 BTU to heat a one square feet area. For example, to heat a 100 square feet room, you need a fireplace with a capacity of 2,000 BTU. In a more extensive, 1000 square feet room, you need a fireplace with a 20,000 BTU capacity. In other words, the bigger the room, the more BTU you need to heat the room. 

BTU capacities of different types of fireplace

Knowing the different fireplaces types’ BTU capacity is very important to choose the best for your needs. The amount of BTUs of gas, wood or electric fireplace varies widely depending on its size, brand or materials. Generally speaking, a wood-burning fireplace can have a range from 20,000-40,000 BTUs. A gas fireplace can have from 8,000-60,000 BTUs. On the other hand, electric fireplaces can have 4,000-10,000 BTUs. 

Although electric fireplaces may seem to have a lower BTU, they are 100% efficient, which means all heat produced to stay in the room. On the other hand, a gas fireplace loses 20-30% of the heat due to the chimney or vent. In other words, when buying a fireplace, you have to make sure it has enough capacity to heat your room or home. 

However, there are also other factors you have to consider aside from their BTU output and capacity. The height of the ceiling of the home can significantly impact the heating capacity of your fireplace. Homes that are poorly insulated would also need a higher BTU to heat, while a well-insulated home will require less BTU. 

The layout of the rooms and walls would also be a factor and the number of windows. In other words, it’s recommended to have a fireplace that has a slightly higher BTU capacity than what is needed to have a reserve heating capacity, especially during freezing temperatures. However, having a fireplace with too much excess capacity might not be economical.