The soothing crackles, the aroma of burning wood and the warmth of roaring flames emanating from a traditional wood-burning fireplace project a cozy feeling throughout the room on those cold days and nights. But as ambient as an open fireplace is, unfortunately as much as 85% of the heat generated goes out the chimney leading many homeowners to pile on the blankets or use supplemental heating to keep warm.
The good news is that you don’t have to give up on your fireplace. Here are four options for creating a more energy efficient fireplace that will keep you warmer and reduce energy costs. Plus they’re better for the environment, too.
With nearly 99% of the energy used for heat, you can’t beat the efficiency of electric fireplace inserts. These self-contained heating appliances are designed to fit right inside an existing masonry fireplace and have the look and feel of a traditional fireplace. But instead of using wood or gas, it plugs into a conventional power outlet. It heats up the room quickly and there is no smoke. Newer models use environmentally friendly LED technology for heating with no greenhouse gas pollution.
If going electric is a bit too drastic, gas fireplace inserts is an energy-efficient fireplace option that converts about 75% to 80% of consumed energy into heat, according to Houselogic. One of the big advantages of this clean fuel option is that you have the ambiance of burning flames associated with a traditional fireplace experience without the smoke or creosote. It’s also a powerful heating source that can keep a 1,000 square foot room warm and toasty all season long.
While not as efficient as gas, wood-burning fireplace inserts provide the traditionalist with the best of both worlds: an authentic wood-burning experience and less wasted energy. In fact, EPA-certified models are 50% more energy efficient, consume less fuel and create less creosote than traditional wood-burning fireplaces. And a pellet wood option makes it even more convenient with its ability to provide continuous heat in a practically hands free operation.
What’s great about fireplace inserts is that they are designed to fit right inside your existing fireplace. And because they are self-contained heating appliances, they can be installed practically anywhere even in rooms without an existing fireplace. Vent-free models don’t even require a chimney.
But if you can’t resist a more efficient yet traditional fireplace experience, then a Rumford fireplace retrofit that combines old-world charm with modern engineering is the way to go. Based on the original design invented by Count Rumford in the 18th century, these wood-burning fireplaces are making a historic comeback. Its ingenious tall and shallow firebox design with a slim throat sends smoke through the chimney while naturally radiating more heat throughout the space with little wasted energy.
Contact your FyrePro specialist today to learn more about the wonderful energy efficient fireplace options that are available for your home.