How efficient are fireplaces for house heat?

[Betho]

OK so we're about to move into a rental house... it's got oil heat and also a fireplace. We want to use wood as much as possible to heat the house when the cold weather comes, but aren't fireplaces really inefficient? We've got an endless supply of firewood, so the supply itself isn't a problem (my family has 120 acres of woods/mountains). I've often heard fireplaces are really mostly just for show. Is that true? I'm mostly just curious to see whether or not we'll be able to lower our oil heat usage by using it or not.

[Beaners]

Fireplaces are inefficient, but better than nothing. I've been reading a little bit about them lately. The key is to prevent heat loss when you aren't burning a fire, and maximize the heat radiation when you are burning. Flues, doors in front of the fireplaces, and firebacks are all pretty common recommendations. This article had some good information. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...51C1A9659C8B63

Kayleigh

[neolady]

If you really want to make that inefficient fireplace work for you, install a used hearthmount or insert stove and the appropriate liner (take them with you when you move if you want). Fireplaces literally suck the heat out of the rest of the home unless you close the doors off. They will supply you with radiant heat in the immediate front of the fireplace. You would likely be further ahead to block off the fireplace flue than to use the fireplace for heat. You can block the flue off very easily and cheaply by stuffing pink fiberglass into plastic garbage bags and stuff those into and above the damper. HOWEVER MAKE SURE THAT YOU REMOVE THEM BEFORE MOVING OUT OR SOME POOR GUY IS GOING TO HAVE ONE HECK OF A MESS!!!

[KindredSpirit]

You could install a fireplace insert and then take it with you when you move back out. They are pretty efficient. At least as efficient as a wood burning stove.

http://www.vermontcastings.com/conte...egory=11&sc=13

[vicker]

It really depends on your fireplace. If it is brick, stone, or rock and massive the mass hold and distibutes heat in a very nice way. Many modern fire places are more efficient burning, but lack the heat mass as they have done away with the stone or rock work. An insert will improve things considerably.
An insert in an old stone fireplace rocks, paticularly if your bedroom is on the other side of the chimney

[diane]

First off, be absolutely certain that the fireplace chimney is safe and clean. Sometimes landlords don't bother to tell you that fireplace really doesn't work until AFTER you have paid your deposit and moved in. An insert would be a good thought, but if the chimney is no good you would be at risk for a house fire.

When I was a single parent with three small children I lived in a house briefly with a fireplace. It was a big brick thing with lots of thermal mass. We made it most of a winter with just the fireplace by hanging blankets over the doors to the rest of the house and just living in the two rooms closest to the fireplace.

[haypoint]

Due to the large flue in most fireplaces and little way to limit the draw, most fireplaces are a beautiful, romantic waste of firewood. Not only does most of the heat escape up the flue, it draws warm air from the house and takes it up the chimney with it. When you try to damper it down to limit burning or slow the escape of all the heat, you get a smoky house. A massive stone or brick fireplace will absorb some of the fire's heat, but most of the heat will escape right up the flue. There are exceptions with fireplaces designed to circulate the smoke/heat, but most are just for looks. A fireplace insert that allows the use of an airtight stove is one way to get some heat.

[vallyfarm]

Put in an insert or a free standing wood stove into the fireplace and you can heat the whole house for just a few dollars for chain, gas and oil. A fireplace will use at least 4x's as much wood for a lot less heat. Mike

[clovis]

I think I would have it inspected before I lit the first fire.

I have seen fireplaces built that would heat a house easily, and other FP that wouldn't warm a dog house.

I would buy an insert. It will pay off much better. Ebay or craigslist for a good used one???

Clove

[rambler]

Inspected for sure......

The problem with a fireplace is they leak air up the chimney all the time - being used or not. If you don't use it, your warm air is escaping. If you do use it, many designs allow 80% of the heat to go up the chimney, while cold air is being drawn into your room to replace the air going up the chimney.

Sealing off the chimney with a front plate might save you more on your heating bill than actually using it.

Installing an efficient insert that allows for outside replacement air, and throws heat out into the room, but seals off the chimney when not in use, would offer you a lot of wood heat without the pitfalls. However they are not cheap to do it right. Basically they turn the fireplace into a small wood stove independent of the room, so you gain 50-70% of the heat from burning your wood, but lose very little heat up the chimney nor cold air flow into the room from the corners.

On a rental, that is a tough call.

--->Paul

[tamsam]

Ok here is what I did when I had a fireplace. It would get really hot in the room with the fire place and cool in the rest of the house. After thinking things out I figured that an insert really restricted the air being drawn out the chimney. I went to a sheet metal shop and had a 11gauge sheet cut about 6 inches larger than the opening to the fireplace. This was a good sized fireplace with a nice hearth that went the length of the wall the fireplace was on and the hearth came out about 3 ft. I would get my fire going and slide the sheet medal behind the fire screen {I forgot to say that I had handles put on it} and thus cutting the air down and controling the fire. That sheet of medal would get really hot and put off a lot of heat so I would set a fan to blow the heat out into the rest of the house. After a good nights burn the brick would stay warm for most of the day the next day. Hope this helps and gives you some ideas to use the fire place. Sam
PS stay warm

[Terri]

I remember when the ice storm in the midwest cut our power off for 3 days. Of course that meant the blower in the fireplace did not work, either.

I measured the temps in the back bedroom: They dropped at the same rate during the day (firplace was running) and during the night (fireplace was out).

Filling the tub with hot water and leaving it was a MUCH more effective way of heating the place!

So, we sore our winter clothes inside unless we were right in front of the fireplace. It was 75 in front of the fireplace, perhaps 50 in the back bedroom, and 30 outside.

Would you consider one of those outdoor wood heaters?

[Jenn]

Originally Posted by tamsam

Ok here is what I did when I had a fireplace. It would get really hot in the room with the fire place and cool in the rest of the house. After thinking things out I figured that an insert really restricted the air being drawn out the chimney. I went to a sheet metal shop and had a 11gauge sheet cut about 6 inches larger than the opening to the fireplace. This was a good sized fireplace with a nice hearth that went the length of the wall the fireplace was on and the hearth came out about 3 ft. I would get my fire going and slide the sheet medal behind the fire screen {I forgot to say that I had handles put on it} and thus cutting the air down and controling the fire. That sheet of medal would get really hot and put off a lot of heat so I would set a fan to blow the heat out into the rest of the house. After a good nights burn the brick would stay warm for most of the day the next day. Hope this helps and gives you some ideas to use the fire place. Sam
PS stay warm

At one place we did this- can't recall if we ever even used the fireplace- but made a steel plate with handles to fit right into the opening.

[brreitsma]

We have a fire place and I was wondering with the chimney already there if you could just slip in a more efficent wood stove and use it.

[SunRiverMan]

The wood stove is the way to go. I have all the old parts and can put them back if I ever sell my house. Chimney inspection is important. Installation can be done buy you fairly easy. You can pay if you want to, but there is not much to it. Here is mine. It was a well appreciated gift. SRM out!






My dog likes her picture taken.

[ericjeeper]

You buy anything for HIS house. Have to think of it as if you owned it and were renting it out.
He might even let you have a new insert professionally installed and take part of it off your monthly rent.,
Then when you vacate the insert and any modifications done to his chimney will remain intact in his house.

[SunRiverMan]

That may be true. A wood stove insert might change his insurance. You better get permission first for your sake. If no permission I would just not use the fire place. Bummer! SRM out.

[RenieB]

My son bought a home a few years back with a beautiful fireplace but he never could get much heat from it. He has ordered a fireplace insert stove with a blower that should give him plenty of heat. There are fireplaces that are more efficient, daughter has one in her home but I am not sure of the type it is.

RenieB