Q: How can I get more heat out of my wood burning fireplace during use? – SB
A: We already went over some ways to improve your fireplace’s efficiency while it is dormant and not being used. Let review some steps on how a person can get more useful BTUs from their fireplace during the burn. I will rank the improvements in estimated efficiency and cost.
1) Burn Dry Wood:
You would be surprised how much energy and BTUs are robbed from a fire if you are using under seasoned wood. Most hard woods will properly dry after 24 months of being stacked in a dry environment with at least some air circulation (ie a yard shed or a garage. Some more dense and sappy wood can take longer. I had some small Cherry wood logs in my shed for 16 months that was still not ready to burn. Some red oak was stacked next to the cherry wood and seasoned for the same amount of time, to it that was all set to go. Wood that has too much moisture tends to bubble and sizzle when burned and also it creates a terrible moist creosote collection that is hard on your chimney. It often also makes the room smell bad after it is burned and occasionally it will not burn all the way down to ashes.
Efficiency increase: up to $15 percent
Cost: $0 just takes some time.2) Iron Firebacks
Iron Firebacks have been used to cast radiant heat from a fireplace into a room for centuries. Some more recent developments in stainless steel have some manufacturers making lightweight stainless firebacks that work the same as their heavy antique counterparts do. Firebacks work in two ways they retain and release heat after the fire has gone down. and they help to reflect heat outward during the warmest part of the burn. They are not terribly effective at real energy savings but they are certainly better than nothing.
Effectiveness: 5% to 7% increase in useful BTUs
Cost: $200-$300 shipped.3) Heatalators
This is a brand name for a product that is made by many different manufacturers and often referred to as a great heater. The concept is usually the same though. Some steel tubes with an internally mounted fan are mounted or set in the fireplace around the location of the burn. The tubes heat during the burn and a fan blow the heated air through the tubes and out into the room. They are mildly effective at harnessing the BTUs that the fire would normally spit out the chimney. They also allow a person to keep the glass doors of the fireplace closed and still enjoy the heat of the fire.
Efficiency: increase 15%-25% useful BTUs
Cost: $300-$600
Learn more about how to save energy when your fireplace is dormant: http://www.chimneyballoonusa.com/blog/2007/01/how_can_i_help_.html