Fireplace Efficiency

Overview: The traditional wood burning fireplace is very inefficient. Fireplace efficiency can be improved with a fireplace insert.

Fireplace efficiency is based on the amount of heat lost from the total BTUs generated by the fire. Most wood burning fireplaces loose 50-80% of the heat up the chimney. However, your fireplace efficiency can be increased as much as 20-30% simply by installing glass doors and 20 to 40 % if your fireplace is a heatalator fireplace. If you want a truly efficient wood burning fireplace you have to install a wood burning insert. This is basically a wood burning stove that is meant to slide into your fireplace opening. Most units come with a blower for optimal heat distribution. A fireplace insert will increase the fireplace efficiency up to 80%, meaning that 80% of the BTU that is generated can be used to heat your home.

If you have fireplace doors installed check to see if they are operating properly. If the fire flames up more when you close the doors than it does when they are open, it is time for new fireplace doors because they are leaking around the door seal. The doors are meant to cut down on the oxygen flow to the fire, making it burn longer and allowing the firebox to collect heat. Good quality fireplace doors can cost from $200-$400 depending on the trim package selected. Most are adjustable with insulation around the outside edge of the frame to prevent air leakage into the firebox when closed

Installing a wood burning fireplace insert is a great alteration to a wood burning fireplace to gain efficiency. Fireplace wood inserts vary in price from $500-$3000, depending on the style and other accessories. I recommend as a minimum that you include a blower to gain the maximum amount of efficiency from the fireplace. If you don’t want the mess of burning wood, gas burning inserts are available. They are also a great alteration to a fireplace but burning gas, especially LP, is more costly than burning wood.

See: Fireplace and Woodstove Safety