A couple things you may not know

By: Lori Einhorn

The recent weeks have given way to the very typical crisp fall nights we experience in Bell Canyon.  Reaching the lower 30′s on some nights, some families enjoy curling up next to a rolling fire after an exhausting day of work.  Believe me, I know the feeling.  However, I am here to tell you that the fireplace is one of the most inefficient heat source you can use.  If you use your conventional fireplace while your central heater is in use, these tips can help preserve some energy:

* If you never use your fireplace, plug and seal the chimney flue.
* Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is going. Keeping the damper open is like keeping a 48-inch window wide open during the winter; it allows warm air to go right up the chimney.
* When you use the fireplace, reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window slightly – approximately 1 inch – and close doors leading into the room. Lower the thermostat setting to between 50° and 55°F.
* Install tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system that blows warmed air back into the room.
* Check the seal on the flue damper and make it as snug as possible.
Add caulking around the fireplace hearth.
* Use grates made of C-shaped metal tubes to draw cool room air into the fireplace and circulate warm air back into the room.When you cozy up next to a crackling fire on a cold winter day, you probably don’t realize that your fireplace is one of the most inefficient heat sources you can possibly use. It literally sends your energy dollars right up the chimney along with volumes of warm air. A roaring fire can exhaust as much as 24,000 cuthrough your chimney. If you use your conventional fireplace while your central heating system is on, these tips can help reduce energy losses.

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