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Open wood fireplaces are notoriously inefficient averaging between -10% to +10%. By comparison the minimum energy standard for gas furnaces is now 80% and higher.

However many homes in the past were heated entirely by these fireplaces although they were required in virtually every room. Vast amounts of heat went right out the chimney with a very small amount being radiantly transmitted into the room.

When these fireplaces are actually running they consume 6 to 10 times the amount of air required for more efficient air tight wood inserts or their gas equivalents. Only a small amount is used for combustion the rest is excess air that goes right up the flue.

This can cause severe problems in homes that have had additional insulation and sealing done in them. Because of the large amount of air going out this causes the house to become lower in pressure than the outside. It the house has a gas or oil furnace and the depressurization is high enough then the exhaust fumes from the furnace can be "spilled" back into the house through the draft hood on a gas furnace or the swinging barometric damper on an oil furnace. This is a prime cause for carbon monoxide poisoning in a house.

For safety sake I would urge all people with these traditional fireplaces to invest in a $50 carbon monoxide detector. It is a small investment that could save your life.

Insert Style Fireplaces

These have been developed to reduce the problems of the above styles of fireplaces. They are much more efficient. They can control the rate of combustion hence the excess air is greatly reduced. Efficiencies range from 50% to 80%, depending on style and design.

Gas inserts are becoming very popular in urban areas. Their convenience and low labour required are winning hands down over the handling of wood and ashes it subsequently leaves. There are gas inserts to fit virtually any size fireplace opening and qualified gas dealers are licensed to install and service them.

Problems with fireplace/stoves and chimneys

A very common complaint we hear is that customers complain that a wood stove installed in the basement back drafts and smokes until the chimney gets warm then runs ok. Often people use hair dryers or stuff newspaper near flue and light it.

The reason for this lies in the location and venting into the chimney. Time and time again we see a long horizontal run of stove pipe of 6-10' outside to a tee or cleanout then insulated stainless chimney is run up the outside of the house. Having a chimney on the outside of your house is going to get you into potential problems. That combined with long horizontal runs and sharp bends in the venting cause so much function loss that the draft is reduced more than usual. Because the chimney is cold to start with (It is on the outside of the house), the cold air wants to dump out of the stove because it is heavier than the warm air in the room.

These insulated stainless wood burning chimneys were commonly installed 10 to 20 years ago to accommodate a wood stove in the basement. Placement and venting are extremely important to insure sate operation to alleviate problems encountered above. The good news that many of the gas fired products today are direct vent eliminating the need for such expensive chimneys and are much more efficient. Chimney vented gas products can also utilize existing chimneys by installing the appropriate liner inside.

With the constant pilot light which allows the unit to produce heat even with power outages, these units will provide clean comfortable heat with no smoke inherent with certain wood burning appliances.

NEXT WEEK: It's getting time to change out your furnace. What are the options that you have?

Keep sending questions and comments to: [Or e-mail glenn@comfortshoppe.com --Webmaster]
The Comfort Zone
c/o Comfort Shoppe
160 Baseline Rd. E., Bowmanville L1C 1A2