It’s safe to say we’re in the thick of a Minnesotan winter. We all know there’s a direct correlation between our heating bills and how cold it is outside. Fireplaces have been keeping people warm for centuries, but in recent years the fireplace has come under scrutiny as a money-waster.
Turns out there’s really no evidence to support this claim, other than people believing that since fireplaces are old and traditional, they must be inefficient. Well, that’s actually not the case.
Read on for tips about how to make a fireplace part of a modern home that will save you money on your winter heating bills.
Maximize your fireplace’s heat potential by closing the doors to other rooms in your home.
Ideally, your fireplace resides in a central area of your home. While it burns, the fireplace pulls heat from other areas in your home to help fuel the burn. In doing so, it can pull heat away from other rooms where the fireplace isn’t located. This will cause your heating system to work harder to heat those other rooms, and it could be a reason why some people say fireplaces are inefficient or outdated.
To prevent a drop in temperature in these other areas of your home, make sure to close the doors to the rooms outside the immediate radius of the fireplace. While it may sound counterintuitive, this will actually help keep the home centrally heated.
Gas or wood?
Gas and wood fireplaces both have their pros and cons.
Gas fireplaces are easy to start, and you don’t need to worry about the flame dying out or needing to be prodded or fed more wood.
However, the price to run a gas fireplace can quickly add up, and it will come down to what type of gas fuels the fireplace. In general, propane can be expensive, but it also can put out twice the amount of heat. It really depends on where you’re buying propane to determine which type of gas will be best for your wallet long-term.
Wood-burning fireplaces are naturally less expensive to run, especially if you can harvest the wood for free from your own property. The only downside is having to clean up the fireplace after each use, as the burning will leave soot and ash behind.
Ceiling fans aren’t just for cooling down.
You know that switch on your fan that reverses the way the blades spin? No? Well, your ceiling fan likely has a setting that reverses the direction its blades spin. One side of the switch causes the fan to cool, and the other side of the switch reverses the direction of the blades, causing the fan to distribute warm air down, rather than cool the room.
Because warm air rises, using fans for circulation is a great way to spread the heat generated by your fireplace.
With proper use and maintenance, fireplaces can help save hundreds of dollars on your winter energy bills, especially when combined with energy-efficient windows to keep the heat in.
Want to learn how to make your home more energy efficient with home improvement materials or remodeling services? Contact us today at 612-261-0437 or complete the form below for a free consultation.
