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, ive used it once but had alot of smoke coming in, was the fire not hot enough to assist in the smoke rising? is some smoke coming in normal? any tips or tricks ?
which is approximately 13 years old. (the house is 13 years old). Anyway, when I build a fire in the fireplace there is smoke in the house. What could be wrong with it? Could it be clogged up or something. It is a Marco Fireplace. Thanks
and a gas furnace through a line masonry chimney? The house we purchased has a wood stove in the basement hooked to the masonry chimney and there is another thimble that the gas appliance is hooked to. Is this ok?One reader recently asked:
Should I Install a Propane Fireplace
I presently have an electrically heated home. With the possibility of power outage especially in winter months, I am faced with no heat. My question is: Would a propane fireplace insert provide adequate heat for my home during a power outage? Secondly, is it a reasonable solution for an additional source of heat given the fluctuating price of gas?
Answer:
Your inventory indicates that you have a late 1970s single-story home of approximately 1500 - 2000 ft.. It also indicates that you have electric baseboard heat and a gas fired water heater. If the water heater is natural gas, a natural gas fireplace insert may make more sense than propane. If your water heater is propane powered, you likely already have an acceptable propane storage tank.
A propane fireplace insert would probably not provide adequate heat for the entire house during a power outage, but it would almost certainly provide enough heat to prevent freezing pipes, and it would likely provide enough heat for living and sleeping in the room containing fireplace. With a propane fireplace insert in place, you will have a hedge against soaring electrical costs. You will be able to favor propane or electricity depending on their cost per BTU of output. Bear in mind that electric heating is approximately 100% efficient.
Every BTU generated stays in the house. A propane or gas fireplace insert has an input capacity and an output capacity. The output capacity dictates how much usable heat you will get. The balance goes up the chimney. Some fireplace inserts come with limited ductwork and fans to distribute the heat. While this might help to offset high electricity costs, the electrically powered fans will be of no benefit during a power failure.
A fireplace
The fireplace damper is usually located above the actual fireplace in the throat of the chimney just above the firebox. The function of the damper is to seal the fireplace when not in use. This is important because without a proper seal, heated air from your home will escape right up the chimney. From a home efficiency standpoint, air escaping up the chimney is like throwing money out the window. An open or leaky damper can add hundreds to the cost of heating your home in the winter.
The majority of home fireplace dampers are made of metal. Properly functioning dampers should form a seal which should allow for no air to seep through. As a fireplace ages however, the metal plates that form the damper oftentimes become warped due to the effects of heat and moisture. As the seal worsens, more and more air can escape up the chimney - even if the damper is closed.
If your fireplace is more than 20 years old, it is suggested that you hire a professional to check your damper to determine its efficiency in keeping warm air in and cold air out. If the damper is not operating correctly, a new damper will save money for many years, making the investment pay off handsomely.
