Comments on: How much does a fireplace actually heat your home, will it emit enough heat to keep surrounding area warm?

By: ANDREW G

ANDREW G — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:25:23 +0000

I live in Cornwall England, and we only have an open fire to heat our room, ( very rural area ) open fires are very effective, We run 4 radiators and heat the water from ours.

By: H 5

H 5 — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 04:23:55 +0000

I have one at my house!
Yes.
It will emit enough heat to keep surrounding area warm

By: Nate_82

Nate_82 — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:35:37 +0000

Um, fireplaces were originally invented to heat rooms - not to be a decorative feature. Old houses have fireplaces in each room - much the way newer houses have a heat vent or radiator in each room. They were simply heating devices.

The amount of heat put out depends on A LOT of things. The size of the firebox matters. Bigger fireplaces can accommodate bigger fires, which produce more heat. The design of the fireplace makes a difference too. The walls and back of the fireplace reflect heat into the room, and a fireplace with optimal angles will throw out more heat than a poorly designed one. Also, the size of the room relative to the fireplace makes a big difference too. Some fireplaces have an electric fan with vents that you can turn on that blow air over hot bricks in the fireplace and vent it into the room - adding to the efficiency.

Beware - if you’ve never had a fireplace before, be sure the damper is open, if your fireplace has one. Stick your head in the fireplace and look up. If there’s a lever, try moving it. That’s the damper. Also, crack open a window to let in air. As the fireplace burns, hot air goes up the chimney. That air comes from the room. If there’s not a window slightly open, there wont be enough air available, and smoke will billow into the room. Bad news.

Honestly, if you’re asking a question like this, be sure you have a fire extinguisher around.

By: Brian A

Brian A — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 02:19:32 +0000

It depends on how the fireplace is constructed. A regular masonry fireplace will probably suck more heat up the flue than it will put out. It’s not to say that it won’t get that room toasty warm, but it will make the rest of the house colder. A fireplace with a metal firebox with ventilation around it and and outside air source can be a net positive.

By: cher bear

cher bear — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:37:14 +0000

My 90 year old uncle and my 80 year old father both have said there is nothing like heat from a fireplace or wood stove. Meaning it will keep you warmer than a central furnace.

By: brenbren

brenbren — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:30:19 +0000

hey no its not a stupid question a fire place will heat that room and more if that room is not to big if you have ceiling fans this will help our try turning on your fan only on your central unit that will help but wait till the room with fire place heat up first hope this helps you oh by the way make sure the dapper is open

By: Mike G

Mike G — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 04:45:59 +0000

depends on the fire place and the spce of the room you are in. You need to burn fire wood that has cured over the summer and winter, burning green cut logs will not give off the heat you are looking for. Heat rises so if you have a ceiling fan in the room turn it on lower counter clockwise to circulate the air

By: PQ

PQ — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:40:26 +0000

If you get a good three log fire going the room with the fireplace should be very comfortable as long as it’s not as big as a gynasium.

By: Albus D

Albus D — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:18:07 +0000

Science: the finer your fire wood is, the better and fiercer it burns, thus warmer