On a cold winter night, there’s nothing quite as comforting as having a roaring fire in your fireplace. But if your fireplace is drafty or doesn’t offer much heat for your home, it leaves a lot to be desired. The good news is that you don’t have to put up with an inefficient fireplace anymore. Follow these tips as we show you how to increase the efficiency of your fireplace. 

When There Is No Fire Burning

• Close the damper. Your fireplace damper is designed to prevent air from escaping from inside your home. Shutting the damper when your fireplace is not in use, reduces heat loss. 
• Have your chimney cleaned each year. Soot buildup can have an impact on how efficiently your fire burns. In fact, even a small amount of buildup can significantly reduce heating efficiency. An annual chimney cleaning helps remove that buildup and allows your fire to burn more efficiently all season long.
• Keep fireplace doors closed. This prevents a draft. If you don’t have doors, consider installing them and ensure that they seal so that air can’t escape. 

While A Fire Is Burning

• Use dry, seasoned firewood in your fireplace. Freshly cut wood has a lot of moisture in it. Wet wood doesn’t burn well and will likely produce a lot of smoke. Instead, use dry wood since it will burn for a longer period of time and will burn hotter.
• Install an insert. A fireplace insert will help corral the heat and disperse it into your living room. 
• Decrease the temperature of your furnace. A burning fire will draw the air from a room. If your furnace is cranked up, you’re paying to heat air that is being pulled out of your living room. Once you light your fireplace, lower the temperature setting for your furnace. 
• Install a grate in your fireplace. Fires thrive on good airflow. A fireplace grate and well stacked firewood allows air to properly circulate and fuel the fire. 
• Close bedroom and bathroom doors in your home. Your fireplace is working hard to pump out heat to your living room. At the same time, the heat is rising if you have a multi-story home. Or, it’s traveling to rooms that aren’t occupied at that time. Don’t allow heat from your fireplace to go to waste. Instead, close doors to bedrooms and bathrooms. This will help keep the heat from your fireplace focused in your living room rather than throughout the rest of your home.

Increase The Efficiency Of Your Fireplace

If your fireplace’s output could use a boost, it’s time to call IHT Hot Tubs & Fireplaces. If you want to add a fireplace to your home, we’d be happy to help you find the best option for your home. We have a wide range of gas, electric and wood burning fireplaces, including Kozy Heat®. Our selection doesn’t stop at fireplaces, though. We offer a selection of new and used hot tubs, including Hot Spring® or Caldera® spas as well as Endless Pools® swim spas. Give us a call today at 303-296-7727 to learn about our selection and ask for a free quote.