How can I Improve Fireplace Efficiency?

I have been in the solid fuel open fire business since the 80's and have to say some of the posts here may be misleading.

There is no perfect system for all fireplaces to make the "open fire" more efficient, by the very nature of the building, chimney flue and the environment surrounding it.

A solution to one fireplace improvements could be a problem for another.

For a start, you need to know how a chimney works in terms of the combustion process and the type of fuel you use.

The appliance, or in the case of open fires, how big the throat of the flue is at point of entry into the flue itself, knowing the bigger the throat the more wasted heat you will have.

Next comes the flue itself, and if you have a damper control in it (already built into most stoves and cookers).

Finally, the air supply for the combustion process in the fire ad correctly stated above would require underfloor local air feed under or very close to the fireplace for maximum benefit. (Baxi used to do it years ago.)

Recent developments with retro fit chimney flue dampers are having a big impact on open fireplaces. The best device of all is a simple plug to stop heat being sucked out of an unused fireplace and which is clearly indicated with a drop cord for safety reasons. --Patrick G

Professional chimney sweeps sell radiant firebacks. They push heat into the room the fireplace is in up to 20 percent.

Fitting a Windkat to your flue has been proven to increase fireplace and stove efficiency by between 5 percent and 20 percent. The effectiveness of the Windkat Chimney Pot at promoting a constant even draw has been confirmed by the Environmental Agency of Bavaria in Germany.

@write79: Well, that would be the opposite of what this article says, if you keep doors closed while having a fire.

@calpat: I would be careful using sappy wood like pine all of the time. It creates lots of build up inside your chimney, called creosote, which, unless you have a pro clean your chimney at least one time per year, it can cause a chimney fire. I've successfully used hard woods like maple, black cherry, etc., but I realize in different parts of the country hard woods to burn are difficult to find, like in New Mexico, etc.

All in all, my main question is: If you don't have doors or an insert, or stove, (I have a plain old fireplace with a screen), is having a fire burning even efficient? Someone told me having a fire burning on a cold day is like having a window open, and makes the rest of the house colder. True?

I think that a lot of times fireplace efficiency has to do with the kind of wood you burn as well. For instance, if you want a long, steady burn then you need to go with thick, soft, sappy woods like pine.

Using woods like this can keep your fire burning at a more constant temperature without you having to babysit it all the time, and can improve efficiency as well.

@anon145449 -- What kind of fireplace doors do you have? I have glass ones and I've read that it can actually be dangerous to keep them closed all the time. In fact, I read that keeping glass fireplace doors closed while a fire is burning could, over time, cause damage to the glass, due to the extreme heat. If you have these kinds of doors, then your instructions for the glass door set are likely to include a warning to keep the doors open while a fire is burning.

I wonder if i should have the fireplace doors open or closed while i have a fire, if i also have a blower attached to the fireplace. please respond if you have an idea.