I thought I’d post a series of (short) articles on energy-efficiency now that our Northeast winter is just around the corner.

My first topic will be that of FIREPLACES.

Most buyers hope or ask for a fireplace when purchasing a home.  The Lancaster PA Real Estate market loves a fireplace!  Of course, most newer homes have the “direct vent” kind where the firebox (the place where the “logs” are behind glass) is sealed and there is no heat-loss issue.  The majority of homes in Lancaster County, though have the good old-fashioned chimney variety using either wood or gas logs.

Isn’t it nice to snuggle up in front of a crackling fireplace?  Unfortunately, fireplaces are a key area of heat loss in the winter months and need to be dealt with to avoid losing lots of $$ up the chimney.  Basically, having a chimney flue cracked open is akin to leaving a window open in the cold – not a pretty picture.  Worse yet, a roaring fire exhausts hot air from your home up & away to the tune of 24,000 cubic feet per hour – air your heating system has worked to warm!  Of course, cold air needs to come in to replace the lost air and your thermostat will struggle to keep up with the demand for warm air across the first floor…

To minimize the the energy loss from your chimneyed fireplace think about the following:

1) Keep that flue damper closed tightly when not in use! Most of us (myself included) tend to forget this – in fact, some older chimneys may even have a screw-on flue piece that holds it open constantly.  My house had one of the those when I bought it.  They do come off, however.

2) When you are using the fireplace, try to get the cold air source as close to the firebox as possible – if you have a bottom damper on the firebox, use it.  Otherwise crack a window close to the fireplace and close the doors to the rest of the house.  Chances are your fireplace doesn’t heat much more than the room it’s in anyway…

3) Purchase and install glass doors made for fireplaces – they are made with small air inlets at the floor level, which sucks up the coolest air in the room.  Some door systems have a heat-air exchange feature that blows warm air back into the room.   Be sure the glass door frame is sealed around the sides & top!

4) Make sure the flue damper seal is still good – bits of wood or other debris could impede a solid seal.

5) Hey, if you never use your fireplace seal it up! Plug the chimney and seal the flue tight.

Using some common sense and preventative measures can save you lost heating $$ up in smoke this winter.  Enjoy your fireplace responsibly!