Today we will be discussing the various ways you can transform a masonry fireplace into a better heat-producing fireplace. We will also share the best way to start a fire using the top down burn method.
https://youtu.be/d05uIeXqSEo?si=07uMwYHx7eaAyQzY
Is Your Fireplace Cold & Drafty? Here Are Some Drafty Fireplace Solutions.
First inspect the flue and ensure it is sparged smooth with a good conical shape for smooth laminar exhaust flow. As covered in the video above.
Homeowners who struggle with a cold and drafty or worse yet smoky fireplace usually are operating a traditional open masonry fireplace. These fireplaces are notorious for allowing cold air into the house and sending warm air outside. If this is a challenge you’re facing, you’ll be glad to know there are some good drafty fireplace solutions. Let’s look at a few of them.
Fireplace insert
CFI & Q style Fireplace inserts: One way to eliminate cold drafts from your masonry fireplace is to add a powerful new fireplace insert. Factory built and beautiful to look at, fireplace inserts are installed inside the firebox of a masonry fireplace and can run on wood, gas or pellets.
The advantage of an insert is that it retains approximately 85% or more of the heat it produces and makes that heat available inside the home. Compare that to 10% or 20% heat-retention by a open masonry fireplace. A closed-combustion system allows the insert to keep drafts out of your home and gives you more warmth than any open fireplace system.
Stopping the cold air
If you prefer to continue using your masonry fireplace, there are several ways to stop or reduce its draftiness.
Inspect your dampers: Have a professional check out your throat damper to make sure it’s not rusted or warped. If it’s damaged, it can be replaced – or you can have an efficient top-sealing damper installed at the top of the chimney. A faulty damper is a sure-fire way to bring cold air into your home.
Add fireplace doors & a 1Q, 2Q, OR 3Q fireplace grate heater: A handsome set of sturdy fireplace doors on top of a Q style fireplace grate will create a great seal when the fireplace isn’t in use. Doors keep the drafts out and keep warm air in, plus they bring an elegant aesthetic to your home.
Add a fireback: A fireback is a plate of metal that sits inside the firebox. When a fire is going, the fireback absorbs huge amounts of heat and radiates some of that heat back into the room as FAR infrared light, increasing the warming efficiency of your fireplace.
Install a fireplace heater: Fireplace grate heaters bring interior air into the device, warm it and then send it back into the room. A good grate heater can nullify many of the effects of a drafty fireplace.
