how do i get the most heat from my fireplace ?
A metal backing (shiny) behind the fire will help project more heat outside the fireplace itself.
You might try installing heatolaters. These are metal, curved tubes, that run from the top to the bottom of your fireplace. A hollow C-curved pipe standing upright. They suck in the cool air from the floor, and as it rises, it gets heated. it then comes out of the top of the pipes, as warm air. I once had a fireplace that had them built into the sides. They actually made the room too warm.
Short of adding an expensive fan powered fireplace insert, there is a type of log grate you can buy that is made of tubing which is supposed to direct warm air into the room. Using a glass fireplace screen will cause your fire to burn more slowly and heat the mass wall (brick or stone) and hearth longer. Depending on your fireplace, there are heat exchangers (some which are fan powered) that connect into the flue pipe to recover some heat lost up the chimney. These are relatively inexpensive and a good chioce for fireplaces with an exposed flue like the type on a wood stove. Since winter air is usually drier, humidification is a very good way to get more from your fireplace. Simply put, moist air requires more energy to warm but it also holds heat longer. Moist air also feels warmer than dry air and is better for the lungs. Something simple as putting a pan of water on or near the fireplace will help, they sell very nice humidifier pots as well. Adding a humidifier to your furnace or a stand alone unit are also good options.
