How do I use my fireplace for heat?
Long ago my dad figured out that when we had a fire, we lost more heat than the fire put out. There are all sorts of inserts and things that make a fireplace work.
I'll assume you have a wood burning fireplace... Yes, they are inefficient, but you can do some things to make them more enjoyable. 'Been There' is correct about investing in a heat exchanger grill or even an insert with blowers. Open a window ONLY to get the fire started when it needs maximum fresh air. Once fire is going, close it. Burn only well seasoned wood. You can tell wood is seasoned properly by observing tiny cracks on the cut ends. (This is called 'checking'.) Burn smaller pieces first to get some coals going, then you can put on larger half-rounds. Once the fire is well caught, about 10-15 minutes after lighting and it's roaring away, start turning down the damper to slow the rate of hot air going up the chimney. Never turn it all the way down, but maybe 3/4 max. As long as smoke is going up the chimney, so is the carbon monoxide so don't worry about it. Close the damper fully ONLY when you can put your hand over the ashes and not feel any heat. Another little tip: Put hardware cloth (a wire mesh) over the cast iron grate. The mesh helps hold the coals where the wood is instead of falling through the cracks. Hope this helps.
Is your fireplace gas? Those don't put out as much heat as the regular ones that you would have to light yourself.
Do NOT close the damper. If you do that, all the smoke goes into the room. Heat exchangers, especially those with blowers on them, will heat a room more from a fireplace.
