Don’t Burn Up Heat in the Fireplace

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If you use an old-fashioned fireplace, you can do a few things to improve its efficiency:

Close the damper when you’re not using it. As soon as the fire has burned out, close the flue. An open damper lets the heated indoor air travel right out of your house.

Update your fireplace with tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system that blows warm air back into the room.

Replace the seals around your fireplace flue damper. Loose seals can let heat leave the house even when the damper is closed.

Insulate your chimney. A chimney liner helps prevent buildup and can protect masonry from the corrosive byproducts of flue gases.

Call a chimney sweep. An annual inspection and cleaning keeps a fireplace functioning safely and more efficiently.

If you don’t use your fireplace, it might be tempting to have the flue sealed and to put in an electric log set instead. That would eliminate drafts, but it might be a good idea to leave fireplaces functional in case you need heat in an emergency.