Many homeowners do not want to be reliant on energy prices to keep their houses warm in the winter. And if you have a fireplace or wood stove in your home or are considering getting one, you're undoubtedly wondering if you can use it to heat the entire house like a central air and heating system.
Once upon a time, the primary heat sources were fireplaces and wood stoves. However, it was also when families spent most of their time living in the same house. Families today are more dispersed. You have mom and dad sitting in the living room while the kids are upstairs watching TV and playing video games, and you want to keep everyone warm and comfortable.
Can you use a fireplace or a wood stove to heat your entire house? Yes, but only with a little assistance.
Fireplace
Best wood burning fireplace insert are notoriously inefficient for home heating, but with a few easy adjustments, you can boost the heat output and distribute it more evenly throughout your home. The first step is to raise the temperature. This can be accomplished by putting in a fireback and glass fireplace doors. The fireback is a plate of iron that is attached to the back of the firebox. It will radiate heat outwards into the living room when it gets hot. The radiating heat will be amplified even more by the glass doors.
The next stage is to circulate the hot air throughout the residence. Thankfully, heat rises naturally to the top. You can use the fan setting if you have a central heating system. This will disperse the hot air around the house through the vents. Another alternative is to reverse the direction of your ceiling fans. It will draw warm air upwards and circulate it throughout the house.
Fireplace Insert
Consider installing a fireplace insert if the heat from your fireplace isn't enough for you. Fireplace inserts are similar to heating stoves in that they can be installed directly into an existing masonry fireplace. Additionally, EPA-certified devices have a heating efficiency of up to 70% to 80%. If you want to distribute the heat throughout your home, make sure to include a blower motor in your insert. You can circulate the warm air through the existing floor or ceiling air vents to the other rooms by using ceiling fans or your central heating fan.
Wood Stove
A wood stove can also be used to heat your entire home. The heating stove should ideally be placed in the basement or the property's lowest floor. After that, a wood stove fan is put on top of the stove to force warm air through an air vent and distribute it around your home.
Before making any changes to your home heating system, always consult with your chimney sweep. Your chimney sweep will make sure that your entire home heating system meets local construction laws and requirements.
How to Start a Fire in a Stove or Wood Insert
Starting a fire in a wood stove or insert correctly is a science that the typical person is unaware of. Good fires begin slowly and grow in size as they sit. Don't just toss in a match with the logs; learn how to do it properly!
Seasoning
Dry and seasoned wood is the ideal type of wood to use in a wood-burning fireplace. The fire should burn cleanly, with predominantly heat and a small quantity of smoke. Seasoned wood is typically used indoors, although it is also used outside for bonfires and fire pits. Because it has been devoid of moisture, seasoned wood is very light, and this is the sort you want to use. A dense log will be more difficult to light and produce a lot of smoke.
Before Lighting
Because it is dry, thin, and combustible, the newspaper is the greatest material for igniting a fire. Magazines and catalogs should not be used because they are made of thicker paper and contain harmful chemicals to inhale. Before laying down the wood, scrunch up the newspaper and make a layer of it at the bottom of the stove. When laying the fire, use split logs rather than round logs. Split wood is easier to light, and round logs can be added after the fire has been lit.
Stacking the Wood
Try to lay the wood in a Jenga pattern, with the first layer of logs stacked vertically with some space between them. Alternate between vertical and horizontal placements until all of the wood you want is in place. This causes the flames to rise slowly rather than all at once. A teepee-style wood construction quickly catches fire, which is the last thing you want. A longer-lasting fire can be achieved by stacking them in a Jenga-style manner. Wood chips should also be added to the top and bottom of your wood stack.
Lighting Your Fire
Check that your stove is configured to allow the most amount of air into its box before you begin the fire. Because flames are drawn to oxygen, you'll want it to get in. While everything settles, light the newspaper you placed on the stove and leave the door open for 5 minutes or less. If you close the door too soon after igniting the fire, it could go out. When using a wood-burning insert, make sure the vent is open and that the fire is allowed to rise. Before closing your insert fully, leave the screen or doors open for a few moments.
