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How to get more heat from a gas fireplace
Gas fireplaces will not completely heat a room if the system type or BTU rating is not suitable to the space in which they are located. Solutions such as blowers, gas inserts and heat exchangers can be used to optimize the heat released by a gas fireplace.
If your gas fireplace is not completely heating the room, you may be wondering if this is abnormal. Can these devices be used to heat an entire room or even as the main heat source throughout the house? And if yours doesn't produce as much heat, why not?
How can you solve this problem? Let's explore these questions and many more.
The average gas insert or gas fireplace is capable of heating an entire room thanks to its high efficiency. On the other hand, decorative gas log sets usually don't produce enough heat to be felt throughout the space.
The answer to this question depends on the type of gas fireplace you have. /p>
Gas log sets reside inside your home's existing fireplace and use the fireplace for ventilation. They provide the same ambiance as a fireplace with flames and warmth if you sit directly in front of it.
Unfortunately, these appliances are not very efficient because most of the heat produced will go up the chimney instead of reaching the corners further than your room. On the other hand, gas inserts and fireplaces are self-contained units that can heat a room much more efficiently than gas log sets. Most of the heat produced by a gas fireplace will be released into your home rather than the fireplace.
Every gas fireplace comes with a supplied BTU rating which describes the maximum amount of heat produced by a given appliance. This value, along with the efficiency, determines the amount of heat that actually reaches your home. But how much energy does it take to heat your room to a comfortable temperature? It depends on many factors that vary from house to house. There are many tools like BTU calculators to help you figure this out.
The average size of a living room, family, and bedroom, according to the National Home Builders Association, ranges from 250 to 500 square feet. Even small gas fireplaces should be able to heat rooms of this size. However, other factors can affect this ability.
The ability of a gas fireplace to heat your room depends on factors such as insulation and the climate around your home. If your home is not well insulated, it will be colder inside and your chimney will have to work harder to bring the interior to a comfortable temperature.
You need to provide more heat even if you live in a harsh climate rather than a temperate one.
In addition, the layout of your home, including walls and doors, will redirect circulation and determine how far your chimney's heat reaches. If your room or home is difficult to heat due to any of the factors mentioned, you can choose a fireplace with a higher BTU rating to ensure that the desired areas are fully heated.
You can use a gas fireplace as your main fireplace. . Heat source ?
Using a gas fireplace as the primary heat source rather than central heating or a furnace is an economical and energy efficient solution.
Gas fireplaces can be used as the primary source of heat to zone a home. Zone heating is the strategy of heating only a few areas so that unused rooms are not heated unnecessarily.
It should be noted that compared to central heating or the oven, using a fireplace to heat the whole house is not efficient. The heat from the fireplace has to travel very long distances and is not practical. However, practicing zone heating and using the gas fireplace as the primary heat source will help reduce energy consumption and bills.
Not all gas fireplaces can be used as the primary heat source. As mentioned above, gas log sets don't even produce enough heat to fully heat a room. Unvented gas fireplaces are very efficient because all the heat stays in the room. However, these units are not safe for continued use as they allow combustion products to enter the room. Water vapor inside your home promotes the growth of mold and carbon dioxide and monoxide fumes. They can be toxic in sufficient quantities.
Ventless gas fireplaces cannot heat your home for more than two hours at a time, making them unreliable as a primary heat source.
On the other hand, direct vent fireplaces blow all harmful fumes outside. they are sure to work continuously. Plus, these devices can usually be turned on and off, like a central heating system, which is a much more efficient way to heat your home.
How much heat does a gas fireplace emit? you are considering using a gas fireplace as your primary heat source, it is important to know how much heat a gas fireplace emits.
Gas fireplaces can produce anywhere from 10,000 to 60,000 BTUs of heat, although this depends on the size of fireplace you are using. Here's how the size of a fireplace affects average BTU output:
Small: 20,000 BTUs
Medium: 30,000 BTUs
Large: 50,000 BTUs for gas fireplaces Heating the Room
If gas fireplaces do not heat the room completely, it may be due to an inadequate heating system, environmental conditions or a faulty unit. Specifically, this includes the following reasons:
Type of gas fireplace not suitable for the space
BTU rating or efficiency is too low for your situation
Poor air flow air or too many walls
Appliance thermostat set too low Flame will not stay lit in gas fireplace
Fire continues to die out
If fire continues to go out, this is most likely due to a clogged thermocouple and parts of the burner. Fixing this problem is usually quite simple and can be solved by cleaning the hearth. However, in some cases gas fireplaces will not heat the room because the system is not pushing enough heat into the room.
If replacing your gas fireplace isn't an option, there are other ways to make sure you're getting the most heat possible.
How To Get Maximum Heat Output From Your Gas Fireplace
If you use a gas fireplace in your home, chances are you want it to provide the most heat possible during the winter months. Although BTU rating and efficiency have the biggest effect on the heat delivered by a fireplace, buying and installing a new unit can cost thousands of dollars. There are additional tools and strategies to get the most out of the heat from your gas fireplace, such as:
Set the thermostat to the maximum setting
Make sure the flue damper is smoke and fireplace are well sealed to prevent hot air from blowing out
Use a fan to distribute hot air evenly throughout the room
Gas fireplace conversion to a gas insert to eliminate drafts air and increase efficiency
Install a heat exchanger to recycle the heat your fireplace is already producing
Place a chimney behind the fireplace to reflect some heat back into your home but you don't have any place in your budget, consider making your own! A few scrap pieces and extra supplies can be used to dramatically increase the efficiency of your gas fireplace.