Your fireplace offers warmth and comfort during snowy winter weather. In addition, it takes the chill out of nippy, autumn air. A fireplace can also be a focal point of beauty in your living area or any other room. However, fireplaces aren’t necessarily known to be efficient when heating large rooms. There is a simple solution to increasing the efficiency of your fireplace. Add a fireback! They help with heating your room. Also, a fireback can add a pleasing element to a fireplace that may be starting to look rundown.
Increasing Fireplace Efficiency
A fireback is simply what it sounds like. It’s a metal insert that fits in the back of your fireplace. The concept is not a new one. According to Ask the Chimney Sweep, firebacks were used during colonial times to protect the back of the firebox. This is because they were often susceptible to damage because of the building materials used at the time. In current times, advances in the structure and building materials of fireboxes have made them much less likely to be damaged. On the contrary though, the idea of using a fireback still remains popular. Rather than being used as a protective device, firebacks are now used to help your fireplace burn more efficiently.
The idea is simple: when you burn a fire in your fireplace, the bricks absorb a lot of heat. Because of this absorption, the heat safely dissipates and other materials in the construction of the chimney will not catch fire. If you were to install a stainless steel radiant fireback in your fireplace, this will allow some of the heat that would be absorbed by the bricks to reflect back into the room instead. According to experts, if you install a radiant fireback the efficiency of your fireplace can increase by almost 50%.
Decoratively Pleasing
According to an article published in the New York Times, fireplace firebacks are not only a simple way to increase efficiency. They can also be an inexpensive way to add a decorative touch to your room. You can, of course, purchase plain, stainless steel firebacks. However, you can also add to the beauty of your living room by purchasing a cast iron fireback. These provide protection for your fireplace. Plus, they also come in intricate designs that add to the attractiveness of your living area!
Stainless Steel vs. Cast Iron
Cast iron firebacks hold the heat longer than stainless steel firebacks. They are also much heavier than stainless steel, however, which makes them difficult to move. Plus, it may also cost much more than stainless steel to ship to your home. Having said that, either type of fireback is a great way to add to the efficiency of your fireplace.
Firebacks
Whether you are looking to increase the efficiency of your fireplace or add to the beauty of your room, a fireback may be just what you’re looking for. If you have questions about adding a fireback to your fireplace system, just give the experts at Owens Chimney Systems a call!