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The efficiency of your fireplace is very important. These days, all electric appliances are rated according to their efficiency and customers are paying more and more attention to these efficiency ratings. Not only are efficient appliances better for the earth and for the environment, but they can also save you an awful low of money. For example, did you know that an energy efficient refrigerator can save you over six hundred dollars a year? If that’s how much a refrigerator can save you, think about the difference an efficient fireplace would make. Fireplace fans are a practical and easy way to increase fireplace efficiency.
Fireplaces are not electric appliances and unfortunately the do not get efficiency ratings in the same way that other appliances would. In fact, it is very difficult to measure the efficiency of a fireplace but there are some simple steps that you can take to increase your fire’s efficiency and installing a fireplace fan is one of the most effective and easy to implement.
Fires need oxygen to burn. If you provide more oxygen to your fire, then it will burn brighter, faster and hotter. This type of burning uses your fuel more completely, producing less smoke and more heat. You will find that you get more out of the fuel in your fire and considering the cost of fuel, this is a major saving already as you will be using less wood or coal or whatever other fuel you usually use.
Fireplace fans also improve the circulation of the heat that is created by your fire all over your home or the room that is being heated. This increases the amount of heat from the fire that you actually get the benefit from, and a lot less of it will float up the chimney and out of your home. These are two ways that fireplace fans can improve the efficiency of your fire, and you can safely assume that you will save a lot of money by installing one.
Many people ask if fireplace fans are worth the investment. This is difficult to answer generally as the answer will basically depend on how much you use your fire and for what purpose. If you only use your fireplace occasionally, because you like the look and feel of it, then you may not need fireplace fans to increase efficiency. Even if you do need heat from your fireplace, if you only use it a few times a year, then it might be more cost effective just to use a little more fuel and not bother with fireplace fans. However, if you are using your fire regularly a means of heating your home, or at least part of it, then a fireplace fan is a good idea and will pay for itself in saved fuel very quickly.
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