How Fireplace Replacement Can Improve Energy Efficiency at Home

When we discuss home energy efficiency, many people immediately think of outside windows, better insulation or intelligent thermostats. Yet another way to improve your home's energy use is sometimes missed: your fireplace. An old or poorly functioning fireplace can both lower your comfort and increase your expenses yearly. Investing in a fireplace replacement not only enhances your home's style—it can also significantly reduce your energy consumption.  

We help homeowners who visit Fireside by suggesting and installing the perfect fireplace for every person's needs. If you're wondering how a fireplace replacement can contribute to a greener, more energy-efficient home, read on.  

What You Don't See When Your Fireplace Doesn't Work Efficiently  

It's true that open-hearth wood fireplaces are cozy, but they are famous for not using energy very well. It's actually true that many traditional fireplaces consume more energy than they help save. In most cases, they don't keep your living spaces warm; they draw heat from your rooms and send it out through the chimney.  

This is how your home's energy efficiency can suffer because of an older fireplace:  

• A lot of the heat produced by a fireplace with wood is lost up the chimney  
• With open chimneys, the cold air from outdoors often enters your home and makes your heating system work overtime  
• Old fireplaces might have small cracks or loose seals which let energy go outdoors  

The result? Your heating may cost more, the air inside your home may be inconsistent and you'll leave a larger carbon footprint.  

Swapping your old fireplace for a newer, energy-efficient one can solve these problems and give you many additional benefits.  

How a Fireplace Replacement Improves Energy Efficiency  

Choosing to invest in a fireplace replacement is about more than aesthetics. There are several methods a new fireplace can help your home use energy more efficiently.  

1. A System That Uses Sealed Combustion  

The majority of today's gas fireplaces come with sealed combustion systems. These systems draw air to burn from outside the house and the exhaust is sent back out of doors without entering your living space. This design:  

• Helps to stop heat from escaping your home  
• Reduces drafts  
• Makes the air you breathe inside your home healthier and safer  

It's possible for direct-vent gas fireplaces to reach efficiency ratings of 70% or more.  

2. Programmable Thermostats and Controls are Featured  

Many recent fireplace units allow you to use programmable thermostats, timers and remote controls. You are able to use these features for:  

• Set the temperature exactly as needed  
• Work your operation around your daily life  
• Automatically turn off your computer when you don't need it  

Unlike modern fireplaces, older ones are not very easy to manage and usually take a lot of tending—meaning they are not very efficient.  

3. High-Efficiency Inserts  

When your current masonry fireplace doesn't need renovations, putting in a high-efficiency fireplace insert makes a lot of sense. Inserts are designed to suit your existing firebox and keep heat inside very well. They:  

• Keep more heat in your living space by trapping it inside  
• Make sure less warm air goes up the chimney  
• Let you improve your home without major building work  

No matter what type of insert you choose, you'll notice your heating is much better.  

4. Advanced Insulation and Sealing  

Air sealing and proper insulation are given top priority in today's fireplace installations. This keeps conditioned air inside your home where it belongs and prevents outside air from seeping in. Fireside's expert installation team ensures that every fireplace replacement is done to the highest standards of energy efficiency.  

Signs It's Time for a Fireplace Replacement  

If you're wondering if your fireplace is making your house less energy efficient, read this next. Look for the following signs to know if you have a virus infection:  

• Drafts along the fireplace that do not go away  
• It's easy to notice that the fireplace lets go of heat when it is being used  
• The costs of keeping your home warm during winter  
• It is tough to keep an even indoor temperature  
• A fireplace that is 20 years or older but hasn't been updated  
• Wear, cracks and damage to the chimney  

When your existing fireplace displays any of these signs, a replacement will likely make your home more pleasant and save energy.  

Picking the Correct Energy-Efficient Fireplace  

At Fireside, we guide homeowners through every step of the fireplace replacement process, making sure they find the right model for their home's style, heating needs, and energy goals. Check out these main choices for energy-efficiency:  

Gas Fireplaces:  

A lot of homeowners who want to save energy and time prefer gas fireplaces. Because direct-vent gas models are sealed, they use outside air for combustion, release exhaust outside and thus maintain good indoor air while reducing heat loss. With gas fireplaces, you get better heating, easy control using remotes or thermostats and less maintenance than you'd find with wood fireplaces.  

Electric Fireplaces:  

Electric fireplaces add a lot of heat and are most efficient in rooms that are well sealed and insulated. Because you don't have to vent them, installation can be done in almost any layout. Electric fireplaces may not heat all rooms in a house as well as gas or pellet fireplaces, but they turn all their energy into heat and can be used to heat just one room at a time.  

Pellet Stoves: 

Pellet stoves are an environmentally friendly way to warm your home if you use renewable energy. Thanks to compressed wood or biomass pellets, these stoves give off steady heat and very few emissions. With automatic feeders and thermostats, many models help homeowners manage their home's temperature and reduce energy use. Because they perform well environmentally, they are eligible for multiple energy tax credits and incentives. 

What is the size and how much heating power does it have?  

It's very important to size your unit correctly for the area it will serve for energy efficiency. Your Fireside team will use your room's square footage, ceiling height, insulation and design to help you pick the right BTU output.  

You need to consider where to put and how to vent your boiler  

Where and how your fireplace is put in place is important. No matter if you choose an exterior, interior or corner location, we can help you set up a system that gives you maximum heat and keeps the energy loss to a minimum.  

The Environmental Benefits of a Fireplace Replacement  

Upgrading your fireplace helps the environment as well as saving you funds. Here's how:  

• New fireplaces produce less pollution and make better use of fuel  
• These EPA-certified models burn less wood than standard open-hearth fireplaces, by up to 30%  
• Modern fireplaces release less pollution which makes the air inside and outside your home cleaner  
• More efficient heating means there is less demand for electricity during the times when everyone uses energy most  

If you care about the environment, pick an energy-efficient fireplace.  

The Fireside Advantage: Expert Fireplace Replacement Services  

The type of fireplace you buy should be energy-efficient, but the way it's put in is important too. At Fireside, we have spent years learning about fireplace selection and installation.  

You'll gain advantages when you choose to work with us:  

• Custom home visits to assess your home's problems  
• Experienced measurements so you get the right fit  
• Product advice suited to your preferences and aims for productivity  
• Professionally installed and safe equipment  
• How to keep your software working correctly after installation  

We do all the work, so you don't have to worry about anything during your upgrade and end up with a home that is both more relaxing and more efficient.  

A Smart Way to Spend Money for More Comfort and Less Spending  

A fireplace replacement isn't just about looks—it's an investment in your home's long-term energy efficiency, comfort, and environmental impact. The team at Fireside is ready to upgrade your old fireplace, convert to gas or enhance the comfort and cost of your home.  

A poorly performing fireplace shouldn't be allowed to cost you money and happiness this season. Call Fireside now to arrange a consultation and begin moving your home toward better heating and energy efficiency.