What Kinds of Fireplaces Produce the Most Heat?

In Florida, we don’t depend on our fireplaces to be major heat producers during brutal winters. But that doesn’t mean we don’t want safe, efficient heat from them when we need it.

Doodlebuggers Fireplace, Grill & Outdoor Store of Pensacola, FL, and Destin, FL, would like to share some helpful information about how different types of fireplaces work and the levels of heat they generate.

Masonry fireplaces aren’t great for heat

Traditional open masonry fireplaces are notorious for not holding onto very much of their heat. The open system allows as much as 90% of the warmth they produce to be lost right up the chimney.

Along with sluggish heating performance, masonry fireplaces also tend to be drafty, adding to the problem when you’re trying to warm up a room.

Modern manufactured fireplaces are much better choices

Manufactured fireplaces, which can run on gas, wood or pellets, are much better at producing heat than masonry fireplaces. Operating on a “closed combustion system,” these units burn efficiently and conserve the majority of their heat so it can be used in your room.

Most walls within a home are suitable for the installation of a pre-built fireplace. Wood and pellet fireplaces will need an outside “chase” through which the unit drafts. Vented gas fireplaces require space to run a vent pipe. Non-vented gas appliances require no venting apparatus.

Heating efficiency and BTUs

A small fireplace, no matter what kind it is, won’t do a very good job of heating a very large room. When shopping for a fireplace, consider the square footage of your room and buy a model that produces sufficient BTUs (heat output) for that space.

“Heating efficiency” describes how much of the heat generated by a fireplace will be available as heat inside the home. Many manufactured fireplaces are built with heating efficiency ratings of 70% and higher.

Compare this to the very small percentage of usable heat generated by an open masonry fireplace, and you’ll see why a manufactured fireplace is the way to go for heat, cost savings and comfort for you and your family.

A fireplace insert is another option

If you have an underperforming masonry fireplace and want more heat but don’t want to open a space within a wall for the installation, consider going with a fireplace insert.

Fireplace inserts run on gas, wood or pellets and are designed to fit into the firebox of an existing masonry fireplace. Inserts are highly efficient and well-insulated, giving you the heat you want without all the draftiness common with open fireplaces.

Fireplace and insert installation

Even the best fireplace or fireplace insert won’t heat well if it’s installed incorrectly. Poor installation practices not only can reduce a fireplace’s efficiency, they can also lead to safety and performance hazards.

When bringing home a new fireplace, make sure to have it installed by professional fireplace technicians and in accordance with local and state codes.

Doodlebuggers sells and installs top-line manufactured fireplaces and powerful fireplace inserts throughout the Pensacola and Destin areas in Florida. We’d be happy to tell you more about modern fireplace heating and best practices when you visit one of our showrooms:

In Pensacola: 7555 Highway 98 West, Suite A.

In Destin: 36054 Emerald Coast Pkwy. #100.

You can also get more information by giving us a call or reaching out through our handy contact form.