How a Chimney Fan Can Help Avoid Problems

The chimney is the engine that drives the heating system around your house. The more fuel you add to the fire, the more power the chimney will be able to deliver, and the more draft will be produced. Draft is a good thing, keeping the smoke from entering the room. You’ll also need to insulate your chimney to keep the exhaust hot and expel much of the smoke outside.  

 

Chimneys work with both stoves and fireplaces. Any heat in your chimney will cause a draft, which will in turn pull in more combustion air and allow the fire to burn hotter. This can help you save on energy costs by supplying more natural heat to your home. 

Many fireplaces and stoves operate on a natural draft. This means that no fans are necessary to flow the chimney exhaust fans upwards.  However, for a chimney to function as it is intended, it will need to receive at least one fifth of the total energy produced from heat.  If you don’t have a natural draft, the chimney fan is the only other solution to prevent your chimney from starving of heat and allow it to function as it should. 

What You Need to Know About Chimney Covers

The chimney cover (or cap) is the cover that is placed on top of the chimney, or on the opening above the furnace or fireplace.  It is designed to vent gas and smoke.  Because not all flues are designed with covers, this can create problems. This article will inform you of all you need to know about chimney covers.

Without a cap at the opening of the flue, it’s very easy for outside elements, animals, wind and water go get inside the home. Moisture can seep through and into other areas of your home, and then you’ll have a number of different problems on your hands.  

 

-          If you currently are experiencing consistent problems with your fireplace, particularly with the venting system, it may be because of the lack of a chimney cover. A chimney cap will drastically reduce the amount of smoke that enters in the room.

-          Chimney covers are attached to the outer room of the flue and mount inside of it. They also serve the added purpose from preventing sparks from the fireplace getting outside and potentially starting a fire in the outside shrubbery or on your home. 

-          Several are also outfitted with dampers, which serve the purpose of preventing outside cool air from entering your home.  Some older fireplaces especially are not outfitted with damper assemblies, so it’s something you should add on  Any older masonry replacement fireplace refractory panels can easily be fitted with a top sealing damper to reduce cold air from entering and saving you on energy costs.                                                                                                                                                             

 -          Chimney covers come in a wide variety of different shapes and sizes, and are made out of many different materials as well.  

-          Many chimneys are made out of several layers of metal with an insulation layer in between each layer of metal.  Without a chimney cap, this will not be enough to make the chimney totally invulnerable to degradation from the outside elements.  Water drops can creep down into the insulated layers and prevent the insulation from keeping away heat from the metal layers. 

-          If you want to replace your existing chimney cover, look for the cover that is the tightest fitting and most resembles the original. For added protection on the new chimney cover, you can add side screens that keep animals and nests away from your chimney, as well as serve as a barrier against crackling sparks from the fire below. 

All in all, the durability, safety and energy efficiency of fireplaces and chimneys will be greatly enhanced by a chimney cap.

Hot Ideas for Fireplace Remodeling

Remodeling your home is always a popular idea. You get the look or functions you want without having to buy a new home. Fireplace remodeling is a good idea too. Many homes feature old versions that can really drag down the style of the rest of the room it’s in. Plus, by remodeling your fireplace, you can get more from its functionality. Before you take on such a big project, though, consider the following ideas to get the best finished result.

Replace the Materials

One of the easiest ways to get more from your fireplace is to simply give it a facelift. As we mentioned, many homes feature the old wood-burning variety that may have a truly outlandish exterior. Remember lava rocks? No matter what you do to the rest of your room, a fireplace covered in lava rocks isn’t going to fool anybody.

However, it’s a fairly affordable operation to remove whatever the current material is and replace it with something like marble, stone or tile. These days even a cheap option like concrete can be made to look amazing. Best of all, you don’t need to actually alter the operation of your current fireplace.

Enhance What You Already Have

Fireplace remodeling sometimes means addressing the area that surrounds it. Maybe the immediate exterior is fine, but it’s otherwise just a hole in the wall for fire to go. Consider adding a mantle if you don’t have one. An expansive molding will also draw more positive attention to your fireplace without demanding a grueling project or large investment. Columns are an especially good look and will do plenty, even if you never touch the fireplace itself.

Convert to a Newer Version

No discussion about fireplace remodeling would be complete without mentioning your options for converting an older option. If you’re still stacking wood and adding kindling to use your fireplace, it’s probably safe to say it’s been a while since you’ve built a fire. This is an almost archaic operation compared to our high-tech lives these days. Plus, your hands, clothes, and surrounding area can need cleaning when it’s all done.

Instead, consider modern gas-burning options. Your choices include:

·         An affordable option like a gas log kit for less than $1,000.

·         For a bit more, a vent-free option will give you the same look and feel without having to worry about losing heat to a damper.

·         If you have the budget for it, a gas fireplace insert is the best option. Your fireplace remodeling project will need about $3,000 for it, but you’ll get the most efficient heating option and can find them in just about any style you want.

Consider Your Overall Costs

While we’re on the subject of your fireplace remodeling budget, it’s worth considering what you’ll spend on the finished product. As you have probably learned, it’s easy to get carried away with all the options out there. You’ll have no problem dropping thousands of dollars into remodeling your fireplace, which could actually be a real issue.

Generally, conventional wisdom is that you shouldn’t spend more than 1% of your house’s total cost, once the project is complete. This number should still give you plenty of options, plus it ensures a good return on your investment if you ever sell.

Keep the Theme Consistant

Also, don’t get so carried away with your Chim-A-Lator Fireplace Dampers  options that you forget about the rest of your home. A mosaic tile border may look great, but if the rest of your home has a cottage theme to it, that fireplace is going to burn your eyes long before you ever start using it. Most people don’t base the rest of their home’s style around the fireplace they choose either. No matter what the theme of your house is, you should still have plenty to work with, stylistically.

Furthermore, if you are considering selling in the near future, a taste-neutral look is really best. Potential buyers may not be as fond of fireplace remodeling as you are, after all. So even if it matches the rest of your home’s style, keeping a natural look will ensure you don’t lose a buyer because they don’t want the headache of undoing your handiwork.

Remodeling your fireplace can do a lot for the room and your home, in general. However, be sure to consider the above ideas before you begin or the otherwise great feature can burn a hole in your pocket and leave your home worse off in the process.

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