The Untapped Potential of Your Fireplace

The Untapped Potential of Your Fireplace

by | Nov 6, 2018 | Heating Your Home, HPBAC Blog

The fireplace and its floor (or “hearth” as it’s commonly called) is the main attraction of any room it inhabits. Just as centrepieces on formal dinner tables across Canada set the theme before the meal is served, the fireplace, mantel and hearth do so on a much grander scale.

Your fireplace serves two main purposes: it warms the room and is the primary focal point. Whether it occupies your living room, family room, basement or bedroom, the overall look of your fireplace can make a lasting impression. By decorating the mantel and hearth, you will add a whole new decorative element to the room.

Most people line the mantel with photos, or display a mirror, pieces of art, ceramics or collectibles. Some even throw down a bear skin rug. But why not be unique and treat it as a blank canvas to showcase your creativity. Make a statement. The fireplace is the one thing you can decorate on a whim, or change with the season, and set the mood for a fraction of the cost of redecorating the entire room.

With fall and winter fast approaching, use the natural beauty of each season to transform your fireplace into a work of art. Get inspired by the themes of Thanksgiving, Halloween and Christmas. There is untapped potential in your fireplace and hearth. Don’t let it be a forgotten fixture that only exists to provide heat and comfort. Decorate the mantel and the hearth. Spice it up. Make it an extension of your personality. But most importantly, have fun doing it. And always remember safety. Keep appropriate clearances in mind and don’t allow combustible materials to come in contact with the fire or glass.

The Benefits of Radiant Heat in Your Home

The Benefits of Radiant Heat in Your Home

by | Mar 15, 2017 | Heating Your Home, HPBAC Blog

Radiant heat is a form of heat energy we are all familiar with – it’s the type of energy we experience from the sun’s rays. You can feel the difference in heat between standing directly in the sunshine on a hot day versus standing in the shade. The heat you feel while standing in direct sunlight is radiant heat, and it’s the same heat you experience when standing in front of a fireplace. Radiant heat is the most comfortable and immediately warming form of heat energy. It travels in straight lines, warming all objects in its path. While other forms of heat energy rely on air particles or solid objects to transfer heat, radiant heat transfers heat energy directly to objects.

While a fireplace also provides convective heat, there is a significant benefit to radiant heat that you don’t experience from a furnace or other central heating systems. Make sure to keep this in mind when you’re trying to keep your home nice and cozy on cold winter nights. Just turning on your fireplace or starting a fire in your wood stove can have an immediate and substantial impact on how warm you feel in your home – specifically zone heating the central living spaces of your home. If you find your home to be drafty and not well sealed, installing a fireplace in the main living spaces of your home – or even your bedroom – can make a significant difference to your comfort level. It is hard to dispute that there is anything quite like the warmth you experience from sitting in front of the fireplace!

Heating Your Whole Home

Heating Your Whole Home

by | Mar 15, 2017 | Heating Your Home, HPBAC Blog

Did you know your fireplace, stove or insert – gas, pellet or wood – could have the ability to heat your whole home? It’s true! Fireplaces are beyond being just basement heaters or only having the heating output to warm your living room. With some planning and work, you could install a highly efficient wood burning appliance that gives you the aesthetic appeal of a fireplace with the practicality of a heating system for your home. Imagine, even during the coldest months of the year, turning your furnace down and only using the radiant heat from your fireplace to heat your home. Here are some things to consider.

Codes

Building and fire codes can differ region to region, so it is important you understand what your local codes cite with regards to wood burning and installation of a wood burning appliance before you move ahead with purchasing. There can be specifications on wall clearance, pipe diameters and extensions above the roof that dictate how your unit should be installed. It is always recommended you work with a local installer to make sure you are following your local codes.

Size

The appliance needs to be sized appropriately to suit the size of your home and the type of use you expect from it. Whether you would like your unit to heat your living room occasionally or your whole home on a daily basis will change the size of the firebox and heat output you require. Specialty hearth retailers are experts at finding you the right appliance for your home based on square footage and your use patterns.

Location

If you wish to use your hearth appliance to heat your whole home, it is best to have an open concept main floor where the unit can be installed in a central location. Hot air rises, so the warm air will naturally make its way to the upstairs of the home where the bedrooms are located. The basement will stay a bit cooler than the upper levels of the home, but with proper air circulation, warm air will still find its way downstairs. Of course, to ensure you have minimal heat loss, a well sealed and insulated home is important.

Air Circulation

To effectively heat your home with a fireplace or wood stove, it’s important to ensure adequate air circulation to disperse the heat. A great option for open concept homes is to turn the fan on for your forced air heating system to circulate the air and heat from your fireplace. The heat loss to vents will be unnoticeable. Ceiling fans set to reverse pull air up to the ceiling, forcing the warm air that collects at the top of the room to circulate downwards. Minor home renovations can be made to add ducting and vents into the rooms above to distribute the heat to upper levels of the home.

Zone Heating

Depending on the configuration of your home, it may be difficult to disperse the heat from your fireplace or stove effectively to all spaces of your home. Keep in mind that even turning your thermostat down during the day and letting your appliance heat the main areas of your home, and turning the thermostat up in the evenings to heat your bedrooms will still considerably reduce your reliance on your furnace, thereby reduce your energy bill.

The airtightness of your home is always something to be aware of when you are discussing home heating, regardless of your heating source. Increasing your home’s airtightness can have a dramatic impact on how much energy your home requires to maintain comfortable temperatures during the winter months.

Fireplaces: Not Just for the Living Room

Fireplaces: Not Just for the Living Room

by | Mar 15, 2017 | Heating Your Home, HPBAC Blog

Most fireplaces are usually in living rooms, family rooms and finished basements. But with the vast array of appliances now available on the market, more and more are being installed in bedrooms, dining rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and outdoors. A fireplace can serve as a focal point in a room, giving a space a warm glow and exuding luxury. They will also help decrease heating costs. Here are a few ideas.

Bathroom

A fireplace can add a sophisticated feeling to a master bath… and help you dry off after a leisurely soak. Build right into the tub surround to heighten a relaxing escape.

Kitchen

A fireplace will create a cozy atmosphere and really make your kitchen the family’s gathering place.

Dining Room

A fireplace will help create an intimate setting that stimulates conversation over dinner.

Bedroom

A fireplace in the bedroom is the height of luxury. Cozy up in bed while enjoying the ambiance and warmth of your fireplace.

In the Office

Heat up a workshop, study or artist’s studio with a fireplace.

Double-Duty

A fireplace situated between both the living areas and other spaces in the house can heat and be viewed from both rooms. Create a division between rooms such as the kitchen and an adjacent dining area. Add luxury with a double-sided fireplace between the bedroom and bathroom.

Outdoor Living Space

Fireplaces with a seating area help create the feeling of an additional room, and are a perfect place to entertain on a chilly evening. Add one near the pool or on the deck to encourage evening parties and make the most of your outdoor space.

There are many different fireplace options out there, so when considering a fireplace for any room, ensure you consult a specialty hearth retailer to pick the right fireplace for your needs.