How to Safely Use Your Fireplace and Central Heat Together

With the cold winter months looming ahead of us, homeowners seek out the most efficient ways to keep their homes warm. One popular option is to use a fireplace and central heat at the same time.

While many believe that using both a fireplace and central heat at the same time is a safe and effective way to heat their homes, there are also some important considerations to make before taking this approach.

To understand why it’s beneficial and what potential hazards you need to be aware of, let’s take a closer look at how to safely use your fireplace and central heat together.

The Benefits of Using a Fireplace and Central Heat Together

Using both a fireplace and central heat has several advantages over relying on just one or the other. Fireplaces provide a natural source of warmth that can be used to create a cozy atmosphere in your living room or bedroom. By supplementing it with central heating, you can ensure that all areas of your house remain comfortable even during cold snaps.

With both systems working together, you can save energy costs since you won’t need to turn up your thermostat as high in order to keep your home warm enough.

Additionally, if you have an energy-efficient fireplace insert installed in your traditional masonry fireplace, burning wood may be more cost-effective than using electricity or natural gas as a primary source of heat for your home.  Burning wood in a modern insert can help reduce energy costs by up to 30% when compared with other forms of home heating.

Potential Hazards When Using a Fireplace and Central Heat Together

When using both sources of heat together, it is important that homeowners understand potential hazards associated with this practice. The most common issue is that when one source of heat (i.e., the central heating system) produces hot air faster than the other (i.e., the fireplace), it can cause negative air pressure in some parts of the house which can cause deadly carbon monoxide fumes from the fireplace chimney to enter into living areas instead of being directed outside as they should be.

To avoid this dangerous situation, it is important that homeowners regularly inspect their chimneys—especially if they are located on an exterior wall—for blockages or cracks which could cause negative air pressure inside the house resulting from improper airflow from the chimney flue pipe.

In addition, if you are using wood-burning fireplaces or inserts, make sure that you purchase only dry wood that has been properly cured for at least six months before using it in your fireplace or insert to avoid creating hazardous smoke particles inside your house from wet wood burning too quickly in your appliance due to insufficient airflow through its chimney flue pipe.

Finally, any flammable materials near the fireplace must be kept away from its direct heat in order to prevent accidental fires from occurring.

Conclusion:

Using a fireplace and central heat together during cold winter months can be an effective way for homeowners to maximize their comfort while minimizing energy costs associated with heating their homes during these colder periods of time each year.

Using both a fireplace and central heat provides many benefits when done correctly; however, there are also several potential hazards associated with it as well. Before attempting this approach, make sure you have taken all necessary safety precautions such as proper ventilation for any fireplaces present in your house and keeping flammable materials away from them.

Additionally, it is important that all appliances intended for use with either system are regularly maintained by professionals so they continue working safely without fail throughout the winter months.  Contact Craig Plumbing, Heating and Cooling to have one of our heating technicians check your furnace.

If done correctly, using both systems together can help create an efficient heating solution for homeowners who want to save money while staying warm throughout the winter season!