3 Ways a Different Fireplace May Save You Money

Nothing is quite as rewarding at the end of a long winter day as coming home and thawing out in front of a roaring fire. For some of us, nothing less than a natural wood fire in a traditional fireplace will suffice; nothing is a substitute for the crackling and popping or the aroma that it gives off. Others of us, however, just care about the roaring fire part of the scenario and could care less about anything else.

At Home Safe Hearth & Chimney, Inc., we make your investment and safety our priority! We have been providing complete chimney and fireplace care to Wichita and the surrounding areas for over thirty years.

All feelings aside, it’s important that you are able to evaluate your current situation objectively. Consider the following information as you determine whether or not you’re satisfied with how much your fireplace is costing you. Have you ever caught yourself thinking (or saying) any of the following? If so, Home Safe Hearth & Chimney can help you with the entire replacement system selection process, from shopping to installation and service.

“I’m cold again…where did all the heat go?”

Not all fireplaces are created equal. Depending on the age of your home and/or the overall condition of your fireplace and all of its parts, you could be sending some serious money right up the chimney this heating season; it’s estimated that a typical homeowner can send up to 8% of valuable heated air flying out the chimney. If reading this statistic has you even the slightest bit scared about using your fireplace as a heating source, don’t write it off just yet. The good news is you can transform your fireplace into an efficient room heater simply by adding a fireplace insert.

“Our energy bill was how much this month?!”

Heating is the largest energy expense in most homes, accounting for over 30% of annual energy bills! Since no two houses are alike, a new system that will help one homeowner minimize his/her total operational cost might not be the same system that helps another homeowner realize similar results. Some new systems are too big. Some are too small. And the best ones are just right.

“Can I buy accessories that’ll help me squeeze even more out of my system?”

Many devices can also be purchased to improve fireplace efficiency. A radiant fireplace grate, for example, holds the logs up off the ground of the fireplace, making sure more heat is disbursed out into the room, improving efficiency quite dramatically for a very small investment. Electric fans can also be purchased and installed in the form of grate blowers or tube heaters, which will constantly push hot air out into the room, decreasing the amount of heat lost through the chimney and improving overall fireplace performance.

Because fuel prices are in a constant state of flux, any savings estimates are really just a moving target. Generally speaking, though, you’re looking at an annual savings of anywhere from $75-$250 when replacing an under-performing system with one that’s optimized for your particular living space. While this may not sound like a lot of money considering the upfront costs of the replacement system itself, the savings over the long haul can really start to add up over the years. Your home is an investment, and, as such, any decision you make needs to include at least a modicum of foresight.

Known as “Wichita’s Fireplace Experts”, our CSIA- or NFI-Certified technicians will be there when you need us most. We pride ourselves in providing comprehensive, high-quality and knowledgeable care to each and every one of our customers. At Home Safe Hearth & Chimney, Inc., we guarantee your satisfaction, and will do everything we can to keep you safe and happy. We invite you to schedule an appointment with us at your earliest convenience so you, too, can experience the Home Safe difference!