Having a fireplace is not only great for heating your home but also memorizing to watch the flames. However, if you have a fireplace with glass doors, it is important to know if the doors should be open or closed when a fire is going. This article outlines what to do if your fireplace has glass doors.
When starting a fire, the glass doors should be open. In addition, the glass doors should remain open as the fire burns. You should only close the glass door when the fire is dying out to minimize the amount of room air getting into the chimney.
Like any fireplace, fireplaces with glasses doors should be used with precautions. This article will discuss when to open and close the glass doors on your fireplace. In addition, we will take a look at other frequently asked questions about fireplaces, so read on!
Can You Close The Glass Doors On A Fireplace?
Several fireplaces are equipped with glass doors that open. This allows the user to show off the beauty of the flames without opening up the whole fireplace. However, closing the glass doors on a fireplace is not recommended unless you are sure there is no heat coming from behind them.
Having the glass doors open when a fire is going allows for more air to be pulled into the chimney, which creates a better draft. It also prevents smoke from backing up into your room. However, it is always essential to have the spark screen on when glass doors are open.
If you want to minimize the amount of your home that is heated, keeping the glass doors open is the best option. In addition, if you close the glass doors when a fire is going on, it can cause the glass to break. Therefore, it is best to keep the glass doors open as much as possible.
It is best to close the glass doors on a fireplace when not using it. Closing the doors traps heat inside, which can cause them to crack over time, allowing cold air in and hot air out of your home. Ideally, the glass doors should only be closed when you are not using the fireplace or burning fire.
In addition to glass doors, many fireplaces have a thimble. A thimble is a metal device that slides into the chimney from above and helps draw smoke out of the fireplace. Without a thimble, smoke can back up into your house and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Therefore, you should always use a thimble with your fireplace.
Why do fireplaces have glass doors?
Glass doors are designed to allow the user to see into a fireplace without opening up all of the doors. The weight of opening an entire fireplace door can be cumbersome for people with limited mobility.
Having glass doors on a fireplace is also great for people who want to show off their fireplaces but do not want it to take up a lot of room. In addition, fireplaces with glass doors let in more light when they are open, brightening up a room when it is dark out.
In addition, fireplaces with glass doors help the fireplace be more efficient. They are made to optimize the draft, which creates a better, more efficient fire. The glass doors act as a barrier between the home and the chimney.
Why does my fire go out when I close the door?
When you close the door on a fireplace, it cuts off the oxygen that the fire needs to stay burning. In addition, closing the door traps smoke in your home.
If you have a fireplace with glass doors, it is important to know that they should be open as much as possible during a fire unless there is no heat coming from behind them.
To properly control a draft and maintain efficiency when burning wood, experts recommend opening up the glass doors on a fireplace when the fire is going.
How do I make my fireplace hotter?
There are several ways to make your fireplace hotter. Let's take a look at them below:
Open the Glass Doors
First, open the glass doors. Opening the glass doors during a fire helps maximize airflow, which will increase the amount of heat that reaches your room. In addition, opening the glass doors helps pull smoke out of the fireplace and up into your chimney.
Install an Insert
To get more heat from a fireplace, consider purchasing an insert. An insert is a device that replaces the firebox on a standard masonry or stone fireplace.
It turns it into a wood stove by including a closed-door with an airtight seal to burn wood. It is efficient and provides a lot of heat.
Install Infrared Heating System
Many fireplaces are now being made with the option of an infrared heating system which can be installed behind your fireplace.
When turned on, it heats objects close to it but does not emit much heat into the room itself. This will warm you up faster than the air in the room but does not provide as much heat for the entire space.
Open the Chimney Flue
Make sure your chimney flue is opened when you are burning a fire. Closing the flue will trap smoke in your home and cause it to back up into your house, which can be very dangerous for you and everyone else who lives there.
Use a Chimney Damper
In addition, you can use a chimney damper. A chimney damper is a metal device that fits into the top of your chimney, preventing smoke from passing through it.
Installing a chimney damper will create more heat because it forces all of the combustible gases to pass through the firebox instead of escaping up into the room.
Burn Dried Wood
Also, make sure you are burning dried wood. Burning seasoned wood creates more heat than greenwood. Wood that has been dried is very low in water content and gives off more energy when it burns than wet or green wood does.
Clean Your Fireplace Regularly
If you are experiencing problems with your fireplace emitting smoke into the room, your fireplace may need to be cleaned. Regulating systems for wood-burning fireplaces require regular cleaning to be most effective.
Install Chimney Fans
Lastly, you can always install chimney fans to increase the fire heat. A chimney fan is a motor-driven device that helps push more heat from your fireplace into your room.
Chimney fans are especially great if you have an existing masonry or stone fireplace but not a wood stove insert.
How do you know if your fireplace flue is open?
A simple way to know your fireplace flue is open is by putting your hand into the chimney. If you feel a draft coming from the chimney, then that is an indicator the flue is open. If you do not feel a draft, then it is likely your flue is closed.
When should I close my fireplace flue?
To control a draft and optimize heat production, you should always close the fireplace flue when the fire is not going.
If you just had a fire, don't close the fireplace flue until all embers are burnt out. Closing the chimney flue when a fire is still going can trap smoke in your home, which would cause it to back up into your house.
What do I do if my glass door cracks?
It is important to call a professional right away if your glass doors crack or shatter. The debris that gets released into the air can be very harmful to your lungs and eyes.
Also, carbon monoxide can leak out of the fireplace, which can cause serious health issues. Visit your local hardware store or fireplace supplier to get replacement doors for your fireplace if the glass doors break.
How can I make my fireplace safer?
You can do several things to keep yourself and everyone else safe when burning wood in your home.
Clean the Chimney Regularly
Regular chimney cleaning is vital for all types of fireplaces. The fireplace system needs to be free of creosote and other flammables to properly function. Creosote is a residue that coats your chimney walls from burning wood. If it builds up too much, a chimney fire could easily start, which will burn your home down before you know what happened!
Install Cabon Monoxide Detector
Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector in your home. Never leave a fire burning without someone being there to monitor it, and always crack a window open if the fire has been going for several hours.
Never Burn More than One Log at a Time
Burning more than one log at a time can cause dangerous fumes and increase the chance of back-drafting. Therefore, it is best always to burn one log at a time and make sure it is completely burned up before adding another.
Only Burn Seasoned Wood
Burning seasoned wood creates more heat than green wood or wet wood. Greenwood contains more moisture, burning slower and emitting lower amounts of energy.
Final Thoughts
There are many ways you can make your fireplace more efficient and safe. Having a fireplace with glass doors helps make it efficient but should be used appropriately. Be sure to close the glass doors when the fire is entirely out or not in use.
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