Switch to more energy efficient ways. Choose appliances that can save not just your money, but the environment as well.
Many of our customers are surprised to find what a huge role their home heating appliance plays in how energy efficient—or not—their home is. Of course, it’s no shocker that an HVAC unit can gobble up energy dollars during our winters and summers here in Columbia, South Carolina, but less obvious is the role that a fireplace, wood-burning stove, and chimney play in keeping your home affordable to heat and cool. And the advantages of dialing up your energy efficiency don’t just stop with money savings; you’ll also be helping the earth and keeping your home more comfortable year round.
At Bart Fireside one of our favorite things to do is show customers some easy ways for them to save money on their heating and air conditioning bills. For starters, it’s safe to say that a chimney that isn’t sealed at the top when not in use is hemorrhaging your energy dollars. And while you may think you’re saving money by heating with a wood-burning stove or fireplace, most older model heating appliances are actually not very efficient at all—and create an excess of smoke, dust, and creosote build-up. Read on for some of our top tips.
Why Your Chimney Needs a Top-Sealing Damper
Don’t waste one more dollar on a leaky chimney. It has been said that a chimney without a top-sealing damper is like a house without a roof. That’s why chief on our list of money-savers is the chimney damper. It used to be that throat dampers were installed on most chimneys but tests have since found these old cast iron dampers to be leaky and inefficient. Today’s top-sealing dampers provide an airtight seal for your chimney and can save you hundreds of dollars each year.
Consider a High Efficiency Hybrid Wood-Burning Fireplace
According to the EPA, swapping your old wood stove or fireplace for a more energy efficient appliance can make your appliance up to 50 percent more energy efficient, saving you money, fuel, time, and other resources. Stoves made prior to 1990 burn wood inefficiently while newer stoves create less smoke and dust and cut heating expenses.
The technicians at Bart Fireside are well versed in the varied energy ratings of many fireplaces and woodstoves on the market today. For customers who are especially interested in energy savings, we like to tell them about the Fireplace Xtrordinair Models Elite 36 and 44, which are EPA certified as clean-burning, environmentally responsible heating appliances, with an overall efficiency rating of up to 73 percent.
Have questions about how to make your Columbia, SC, area home more energy efficient? Call Bart Fireside today.
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