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Question: Mark, I enjoy your
home improvement articles on HomeAdditionPlus.com. You mentioned in one of your
articles about installing a fireback to improve the heating efficiency of your
fireplace. I was curious how to measure for the right size one and what type of
fireplace fireback is best to use? Also, where can you buy firebacks? KB
Answer: KB, A fireplace fireback is a tried and true solution for
improving the efficiency of your wood fireplace. A fireplace fireback absorbs
heat, and helps to reflect fire light and heat out into a room.
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Consequently a fireback helps to
increase the amount of warmth a fire provides to a room. A fireback also helps
to protect the back masonry of your fireplace from heat damage.
Firebacks are available in two types of materials. There are cast iron firebacks
and stainless steel firebacks. Each have their unique pros and cons.
Cast iron firebacks are available in a much wider assortment of shapes, styles
and sizes than stainless steel firebacks. Cast iron firebacks can be purchased
with plain surface areas or with ornate decorative designs cast into them. Cast
iron firebacks, however are very heavy. Stainless steel firebacks, on the other
hand, typically come with just plain surfaces and are much lighter in weight.
Stainless steel firebacks also reflect more fire light than cast iron firebacks.
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Due to the fact that cast iron
firebacks have significantly more mass, they are much heavier and expensive.
Cast iron firebacks start out around $150 and quickly work their way upwards
to several hundred dollars depending upon the size, style and quality of
them.
Stainless steel firebacks work nearly as well as the cast iron firebacks but
are much lighter in weight and less expensive. A stainless steel fireback
will cost you around $50 to $150 dollars. Stainless steel firebacks,
however, are not meant to be used with gas fireplaces.
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The intensified heat that is produced by using a stainless
steel fireback can potentially lead to gas shut-off valve damage.
You can find firebacks at most local fireplace or stove shop stores, however
you can also buy them on-line, at such places as Amazon.com. See Chimney Plus 850401 Vestal Deer Cast Iron Fireback
from
Amazon for an affordable cast iron fireback.
In most cases you'll pay some amount of shipping for buying a fireplace
fireback on-line. |
Photo by Mark Donovan |
Consequently that's another
advantage of buying a stainless steel fireback, if you plan to buy one on-line.
Since they are less weight their shipping costs are typically lower.
In regards to measuring for a
fireplace fireback, measure the width and height of the back wall in your
firebox. For the height measure from the floor to where the smoke chamber starts
to curve upwards. Most firebacks can be placed in the fireplace by simply
leaning them up against the back wall, and in some cases having their bottom
edge rest on the fire grate. Alternatively, the fireback can rest standalone on
their own two feet that are often sold separately. You may not need to order the
feet for the fireback if you plan to rest it directly on the fireplace floor or
fire grate. If you do plan to use the fireback feet, subtract the height of the
feet from your measured height dimension of your firebox to allow room for the
feet.
For information on maximizing a
wood stove’s home heating efficiency see
the “Installation
of Hood over Wood Stove Ebook”.
Find a Pre-Screened Heating Contractor in Your Area
Fireplace Firebacks
from Amazon.com
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