A fireplace blower is an effective way to increase the efficiency of your home heating system. People who have an existing fireplace are probably already familiar with the benefit of supplementing an existing furnace or central heat system. A blower takes this one step further, by blowing the warmed air into the home.
For many people, the drawback of a fireplace is that it is large, takes up a great deal of room, and creates a mess. The warmth from the fireplace stays close to where the fireplace is located. A fireplace blower eliminates this problem.
Adding an insert blower to an existing fireplace allows the warm air to filter through the entire home. People who already have a fireplace in their home can find blowers at stores that sell fireplace accessories. One can also be professionally installed by a fireplace repair contractor.
It may seem counterintuitive to add a fan to something that is meant to heat an area, but the fact is, adding a fireplace blower makes the fireplace dramatically more efficient. The blower pushes air through the home gently, so that it does not feel cool. It also does not cool the heated air off as it moves through the home.
Deciding on the proper size for the blower is important. Buying one that is larger than necessary is a waste of money and energy, while one that is not large enough will be ineffective. A homeowner’s main concern when shopping for a blower is access to an electrical outlet. The blower requires electricity to run, so if there is no outlet close by, the addition may require help from an electrician.
If there is an electrical outlet nearby, the homeowner needs to purchase a blower insert that has the motor on the same side as the electrical outlet. For example, if the outlet is on the left of the fireplace, then the motor should be located on the left side of the blower. Homeowners who need to have an electrical outlet installed should be sure that the outlet and motor are compatible.
Fireplace blowers are a good way to warm up a home on a cold winter day. They do not increase the risk of fires or force soot or smoke into the house. Most are not visible when looking at the fireplace.