# I have a fireplace, what do I do?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-fireplace-what-do-i-do/514979>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 24, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-fireplace-what-do-i-do/514979 "2009-10-24T18:02:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [October 25, 2009, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-fireplace-what-do-i-do/514979/21 "2009-10-25T16:04:53Z")

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> [@DiosaBellissima](#):
>
> The fireplace does have a gas thinggy, with a gas key (my descriptions are helpful, I know) and I have all of the poker. . . thinggies and scoopy thinggies you use for a fireplace. There’s also a rack in the fireplace to hold logs.

Well, have the Gas company come out to look at it, or a repairman. Many fireplaces with “gas thinggy” are not meant to ever burn wood at all,and it could be dangerous to do so.

chappachula- you cites does no say that at all. It sez"\*Conventional, masonry fireplaces without energy saving features, often take more heat from a space than they put into it.

A fireplace may look warm and cozy; but, all things considered, it tends to be relatively inefficient for home heating. Believe it or not, fireplace efficiencies typically range from plus 10% to minus 10%. The negative efficiency results from the fire sucking heated air from inside the home to fuel combustion. This air is then vented up the chimney, which pulls cold outside air into the home through the small cracks around windows and doors.

Even when there is no fire burning, fireplaces can vent heated air – especially when there is no flue damper, if the damper does not seal tightly, or is left open.

Here are some ways to improve fireplace efficiency: "\*

In other words, a _poorly run and poorly set up_ fireplace \*can \*be a heat sink. But a well run fireplace is not so bad.

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