When fireplaces are not being used, they should be sealed with weatherstrip to air seal the damper and prevent wasted energy. Just like doors and windows, fireplaces require weatherstripping to preven
April 5, 2006 (Press Release) --
Leaking Fireplace Dampers Waste Energy
Fireplaces are the largest intentional opening in the home, costing U.S. families over $6,100,000,000 (based on figures as of March 2005) each year in wasted energy costs.
Like a door or window, fireplaces are openings to the outdoors and should be weatherstripped to prevent the loss of heated and/or cooled air. By weatherstripping the fireplace, several benefits are achieved including improved comfort, energy conservation, reduced energy costs, reduced noise, and improved indoor air quality.
Fireplace dampers are not effective at sealing the fireplace. When dampers are closed they do not provide an air tight seal and are quite ineffective at controlling undesired air leakage. Most fireplace dampers are left open. A study showed that 80% of fireplace dampers are inadvertently left in the open position1. Many fireplaces have broken and/or missing dampers.
A research study performed in Europe showed similar results. The study showed that an open damper on an unused fireplace in a well-insulated house can raise overall heating and cooling energy consumption by 30%2.
The majority of energy loss in the home is due to air leakage. Air leakage, or infiltration, occurs when outside air enters a house uncontrollably through cracks and openings. Properly air sealing such cracks and openings in your home can significantly reduce heating and cooling costs, improve building durability, and create a healthier indoor environment.
Building scientists and other experts agree that a significant amount of energy costs are wasted due to air leakage. Warm air leaking into the home during the summer and out of the home during the winter waste a substantial amount of energy dollars. See the collection of web references at the end of this paper.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the typical U.S. family spends approximately $1,300 a year on home utility bills, of which 44% goes for heating and cooling (as of March 2005).
Inadequately sealed fireplaces are noted as being one of the worst air leakage sources in the home. According to the D.O.E.3, by weatherstripping the fireplace, the typical U.S. home can reduce air leaks by 14% or more.
According to 2004 US Census Data4, there are 76,217,000 family households in the U.S. By multiplying the number of family households by the typical savings possible by weatherstripping the fireplace, the total annual energy cost savings that can be achieved by weatherstripping fireplaces is $6,100,000,000.
Of course not every home in the U.S. has a fireplace. However this only serves to increase the energy cost burden for the homes that do have fireplaces.
According to estimates there are 33,000,000 fireplaces in the U.S. By dividing the total annual energy cost savings that can be achieved by weatherstripping fireplaces by the number of homes with fireplaces, the average annual savings that can be achieved by weatherstripping the fireplace would be about $200.00 per fireplace.
For more details please visit our website.
Fireplaces are the largest intentional opening in the home, costing U.S. families over $6,100,000,000 (based on figures as of March 2005) each year in wasted energy costs.
Like a door or window, fireplaces are openings to the outdoors and should be weatherstripped to prevent the loss of heated and/or cooled air. By weatherstripping the fireplace, several benefits are achieved including improved comfort, energy conservation, reduced energy costs, reduced noise, and improved indoor air quality.
Fireplace dampers are not effective at sealing the fireplace. When dampers are closed they do not provide an air tight seal and are quite ineffective at controlling undesired air leakage. Most fireplace dampers are left open. A study showed that 80% of fireplace dampers are inadvertently left in the open position1. Many fireplaces have broken and/or missing dampers.
A research study performed in Europe showed similar results. The study showed that an open damper on an unused fireplace in a well-insulated house can raise overall heating and cooling energy consumption by 30%2.
The majority of energy loss in the home is due to air leakage. Air leakage, or infiltration, occurs when outside air enters a house uncontrollably through cracks and openings. Properly air sealing such cracks and openings in your home can significantly reduce heating and cooling costs, improve building durability, and create a healthier indoor environment.
Building scientists and other experts agree that a significant amount of energy costs are wasted due to air leakage. Warm air leaking into the home during the summer and out of the home during the winter waste a substantial amount of energy dollars. See the collection of web references at the end of this paper.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the typical U.S. family spends approximately $1,300 a year on home utility bills, of which 44% goes for heating and cooling (as of March 2005).
Inadequately sealed fireplaces are noted as being one of the worst air leakage sources in the home. According to the D.O.E.3, by weatherstripping the fireplace, the typical U.S. home can reduce air leaks by 14% or more.
According to 2004 US Census Data4, there are 76,217,000 family households in the U.S. By multiplying the number of family households by the typical savings possible by weatherstripping the fireplace, the total annual energy cost savings that can be achieved by weatherstripping fireplaces is $6,100,000,000.
Of course not every home in the U.S. has a fireplace. However this only serves to increase the energy cost burden for the homes that do have fireplaces.
According to estimates there are 33,000,000 fireplaces in the U.S. By dividing the total annual energy cost savings that can be achieved by weatherstripping fireplaces by the number of homes with fireplaces, the average annual savings that can be achieved by weatherstripping the fireplace would be about $200.00 per fireplace.
For more details please visit our website.
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