Englund suggests starting by opening windows in the room where the fireplace is located, and perhaps opening some other windows on the same floor to create cross-ventilation. Turn on overhead ceiling fans or other ventilation if possible.
Open a window when using the fireplace to prevent the room from becoming smoky. The air coming in from the window will go up the chimney. Before making a fire, open the glass doors, pull aside the screen curtains, and place the kindling, newspaper and logs inside.
Unflued gas heaters require ongoing ventilation to external spaces to allow fresh air to fuel the burner and discharge combustion products.
One caution, though: Fireplaces with installed gas logs are required to have the damper open at all times. That's either because a pilot light is constantly burning under the logs or because the homeowner might forget to open the damper when he or she turns on the fire.
While all this might seem like a minor issue, getting it wrong can have a notable impact on your fuel economy; using AC can increase your fuel consumption by as much as 10% but opening the windows at higher speeds can increase fuel consumption by as much as 20%.
Rolling Windows Down
Open windows do not directly affect the performance of your engine, but they still affect fuel economy. Air flowing over your car gets sucked into your windows, creating a breeze. Unfortunately, the air flow creates resistance, increasing the work your engine must do to move your car down the road.
Proper Ventilation: Ensure proper ventilation in the room where you use your gas heater. Portable gas heaters release combustion by-products, such as carbon monoxide, which can be harmful if not adequately ventilated. Crack open a window or door to allow fresh air to circulate.
Englund suggests starting by opening windows in the room where the fireplace is located, and perhaps opening some other windows on the same floor to create cross-ventilation. Turn on overhead ceiling fans or other ventilation if possible.
It's vital to keep both your fireplace doors and chimney flue closed when a fire is not burning and open when a fire is burning. Hot air rises, and when the heat that was generated from the fire finds its way up and out of the chimney, it tends to siphon all of the warm air in the room along with it.
Does Opening Windows Help With Carbon Monoxide? Opening windows helps the carbon monoxide quickly leave your home (as does opening doors). However, don't leave your exit path when getting out during this emergency to open as many windows as you can.
Glass doors are beneficial on both gas and traditional fireplaces. They add a finishing touch to your fireplace look and can also help keep small children and pets out. It's important to remember that your glass doors should always remain open when burning gas logs.
Answer: It is not safe to leave a gas fireplace on overnight or while sleeping.
Efficiency isn't the only benefit of a glass-fronted fireplace. The fact that they are airtight and sealed means that the room is safe from exhaust fumes. All Escea gas fireplaces are all glass fronted because this is the only way to seal the combustion area of the fireplace.
If you live in a cooler climate, opening windows strategically can be a viable option for cooling your home. However, if you live in a warmer climate with high levels of humidity, it is generally more efficient to keep your air conditioning unit running and your windows tightly sealed.
However, in general, studies have shown that having your windows down conserves more fuel than running the AC. Even the Discovery Channel's MythBusters have tackled the debate. Their experiment revealed that, in their conditions, keeping the windows rolled down was also the more fuel-efficient choice.
The MythBusters found that at highway speeds, cars were indeed more fuel-efficient with the AC on rather than having the windows down. The added drag from the open windows at high speeds decreased aerodynamic efficiency more than the load from the AC. However, at lower speeds, the results might differ.
If the gas stove and oven is not vented outside, open a window when cooking. A fan in the window can help vent gases. Use the exhaust hood when cooking.
Opening the windows will let CO2 out, but it will also let air pollution in. However, it may be easy to fix. Our tests have found that strong purifiers like the Cannon and Blasts for example can cut PM2. 5 by 50% in just 10 minutes after closing the windows.
Do not open windows and doors if you smell gas outside your home. Natural gas is lighter than air, so opening windows and doors will diffuse the gas to outside of your home. DO NOT use any open flame nor touch any switches, including exhaust fan, kitchen fan, and light switches.
There are several ways to increase heat output from your gas fireplace. Some methods include using a fireplace blower to circulate the air, installing a heat exchanger, placing a fireback behind the fireplace to reflect heat, and converting a gas fireplace to a gas insert.
The amount of gas a gas fireplace uses depends on several factors, including the size and type of fireplace, how often it is used, and how long it is used each time—generally speaking. However, most gas fireplaces use between 10,000 and 25,000 BTUs (British Thermal Units) per hour.
Adequate airflow is imperative to the combustion process, so it makes good sense that inadequate air flow would lead to reduced heat output. Issues may arise from a variety of factors: creosote build up or other blockages in the chimney flue, insufficient ventilation, or negative air pressure within the home.