Before Winter Hits: Why It Makes Sense to Invest in a Closed Combustion Fireplace

When the winter temperatures plummet, generating sufficient heat in the home can be a challenge. Gas and electrical heaters are expensive to run and have limited heating capacity. Open fires are messy and require constant feeding, and much of the heat they generate is lost up chimneys.

So what heating alternative is fuel efficient, environmentally friendly and clean burning? Our answer is a closed combustion fireplace.

What is a closed combustion fireplace?

A closed combustion fireplace is a sealed unit made from cast iron or rolled steel. Wood or anthracite is fed into the fire through a heat-resistant glass door. Ash is contained in a removable drawer located below the grate.

You can adjust the air flow to increase or decrease the amount of heat that’s produced, and there’s a built-in flue to extract the smoke.

The beauty of a sealed fireplace is that you can watch the flames dancing and enjoy the ambience of a real fire, without the nuisance factors of soot and smoke – or the fire risk posed by sparks or displaced embers.

Cost, fuel and environmental efficiency of closed combustion fireplaces

Our closed combustion fireplaces use a double combustion system, which recirculates and re-ignites the heated air generated by a fire. The result is that fuel burns more completely, with 70 to 80% of heat returned to the room and 90% lower emissions of smoke and other gases than conventional fireplaces.

Because these fireplaces are so efficient, they use roughly a third of the wood that an open fire would consume. This makes them more environmentally friendly, as well as cheaper to operate.

If the power goes down, you and your family will still have heat – and properly maintained, closed combustion fireplaces can last for up to 25 years.

How does closed combustion compare with other heating options?

Electric heaters are expensive to operate, dry the air and aren’t very effective in heating a room. The heat conversion rate is only around 37 percent – a really poor result when compared to the average 75 percent yielded by a closed combustion fireplace.

Gas heaters are more efficient. In fact, some systems can convert 96 percent of the heat available in natural gas. However, gas is expensive, runs out relatively quickly and can be hazardous if not handled properly.

An open fire may look nice and warm but it can actually have the reverse effect on the comfort of a room. As hot air rises, a lot of heat escapes up the chimney. Sometimes, the upward surge of heat can even leave a room colder than it was before the fire was started in the grate.

Closed combustion fireplaces burn slowly and cleanly, use a lot less fuel and radiate more heat over a wider area. They are attractive, low-maintenance heating systems ideal for modern indoor living spaces.

Closed combustion fireplaces offered by Turbovent

Turbovent is South Africa’s leading supplier of indoor cooling and heating solutions. We offer an extensive range of high-end combustion fireplaces. Some are slim, sleek and contemporary, while others have the more rustic, comforting look of old wood stoves.

Call Turbovent on 0860 266 5347 or contact us online and beat the winter blues by installing a clean, green and energy-efficient closed combustion fireplace in your home.