Fireplaces: Will using them lower your heating bill

I have a fireplace in my open living room and dining room combo. I have just starting using it yesterday.

Question is does anyone really think it will work to lower your heating bill?

I will also recieve approx. 75% of my firewood for free.

Does anyone here use it exclusively? Or started to use their fireplace and notice a big difference in the heating bill?

Re: Fireplaces: Will using them lower your heating bill

We run our wood burning stove all the time and although it hasnt drastically reduced the need for oil, I notice the heat doesnt click on as often.

Re: Fireplaces: Will using them lower your heating bill

regular fireplaces with flue style chimneys are not really energy savers, alot of the heat from the fire as well as the warm air in your house goes out the chimney. Enclosed stoves are much more efficient & help with lowering bills, they are designed to give off heat without drawing much air from the home. Wood burning fireplaces are beautiful to have & enjoy though. If you have tight fitting glass doors on your fireplace, that helps a little. Also make sure you close the flue when you are not using it.

Message edited 12/29/2007 11:24:12 AM.

Re: Fireplaces: Will using them lower your heating bill

Re: Fireplaces: Will using them lower your heating bill

No it's more for "fun".

You actually will lose a lot of heat by using the fireplace since the heat of the house will escape though the chimney.

The chimney cleaning guy told us we are supposed to keep it "open" for 24 hours to make all the gases are out after burning wood/logs. So it's not really worth it.