I have lived in three houses now with fireplaces, but I have never made a fire in any of them. I'm told they aren't worth the effort because they end up increasing the heating costs during the winter. The heated air goes up the chimney and, through convection, just draws the cooler air from all over the house so you don't even feel warm.
Makes sense from what I learned in school about heat & cold, but I wonder - why even have a chimney if that's so? Chimneys have been around since the middle ages, when they were an innovation for dealing with the cold during the 'little ice age' (the late middle ages were much colder than the preceding centuries). Prior to their invention you had to build a fire inside the house if you wanted one, and the smoke would have to ventilate through the windows and door. It must have been a net benefit; people wouldn't have built them into their houses if the net effect was to make the house colder. You can't fool people who live their whole lives in austere environments, and they have no tolerance for nonsense.
What are we doing wrong? Is there a right way to use a wood fire in the fireplace that is a net benefit to the occupants? Am I missing something?
Makes sense from what I learned in school about heat & cold, but I wonder - why even have a chimney if that's so? Chimneys have been around since the middle ages, when they were an innovation for dealing with the cold during the 'little ice age' (the late middle ages were much colder than the preceding centuries). Prior to their invention you had to build a fire inside the house if you wanted one, and the smoke would have to ventilate through the windows and door. It must have been a net benefit; people wouldn't have built them into their houses if the net effect was to make the house colder. You can't fool people who live their whole lives in austere environments, and they have no tolerance for nonsense.
What are we doing wrong? Is there a right way to use a wood fire in the fireplace that is a net benefit to the occupants? Am I missing something?