Modern wood-burning fireplaces, thanks to their style and functionality, have become excellent options when it comes to heating the home. Especially when it comes to rustic homes and single-family houses of any kind.
But what are the elements that best define them and what are their advantages over other types of fireplaces? These are the questions that ParaTuReforma wants to address in this article. Do not miss it.
Modern wood-burning fireplaces
Surely, when you think of a wood-burning fireplace, the first thing that comes to mind is that open element surrounded by refractory bricks that has always heated the living room of your parents or grandparents. It is true that, nowadays, you can install one of this type. Or even build one if you have the right skills, tools and knowledge. However, this is not the type of fireplace we are referring to here.
Modern wood-burning fireplaces go one step further. Specifically, we can differentiate between two types:
- Wood-burning fireplaces with closed chamber. This is the first evolution of open fireplaces. The difference between the two is that they have a sealed door that separates the combustion area from the rest of the room. This means that the material burns more slowly and that greater use is made of it. Also, less odors and fumes are generated, which increases safety during use.
- Double chamber wood-burning fireplaces. Undoubtedly, they are the most modern wood-burning fireplaces currently available on the market. They receive this name because they have a double combustion chamber. In the first chamber, the dry wood is burned. Then, the gases produced are conducted to a second sealed compartment, where they also enter into combustion. There is no more environmentally friendly or efficient option than this in terms of heat generation.
As is obvious, this type of wood-burning fireplace has a higher price than open or closed chamber models. However, it is an additional investment that is amortized in a very short time due to the fuel savings they provide.
A functional option
It has become quite clear that modern wood-burning fireplaces are more interesting alternatives to open fireplaces. However, we can go one step further.
For example, open fireplaces return between 38 and 120 grams of carbon dioxide (CO₂) per hour to the environment, if they are in good condition. In contrast, double-chamber wood-burning fireplaces generate and transmit to the air only between 2 and 9 grams of CO₂ in the same amount of time. Closed-chamber fireplaces have similar, although slightly higher, figures.
But not only that. Double-chamber wood-burning fireplaces provide a heating efficiency of more than 80 %. In contrast, that of closed-chamber models is around 75 %. That of open fireplaces is around 70 %.
Design and elegance for the home
The aesthetic finish is another relevant aspect when choosing a wood-burning fireplace for your home. In this sense, the most modern models on the market stand out from the more traditional ones.
As with wood-burning stoves, modern wood-burning fireplaces have begun to incorporate materials that, until very recently, were unthinkable. We are talking, for example, about steel and cast iron, which offer a wide variety of design possibilities.
For example, these materials, combined with the glass screen of the watertight door, effectively hide the refractory bricks inside. They have also managed to create the most original shapes and favor the installation of wood-burning fireplaces of all these forms:
- Integrated in the wall. That is, with the structure and the smoke extraction pipe hidden, which requires a major renovation. The only thing that remains visible is the watertight door and, consequently, the wood combustion chamber.
- Superimposed on the wall. In this case, both the chimney and the extraction pipe, which is also very attractive, are visible.
- Suspended. Or, in other words, hanging from the ceiling through the flue pipe. This makes it possible, for example, to place the fireplace in the middle of the living room so that it distributes the heat more evenly.
- In the corners. Undoubtedly, the best option in small homes, since it makes it possible to effectively take advantage of these spaces that might otherwise be unusable.
Other advantages of modern wood-burning fireplaces
You already know that modern wood-burning fireplaces are the most efficient in the market and that, in turn, they can add a very elegant touch to the decoration of your home. However, they also have other advantages that we think you should know about.
The first of these has to do with the waste generated by the combustion of firewood. That is, with the ashes. Contrary to what happens with open fireplaces, they are not deposited at the bottom of the chamber, but fall into a container. This ash pan can be easily removed and then emptied, cleaned and replaced.
This solves one of the main drawbacks of conventional fireplaces, which is none other than the dirt produced by the ashes. But, in addition, they have fans that are responsible for distributing the heat evenly throughout the room. The power of this element can be regulated.
As if that were not enough, modern wood-burning fireplaces have ignition devices that facilitate the task of setting the fuel on fire. Something that, for those who are not used to doing it, is more difficult than it seems. For all these reasons, we are sure that you have been convinced to install one in your home. We invite you to contact ParaTuReforma for personalized advice or simply to ask for a quote. What are you waiting for?
