Do Blowers Really Help a Fireplace?

Fireplace blowers help the fireplace perform efficiently for its original purpose -- to heat your home. Many people enjoy a fireplace due to the calming and cozy effect of a crackling and colorful fire and don't count on it to provide additional warmth. Fireplaces have gotten a bad reputation in the past because some people believe it is only useful for its aesthetic value; adding a blower helps decrease your heating expenses.

The purpose of a fireplace blower is to help circulate warm air throughout the room. It has a fan motor and baffles that allow it to do the job efficiently. The fan draws cool air in and heats it up inside the baffles before being forced out into the room. The baffles are located in front of or on top of the blower fan. Instead of the heat emanating 3 or 4 feet away from the flames in a fireplace without a blower, the heat is felt in all areas of the room.

When selecting a blower, the goal for consumers is to purchase one with a high cfm value -- cubic feet per minute. Choosing a high number increases the energy of your fireplace from 74 to 92 percent. The fireplace blower uses only a small amount of electricity, therefore the added heat in the room far outweighs any extra electricity required while the blower motor is functioning. Some blowers include a thermostat.

Fear of the blower detracting from the attractiveness of the fireplace is not a concern. The only apparent difference is a few small vents that draw in cold air, warm it and then expel the heated air out into the room, thus the addition does not detract from the aesthetics of the appliance.

When purchasing a fireplace, look for one that comes with a blower. This is standard on many models. If you have an existing fireplace, it is not complicated to install a blower if the fireplace was installed with power. Many homes come with a standard fireplace without added features. Contractors often add electricity to the junction box so that the homeowner has the option to add a blower to the fireplace in the future. Generally, a 110-volt alternating current in the electrical junction box is appropriate for a blower installation. Check with the salesclerk where you purchased the fireplace to see if adding a blower is an option for your particular model.