Reflective inserts for home gas fireplaces

[berkeman]

TL;DR Summary

What would be a good material and cleaning schedule to improve the heat efficiency of home gas fireplaces?

I guess this applies to wood-burning fireplaces as well, but they will require more frequent reflector surface cleaning.

Our gas fireplace is fairly warm, but it's clear that it's not as efficient as it could be. It seems like reflective back and side inserts would reflect a lot more of the IR energy into the living room and improve the heating efficiency.

I've searched a fair amount for air circulation inserts and reflective wall inserts, but haven't found a good solution. Does anybody know if good inserts exist, and for the reflective versions, what material they are made out of and how often you need to clean them to keep them efficiently reflecting the heat energy?

Thanks.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon..._PIWhiteStrip,BottomLeft,0,35_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

 

[Keith_McClary]

The heat either goes up the chimney or into your room. Adding reflectors won't change that.
(Also, your insurance company probably doesn't approve of such modifications.)

 

[Ranger Mike]

Berke, Merry Christmas. I am in west Ohio and out in the country. I heat with wood. Wood burning stove. Back up is LP heater. I built the house in 1990 with 2 x 6 and it is so insulated i can not start a fire until it hits below 30 deg F. I clean the chimney yearly if i burn over two cords of wood. I have owned many woodburners over the years and the Buck stove with convection motor is a good one. If it were me and i wanted more heat from your gas insert i would look at adding 1 1/2" exhaust pipe and a blower to actually interact with the visible flames. If designed right it would not be that obtrusive in appearance and could be made pretty cheap.

 

[berkeman]

(Also, your insurance company probably doesn't approve of such modifications.)

Interesting point, I hadn't considered that issue. The insert would be made of metal, so not flammable. But if it collapsed for some reason, that could cause safety issues (CO or knocking embers out of the fireplace). I'll keep safety issues in mind on this project; thanks for the reminder.

 

[Keith_McClary]

Not all fireplaces accept blowers, so how can you determine if your fireplace can take advantage of the benefits a blower offers?

 

[Ranger Mike]

there are plenty of aftermarket fireplace blowers on the market today. i can fabricate a set up for just about any fireplace in operation..ifin you got enough time and money!