What to do now? woodburning fireplace

[rbdhd]

Greetings,
Here is my first post here and I'm sure I can get some help from here based on the great wealth of info I've read thus far.

I have a wood burning fireplace at home that I would like to try and get some more heat from when it is in use. I have a front door I purchased for the fireplace before and I really like how I can seal the front when the fire is about out for the night and let the fire go completely out without the front wide open. Here is what I purchased http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0038JCXIC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage
What I would like to do is add a blower to the fireplace and get some of that heat out to the room/ house but I'm not sure any of those inset/ blowers will work with the front cover I have added. I'm looking at items like this http://www.woodlanddirect.com/Firep...rs/Spitfire-Fireplace-Heater-with-Blower-Unit or like this http://www.woodlanddirect.com/Firep...e-Heater-for-Zero-Clearance-Fireplace-4-Tubes or even this type http://www.woodlanddirect.com/Firep...ower-Unit-for-Zero-Clearance-Fireplace-Heater. The product or the place I purchase from is not set but rather I'm showing examples.
My last thought was maybe I'm better off getting a wood burner stove or some type of insert that will be better at helping heat the home but not cost to much more. The home is not an open room design so I'm not sure if I'll get much heat in the home from adding anything at all. Maybe there is a way to add vents to the current fireplace that will distribute heat well enough without costing a fortune.

Thank you.
Dave

 

[bholler]

if you want to really get any heat from burning wood you will want a stove or insert. Some of those products do help get a little more heat out of a fireplace but it usually is not that much. And if they did work to well you would end up with the flue gasses being to cool and you would have allot of creosote buildup.

 

[electrathon]

If you want real heat, you will need a stove. It will also cost a lot more to set up.

 

[rwhite]

I was in your shoes once and I can tell you that all the gadgets may help to a small degree. Here are the issues you will never overcome;
1. Fire requires O2 and that the doors be open during burning. Basically you are sucking all the warm out out of the house to burn an open fireplace.

2. Once the fire is out and the doors shut just light a match next to the doors and see how much air is traveling up the chimney.

Basically if you want ambiance a fireplace will work but it will still rob air from the house. If you want heat get a stove. I bought my insert used for cheaper than some of the gadgets for an open fireplace.

 

[rbdhd]

Thanks for the info folks! I have a lot to think about. I would like to go the route of an insert and then have it done right. For now I think I'll just keep it as is.

I did know that the doors are not keeping the heat in the home completely but they do help a little until I get the fireplace closed up the next morning.

Dave