At chimney safety institute of america we commonly get asked about whether homeowners should leave the glass doors on their fireplace open or closed.
Should i leave the glass doors open on my fireplace.
Tempered glass that comes standard on most fireplace doors will shatter once it reaches temperatures of 450 degrees.
Hot air rises and when the heat that was generated from the fire finds its way up and out of the chimney it tends to siphon all of the warm air in the room along with it.
Keep your doors open like this ez door steel shown to the right.
That is why we do not recommend closing the glass doors on a fireplace while there is a fire.
A fireplace uses tempered glass that is resistant to physical shock.
Why to keep your doors open.
Should you keep your doors open or closed while a fire is burning in your fireplace.
When a fire is burning your fireplace can reach temperatures up to 1200 degrees.
Doors on a fireplace that use tempered glass are more susceptible to shatter due to high temperatures from a fire and so it s recommended to always keep fireplace doors open when having a fire.
A wood stove uses a pyro ceramic glass that is resistant to thermal shock.
If you leave your glass doors open when your fireplace is not in use within a short period of time you would notice a dramatic change in your home s temperature.
If you re planning on installing a open decorative fireplace in you new construction or remodeling project consider adding the important step of choosing the right glass door for your fireplace.
This is a step you should take ownership of and not leave it up t0 the builder to supply it.
Keeping the doors open allows sufficient airflow to ensure complete combustion and to minimize the.
Keep in mind the glass used with a wood stove is different from that used with a fireplace.
It s recommended that glass doors on a wood burning fireplace are left open during a fire.
The answer is always open.