A fireplace insert is an easy way to increase the efficiency of your existing fireplace while improving its visual appeal. Fireplace inserts are not intended for whole house heating, but will add additional zoned heat to your home.
Most old fireplaces are only 5-10% efficient. This inefficiency is the result of an open heart that produces only slightly more hot air than it consumes.
New EPA certified wood burning fireplaces are 65% efficient and provide the added benefit of reducing emissions to near zero.
Fireplace inserts are classified based on the fuel they burn and the method of ventilation.
The available fuels are: natural gas, propane, wood, pellet and coal. For around $30, you can buy a kit that will convert a natural gas insert to propane. Also, if you live over 4,000 feet above sea level, your gas insert may require a smaller orifice jet to compensate for the lack of oxygen.
Fireplace inserts can be vented through an existing chimney, direct vent, B-vent, or non-vent.
A b-vent unit draws air from inside the house, through ports in the combustion chamber itself. A direct vent unit draws air through a pipe from outside the house into a sealed combustion chamber.
Direct vent models are often more efficient and safer for today’s airtight homes, as they don’t use indoor air or conflict with food from the stove and bathroom fans that circulate the same air. B-vent units are generally less expensive to install, but are more sensitive to airflow within the home.
A ventless gas fireplace has no outside vent and is not an option for wood, pellet, or charcoal inserts.
Many newer fireplace inserts are equipped with a fan for even heat distribution and can be thermostatically controlled.
Inserts are made from sheet steel or cast iron. The front is sealed with a glass door that allows for a pleasant viewing experience and increases efficiency by making the insert airtight.
Depending on the model purchased, the insert will either fit flush with the front brick of the fireplace or protrude from the hearth. The protruding design is more efficient by providing additional radiant heat from the top and exposed sides.
The National Fire Protection Association requires that chimney inserts be installed with a direct connection between the insert’s exhaust outlet and the nearest section of flue liner. This allows smoke and gases to pass faster and less time to condense in the chimney and form dangerous creosote.
Weighing in at around 400 pounds, it’s no easy feat to move the insert around when it’s time to clean your chimney. This in itself is a good reason to trust a professional chimney sweep.
Although not easy to find, some fireplace inserts have wheels on the bottom to make moving them around easier.
You can avoid moving the insert all the way to clean the chimney by installing a stainless steel pipe liner from the outlet of the insert up through the entire chimney.
When pricing fireplaces, be sure to include the cost of accessories such as blowers, catalytic combustion chambers, and glass doors.
For example, you can buy a wood burner insert for only $860.00, but the door has an additional cost, like an extra $200-$300.