Tips for Buying a Fireplace Insert - Part 2 of 2

Does your home have a masonry built, open-burning wood fireplace? If you answered yes, it’s most likely highly inefficient. Explore your options in this two-part blog series! In Part 1, on April 26th, we covered the basics, including “fireplace inserts 101,” and types of inserts. In Part 2 below, we’re digging in deeper with performance, installation and fuel considerations.

Performance

What makes a fireplace insert so much more efficient than your open, wood-burning fireplace? In a nutshell, it boils down to design and technology, but here are details.

Gas Fireplace Inserts. Many are AFUE rated (annual fuel utilization efficiency), which means they’re tested to the same standards as furnaces. Direct vent gas fireplace inserts have sealed combustion systems that expel 100% of exhaust outside the home, keeping indoor air safe and clean. Technologies like IntelliFire™ significantly boost efficiencies and heat output.

Wood Fireplace Inserts. EPA-certified wood fireplace inserts can be up to 78% efficient. Today’s burn technologies provide a clean burn, expelling minimal pollutants into the outside air, with some models producing as little as 3.1 grams per hour.

Pellet Fireplace Inserts. Today’s pellet inserts have state-of-the-art technology that produces steady, regulated heat for many hours on a single load of pellets. Due to pellet density and high burn efficiencies, pellet inserts emit minimal low outside air particulates.

Installation

The cost of adding an insert, including installation, can be as low as $2,900 for gas and wood-burning units, and $3,200 for pellet-burning inserts (actual costs vary by area of the country and model chosen). For safe and reliable installation, we recommend professional installers certified by the National Fireplace Institute®. They will also obtain necessary permits and arrange required inspections. When choosing an insert, a professional hearth dealer will offer the best guidance.

Gas Fireplace Inserts. The firebox is outfitted with two separate flexible liners (pipes) that are run parallel to each other up the existing chimney, which terminates above the roof. One liner expels the fire’s combustion and the other brings in combustion air needed to feed the fire.

Wood Fireplace Inserts. The firebox is outfitted with a stainless steel, flexible single liner (pipe) that is run up the chimney and terminates above the roof.

Pellet Fireplace Inserts. The firebox is outfitted with a hybrid stainless steel vent system that runs vertically up the existing chimney, terminating to the outdoors above the roof.

Fuel

Fireplace inserts are available for natural gas/liquid propane, wood, and pellets. When choosing what fuel is right for you, consider fuel cost and availability, desired heat output, and the level of interaction and maintenance you want.

To Summarize…

Gas Fireplace Inserts:

Wood Fireplace Inserts

Pellet Fireplace Inserts

Upgrading your open masonry built wood fireplace with an insert will make your home more efficient, can help to save money, and transform the fireplace into an efficient heating unit.