Wood Fireplace Inserts

Wood fireplace inserts convert the traditionally inefficient masonry fireplace into a high efficiency heat source.

Traditional masonry fireplace are, for the most part, inefficient. Much of the heat created by the burning wood escapes up the chimney, even with fireplaces that have blowers on the side. The main problem is how the heat is conducted within the chimney of the fireplace. Since the top of the fireplace is exposed to the cold air, heat is conducted away from the room and up toward the opening of the chimney, resulting in major heat loss. Wood fireplace inserts are a great solution to this heat loss problem.

Wood fireplace inserts are designed to fit into your existing fireplace. Stock size inserts stick out a bit from the fireplace. It's designed to look like it's supposed to be that way though, so it doesn't look unnatural, or you can have an insert custom made and retrofitted to your existing masonry fireplace.

Fireplace inserts are specifically designed with openings on the sides and bottom of the insert and not on the back. This allows for warm air to escape to the front of the fireplace and into the room you're heating as opposed to being absorbed in the masonry of the chimney and conducted out of the house. The opening on the bottom of the fireplace (called a firebox bottom) operates much like the air intake vents of a furnace. It draws cooler air into the fireplace, warms it and blows it out the side vents.

Finally, since the air is constantly being heated by the insert, this allows for greater warm airflow from room to room. This makes fireplace inserts significantly more energy efficient than a traditional masonry fireplace that tends to heat only the room in which the fireplace exists.

The cost of a wood fireplace insert is significant. Most will run you, at the very least, $1,000 and that doesn't include any extras such as:

• Chimney liner kits – The cost of a stainless steel chimney liner kit is around $500
• Fire screens – These screens aren't absolutely necessary, but if you like to hear the crackle of a warm fire, you need a screen so no hot ashes pop out into your room. Screens generally start in price at around $100.
• Surround panel extensions – Most every fireplace insert comes with a surround panel, but if the front of your existing fireplace is relatively large, you may need to purchase a surround extension. These will cost you at least an extra $200, depending on the dimensions of the surround panel extensions.

Here's a quick list of places you can browse, compare prices and buy fireplace inserts. Remember to make sure you're looking at inserts for wood fireplaces, not gas and always check shipping costs. These inserts are heavy, so shipping tends to run high.

• NexTag
• Lopi Stoves
• Vermont Castings
• Enviro Fire
• Ace Hardware and Hearth
• Heat 'n Glo
• Calibex

With the cost of energy skyrocketing every single year, the initial cash outlay for a wood fireplace insert is completely justifiable. Plus, you get the added bonus of being more environmentally friendly because burning a fire with an insert means you're burning a cleaner fire and not releasing so much carbon monoxide into the atmosphere. With the way the cost of natural gas is rising, a wood fireplace insert will pay for itself in one winter, and don't forget to check your chimney for buildup every season, before you use the fireplace for the first time.

Finally, keep all softwoods like pine or birch out of your wood burning fireplace. These woods contain a high amount of extremely flammable creosote which builds up on your chimney walls, leaving it prone to chimney fires. So, when burning a nice fire, stick with the cleaner burning hardwoods. When in doubt of the cleanliness of your chimney, get it swept. Those chimney sweeping logs that are supposed to remove the buildup in your chimney don't really work and can never take the place of having a chimney professionally swept.

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