Gas, Wood burning and Pellet fireplace Inserts

There are millions of homes with conventional masonry fireplaces, used to create a cozy ambiance or to add warmth on cold days. But they aren’t a good heating and environmental solution.

Traditional wood-burning fireplaces

Traditional fireplaces with an open front are, at best, 10% efficient in terms of converting wood to heat and delivering it to the house; in other words: they pollute a lot and have a negative health impact due to smoke associated with them.

To overcome these disadvantages you may consider a certified fireplace insert. Fireplace inserts convert traditional fireplaces into energy-efficient systems, much more environmentally positive. Insert Gas Fireplace

What is a fireplace insert?

A fireplace insert is like a wood stove, specially designed to be installed within the firebox of a traditional fireplace (usually masonry or meal fireplaces). The system involves a decorative faceplate, covering the space between the insert and the opening.

Today's certified fireplace inserts are very different from the older, inefficient and problematic ones. New technologies have made certified fireplace inserts into highly efficient devices, cloning the free-standing wood, gas and pellet stoves efficiency. Traditional fireplaces release 20 to 30 times more smoke than modern certified fireplace inserts (2-5 grams of smoke per hour against 40 to 60 grams, according to EPA).

Fireplace Inserts & Fuel Inserts can burn wood, pellets, or gas…

It’s your choice. Each type of fireplace insert provides the same efficiency as their stove counterparts, but there are some differences between the efficiency of wood, pellet and gas heaters.

Pellet fueled appliances may provide 10%-20% more combustion efficiency than equivalent wood ones, and gas may provide an equivalent or even higher efficiency than pellet inserts.

But you should also consider other elements, like the cost of each fuel, or issues like venting (unvented gas units do not provide the efficiency of vented ones).

Equally important - eventually more important than the fuel issue - is the whole-system and the role that a fireplace insert may have in your existing heating system.

See, on this issue: Fireplaces and stoves vs. boilers and furnaces.

Also important are technical features as the catalytic converters. Catalytic models improve dramatically the combustion efficiency.

Old and modern-certified fireplace inserts

Old fireplace inserts were inefficient and the exhaust wasn't often properly vented to the outdoors. Many older installations didn't work properly, and the transfer of heat from one room to another where often deficient. New technologies and a proper installation allow to overcome those ancient problems.

Features

Modern fireplace inserts use insulated outer casing and tight fitting ceramic glass or metal doors, besides several built-in air circulation features.

Fireplace inserts may have a single or a double wall. Double-wall inserts are more safe and efficient (and also more common). They have an air space between the exterior and interior walls, where air circulates and heats.

The most efficient models are vented (including gas-fueled ones) and have controlled air inlets. Some inserts have fans to driven heated air into the room (insert fans are crucial to improve the heated air distribution in large rooms or homes).

Chimney

Fireplace inserts may be vented or unvented (in the case of gas inserts).

Unvented fireplace inserts do not have a chimney or flue, and are becoming increasingly popular, but they pose questions involving safety and aren't supported by organizations as EPA.

Ancient factory-build fireplaces and new inserts

Some manufacturers provide fireplace inserts to some brands and models of their traditional factory-built fireplaces.

Remember, anyway: to get a high performance you should have an insert specifically designed for your model and brand.

See for details on installation: Fireplace inserts installation