new Fireplace solutions
Traditional wood-burning fireplaces are popular, but they are also unhealthy and inefficient - and very different from new pre-built units. These last are much more efficient and do not pose the health risks of traditional units. If building a new home, do not install a traditional fireplace. If you have an old and inefficient unit, converting it into a new efficient one can be a good option.
The problem with traditional fireplaces
Traditional fireplaces are a wrong heating solution for two main reasons.
The first one is that they emit large amounts of pollutants that are harmful to human health. The American Lung Association warns us about the dangers they pose: “Burning wood emits harmful toxins and fine particles in the air that can worsen breathing problems and lead to heart and lung disease and even early death”. See: Fireplace and Health Problems
The second reason is that they are extremely inefficient: over 90% of the heat they produce is lost - an explanation of why they are rarely used as a primary source of heating. Aesthetics and ambiance are their main or only function.
Fortunately, there are now new fireplaces, inserts and stoves that may overcome the faulty side of old fireplaces, without jeopardizing the aesthetics and the ambiance associated to them.
The fireplace insert solution
Fireplaces inserts are a way of converting existing fireplaces into efficient units. Inserts are in fact – technologically – stoves converted to fit within the space of a masonry fireplace without destroying the look of traditional fireplaces.
Fireplace inserts can be of different types, according to the fuel they use: electricity, gas, pellets, wood…
See:
Fireplace Conversion
Best Wood Fireplaces
Best Electric Fireplaces
Best Gas Fireplaces
The decorative fireplace solution
If you just want to keep the cozy warmth and ambiance of a fireplace, and aren't interested in their heating output, there are now "decorative fireplaces" to fulfill it: electric fireplaces, gas logs or even gel fireplaces…
See: Decorative Gas Logs, Gel and Electric Fireplaces
Venting solutions with new fireplaces
New fireplaces use new technologies to solve the indoor air quality problem associated to traditional units. Some new fireplaces use the passive catalytic technology, but most use an airtight combustion chamber, double air combustion, and other technological improvements.
To solve the problem of emissions new fireplace solutions also use direct-venting instead of natural venting or B-venting. See: B-Venting vs. Direct Venting
Heating solutions with new fireplaces
Traditional fireplaces aren't a primary source of heating. But that isn't the case with new fireplaces and inserts. They can be a primary source of heat, or at least an important source of room heating. In this regard the role of fireplaces is similar to that of modern and efficient stoves (which share the same technology).
See: Heating Solutions with stoves
Types of new fireplaces
New fireplaces solutions can run on wood (and be of catalytic or non-catalytic type), pellets, gas or electricity. They can also be decorative-only, and vent-less or vented… See: Fireplace Types
See also:
Best of fireplaces and stoves
Best fireplace and stove companies