Warm Your Home More Efficiently With Fireplace Inserts

Fireplace inserts are used when conventional masonry or factory-produced fireplaces need to be retrofitted. They can be used for burning gas, wood or wood pellets and provide superior heating qualities. Basically fireplace inserts are just wood stoves that have been designed to fit into conventional open fireplaces so that they run cleaner and more efficiently.

Commonly made from cast iron or plate steel, fireplace inserts have transparent doors enabling visibility of the attractive flames. A manufacturer can design them to fit perfectly into the opening of existing fireplaces, or they can actually protrude onto part of the hearth, all depending on what the homeowner chooses. The further an insert protrudes, however, the more heat it is able to radiate because of the exposure from the top, bottom and sides.

Blowers are an important element in fireplace inserts although they don’t exist in all models. Most often mounted in front or on the sides of the insert, blowers improve the heating efficiency and can be controlled manually or thermostatically regulated.

Cleaning
Since fireplace inserts are extremely heavy – some weigh over 450 pounds – they can be somewhat of an inconvenience when it comes time to clean the chimney. They need to be removed to enable proper cleaning and maintenance and professional chimney sweeping contractors should be called in to do the job. One way to get around moving it, however, is to install a full relining collar. This is a stainless steel pipe that is attached to the insert and which runs to the top of the chimney.

Certification
It’s important when you go shopping for fireplace inserts that you look for certified models. The EPA requires that all inserts manufactured and sold after July 1, 1992 must pass rigorous emission tests. Uncertified models pose a health threat to your family and your immediate neighbors by releasing double the fine particle pollutants of certified units. Companies such as Hearthstone, Vermont Castings, Terra Viva and Travis Industries all offer a range of different models and all fully certified. With manufacturing done at home in the U.S., there is no need to import these products, and the certification gives you peace of mind that you’re buying a quality item.

Venting
Fireplace inserts can be direct-vented, vent-free or vented naturally via the existing chimney, but the method depends on the choice of fuel employed. Once you’ve chosen the fireplace inserts for your home, you can then set about selecting the look of the faceplate you want. Available in a huge range of styles, from the minimalist and simple to the detailed and majestic, your décor will truly benefit from the focal point your new fireplace creates.

Using a fireplace instead of central heating brings a totally different kind of warmth into a home. The crackle of the flames, the homely feeling of the hearth and mantel and the beauty of the unit itself are all gifts you can give to your family on a daily basis throughout the chilly winter months, making home the place to be for young and old. Fireplace inserts make for safer, more efficient and cleaner heating and draw visitors to the coveted fireside spot where they can take full advantage of the ambience. Chatting and sipping hot chocolate by the light of the flickering flames is an enjoyment that shouldn’t be underestimated.