Inserts Fireplace Info

As the name suggests these are inserts for your existing fireplace. They can convert an old dull looking fireplace into a modern style. There are many benefits from using a fireplace inserts as I will discuss in more depth below.

Technically a fireplace insert, is a metal box that is put into your fireplace. This box then has a fully functioning fireplace typically it is a modern direct vent system installed in front of it. This allows you to totally change the look and efficiency of your fireplace, at minimal cost compared to traditional methods. Traditionally installing a new fireplace would require a new chimney installing or at least heavy masonry to redesign the surround.

The role of the insert is to draw the fumes and gases from the new fireplace and redirect them up the original chimney. This saves you the buyer from having to put holes in your wall for exhaust vents or having large metal grills on the outside of your home.

Some information of modern fireplaces inserts, this type of fireplace has been designed to remove all the in efficiencies of your old style fireplace.

By buying a fireplace insert you are replacing your old inefficient model with a modern very efficient system. This more efficient system will reduce energy costs and improve the environmental conditions in your home.

Lower emissions, Because the system is more efficient for burning, the amount of smoke, fumes and dust particles emitted from a system like this is minimum.

You will typically find three types of fireplace inserts. First the Gas insert, second the wood burning insert and finally a pellet system.

Why should you change from an existing working fireplace, other than the benefits mentioned above. The modern fireplaces are exactly that!, they are modern, which means they come with modern styling, widescreen style designs, Designs using stainless steel surrounds. That said they also have a large range of classic designs, so the one item in your home you didn’t redecorate has now become re-designable.

The modern features also mean that the old way of doing things have been replaced. One excellent example of this is the on/off button. Image, You’ve just got home after a hard day at work, the house is cold and you just want to sit by a roaring fire. Well, typically this would require going outside to collect the wood, cleaning out the old ash from the previous fire. Fighting to get the kindling to light and after 30 mins your main logs will have started to make embers. Typically meaning the fire is at its warmest as you are going to bed.
So how can this process be modernised, remember getting up to switch channels on the TV. Thats right Remote controlled fireplaces, with the press of a button you can start your fire.

Extra Features, not only can you start the fire, but the remote control also helps to manage heat levels and quantity of flame. So the scenario now is, come home from work, Turn on the TV, Turn on the Fireplace, grab a glass of wine and relax. No mess, No Fuss, Just a cosy warm fire.

This is an introduction to Fireplace inserts please check out the other posts on this website. If you have any questions or would like to comment please post below.

OK how often have you heard a similar sales line, well in the case of Fireplace inserts it is true. Over the years there has been some redevelopment of the original fireplace, typically these designs were ugly, I mean really ugly. I still remember my grandmas old flickering plastic wood fire, heated by coiled elements. This wasn’t a way to show off your home.

Since 1992 however designs have really started to improve, both technically and esthetically. This can be seen by the styles and designs of fireplaces on shows like home makeover and homes of the rich and famous. Just about every lifestyle magazine or home decorating mag have had these in there article pictures.

The biggest improvements in the last few years have really been to improve efficient use of fuel, whether that be gas, wood, coal, electricity, or pellets. This design work has been driven by the major selling point that is the environment.

To give you an idea of the impact of fireplaces on the environment. The EPA identified that in the US there are 29 million wood burning fireplaces. This type of fireplace burns fuel only 20% efficient that means the other 80% goes straight up the chimney to warm the environment or pollute it with smoke. Thats the good news, it gets worse when you just have the embers burning at this point your fire is 10% efficient. As there are no flames to radiate the heat.

In comparison a typical modern fireplace insert with EPA approval typically has a fuel efficiency rating of 75% or above. That means for the same heat in your home, you are using nearly 4 times less fuel to generate it. To really be clear on this point that means for every 4 logs you would normally burn you would only need 1. It was this information that really caught my eye.

Other than fuel consumption, s fireplace insert have more immediate environmental benefits. The main one being smoke inhalation, how many of you don’t allow smoking in your house and get annoyed when you have to breathe in passive smoke? I imagine a resounding never, we are all strongly aware of the negative health problems that passive smoking can generate. Especially on small children.

Firewood smoke might smell nice and be traditionally accepted but just think what is the major difference between wood smoke and tobacco smoke???

Finally dust particles, with the increase in asthma, allergies reducing the amount of dust entering your home is a positive.  I suggest you weight 60 grams of flour, thats 1/2 a cup, this is how much dust is emitted by an old fireplace in an hour!!! Typically fires burn for 2-3 hours, that means your home has received 1.5 cups of dust into your home.
Buying a Fireplace insert with a modern system will reduce the mount of dust in your home to 2-5 grams an hour or 0.02 cups. This means you could run your modern fireplace for up to 25 hours before you would have the same amount of dust as a normal fire in an hour.

For more advice and help on Fireplace inserts please read the rest of the posts in my website. If you have questions or comments please share by filling in the form below

Greg Pahl, has done a great video on his experience of installing a fireplace insert.

Please review Gregs video below.