This is the first post in series on the different types of Fireplace inserts available to the consumer. IN this first post I will start with the electric fireplace insert. This has to be one of the original forms of inserts.
Typically this is on the cheaper end of the price range. With the fuel being electrical it makes for a very easy and cheap installation. There is no need to worry about installation of propane tanks which you get with gas systems.
So what do you get with an electric fireplace insert, three main components, the heat, the back flames and the logs.
The heat, this is generated by a heating element within the fire. Typically you will buy based on the BTU level. For information on BTU selection check my post on the topic. The elements are standard and their isn’t much difference between the various units.
The back flame, heres where you start to pay for what you get. The back flame is the image the fire projects to suggest a real fire. This is normally cast onto the back of the fire in a flickering manner that gives the impression of a real fire
The logs similar to the back flame, the more you spend the more realistic they look. Electric fireplace insert logs tend to have the bulbs inside them and are designed in such away to let light emit. This is done in such away that they look alight.
I’m not a big fan of this type of fireplace as I prefer a live flame. However for multiple reasons you may pick an electric format. My favorite of the ranges is the Arrowflame series, the log design and back flame give a good impression.
I also like the Drayton electric fireplace, this has a more subtle lighting effect that works better.
If you have questions or comment on electric fireplace inserts please post them below.
A fireplace is an architectural structure to contain a fire for heating and, especially historically, for cooking. A fire is contained in a firebox or firepit; a chimney or other flue directs gas and particulate exhaust to escape. Fireplaces are a central household feature, as the flames and crackling sounds are comforting, even when not necessary for heat or cooking. Fireplace mantels are a focus for interior decoration.
Wood-burning fireplace.
Contents
1Types of fireplace
2History
3Accessories
4See also
5References
6Further reading
Types of fireplace
Diagram of a fireplace. A. Cool air enters. B. The cool air is heated and is released. C. Smoke is released.
A fireplace may have: a foundation, a hearth, a firebox, a fireplace mantel, an ashdump door, a chimney crane, a cleanout door, a grate, a lintel, a lintel bar, overmantel, a chimney breast, a damper, a smoke chamber, a throat, a flue, a chimney chase, a crown, a cap, a shroud, or a spark arrestor.
Fireplace types:
Masonry (brick or stone fireplaces and chimneys) with or without tile lined flue. Unreinforced masonry chimneys do not stand up to earthquakes well.
Reinforced concrete chimneys. Fundamental flaws (the difference in thermal expansion rates between steel rebar and concrete which caused the chimney flues to crack when heated) bankrupted the US manufacturers and obsoleted the technique.[citation needed] This type of chimney often shows vertical cracks on the exterior of the chimney which worsen as the internal rebar rusts.
Manufactured (“prefab”) fireplace with sheet metal fire box and double or triple walled metal pipe running up inside a new or existing wood framed or masonry chase with a chase cover, a cap, and spark arrestor at the top to keep small animals out and sparks from exiting the chimney cavity. This type of fireplace is very popular for new construction for ease of installation and is very cost effective. This type of fireplace is currently being made for wood, natural gas, biomass and lp/propane fuel sources.
Ventless Fireplace (duct free fireplace) that are fueled by either gel, LP/bottled gas or natural gas. Some states and local counties have laws and ordinances regarding these types of fireplaces. They require little installation and do not use the same BTUs as a traditional fireplace. The gas burning version of a vent free fireplace while using less BTU’s worth of fuel, burn that fuel at close to 100% efficiency, making them very powerful heaters. This being the case, before purchasing a gas burning vent free appliance make sure to size it according to the cubic feet of the area it is going to be installed in. Aside from the heat output there are also air quality control issues due to the amount of moisture they release into the room air.
History
An outdoor fireplace
Ancient fire pits were sometimes built in the ground in the center of a hut or dwelling. Smoke escaped through holes in the roof. Smoke would be blown outside or back into the room. Chimneys, invented much later, partially fixed this problem, venting smoke outside.
In 1678 Prince Rupert, nephew of Charles I, raised the grate of the fireplace, improving the airflow and venting system. The 1700s saw two important developments in the history of fireplaces. Ben Franklin developed a convection chamber for the fireplace that greatly improved the efficiency of fireplaces and wood stoves. He also improved the airflow by pulling air from a basement and venting out a longer area at the top. In the later 1700s, Count Rumford designed a fireplace with a tall, shallow firebox that was better at drawing the smoke up and out of the building. The shallow design also improved greatly the amount of radiant heat projected into the room. Rumford’s design is the foundation for modern fireplaces.
One famous tradition in the United States during the Great Depression was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “fireside chats”, weekly radio addresses in which he made use of the family gathering time to state his views.
Many homes no longer have open fireplaces, their inefficient heating replaced by central heating, or electric heaters, its social function by the home entertainment center. Some fireplaces have been closed off not allowing them to be used. For homeowners that want the ambiance of a fireplace without the energy loss they have a few options. They can install into a new home or addition a high efficiency gas or wood fireplace. They do not have the appeal of a true open fireplace, but offer the fireplace effect while adding true heating value to the home. For people with existing fireplaces, the alternative to simply closing them up is to install a high efficiency gas, wood or biomass fireplace insert. Some governments have a partial ban on solid fuel burning fireplaces due to air pollution. Ventless fireplaces have received attention recently: they are free standing, requiring no chimney and no hearth. Prefabricated fireplaces are popular because of their lower construction cost and safer and more reliable operation. Brick or stone fireplaces can be designed to meet exact specifications for opening size, depth, and facing material. They cost more to build and require more maintenance.
Accessories
A wide range of accessories are used with fireplaces, which vary between countries and regions, and historical periods. For the interior, common in recent Western cultures are grates, fireguards, logboxes, andirons pellet baskets, and fire dogs, all of which cradle fuel and accelerate burning. Heavy metal firebacks are sometimes used to capture and reradiate heat, to protect the back of the fireplace, and as decoration. For fireplace tending, tools include pokers, bellows, tongs, shovels, brushes and toolstands.
See also
Fireplace with decorative screen.
Air pollution
Carbon monoxide
Chiminea
Firebox
Fireplace mantel
Fireplace insert
Wood-burning stove
Fire
Electrical Fireplace
References
^ Consumer information regarding a ventless fireplace in the US. (2009)
A wood fireplace insert is an addition to your current fireplace, it is a metal box that sits within your fireplace hearth. It is designed to improve the efficiency of your fireplace by 300%. This means you generate more heat for your home, use less firewood to burn and produce less smoke into your home and the environment.
Why should I buy a wood fireplace insert?
One word “MONEY, A wood fireplace insert will help bring down the cost of your electricity/Oil bill during the winter months. By using a renewable energy supply “WOOD” you can help the environment by reducing the demands on electricity.
Already have a fireplace, well a wood fireplace insert is designed to burn the wood hotter and too a better efficiency, whilst distributing more of the heat back into the home rather than up the chimney. A wood fireplace insert will improve the efficiency of your fire by 300%, reducing the amount of wood you need to burn but also generating more heat into your home.
Due to this huge improvement in efficiency and the wood burning hotter, more of the wood is burnt. This means less smoke is produced, less smoke means better air quality in your home as well as better for the environment.
There is also the modern aspect of a wood fireplace insert. The design features that can be applied to a metal box compared to a stone fireplace are huge. This has allowed designers to come up with modern sleek designs that keep the charm and romance of a fire. Yet add a modern twist by making them widescreen in shape, surrounded in brushed stainless steel.
Overall
A wood fireplace insert provides the benefits of a cheap fuel source, that works far more efficiently compared to current fireplaces. It then can help add a modern design feature to your home. When previously fireplaces were part of the foundations and as such were very expensive to change.
Many households enjoy the antique atmosphere of having a fireplace serving as the centerpiece of any living room. But it takes a little bit of knowledge to understand how these traditional fireplaces actually work. Fireplaces cannot do their functions without any air as the fire will cease to burn. A draft then occurs after the air is channeled towards the fire and subsequently heated thus pulling the air from inside up the chimney. A vacuum is then created pulling the cold air in which is the main problem here.
Wood burning fireplace inserts are there to solve the problems when it comes to handling the burdens and expenses involved. Because these wood burning fireplace inserts use the same working technologies that wood burning stoves use, it is sure that these types of fireplace inserts will increase the heating efficiency of the fire being burned while maintaining Environmental Protection Agency certification to ensure that they can be safely used within the home.
Wood burning fireplace inserts are primarily made up of cast iron or plate steel to ensure clean burning and they have frontal doors that are made of glass to allow a clear view of the fire. These doors are special because they are self-cleaning so they can stay closed to further increase the heating efficiency.
Many of these fireplace inserts have blowers that are built in to enhance heat circulation in the room that it is installed in as well as other adjacent rooms. Depending on the model chosen, these blowers can be found mounted on the sides of the insert or inside the front. Some models may allow manual control while others can be controlled automatically through the use of a thermostat.
Vermont Castings offers a small and fine selection of wood fireplace inserts to choose from that can match the decors of any home. It uses the heat circulating blower standard and is EPA approved to meet the safety and environmental requirements. When looking for good wood burning fireplace inserts that match the quality of the ones offered by Vermont Castings, make sure that they are highly efficient while at the same time requiring as little wood as possible to avoid extra handling. Also take note of the BTU, burn time, and heating area to make sure that you get the best benefits possible.
Installing wood burning fireplace inserts is possible only if the insert has a positive connection from the outlet to the very first section of the flue liner. This is needed to make sure that the smoke goes up the chimney while minimizing the combustible deposits that cause condensation within the fireplace. An ideal installation option is to fully reline the chimney and make use of the smaller pipe size to provide a better draft. This installation method adds a significant margin of safety. It also makes cleaning a bit easier of the stainless steel pipe goes all the way to the chimney’s peak.
With knowledge in choosing the right wood burning fireplace insert and setting up the wood fireplace insert, you should be able to feel the benefits of having one in your home especially during the winter time.
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
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