Inserts are much smaller than fireplaces again because they are designed to fit into the opening, they will have much smaller glass fronts for the same reason. Inserts are designed to replace the inefficient wood fireplaces with new, cleaner burning appliances inside of them.
What is a fireplace insert and how does it work?
Similar to a wood stove, a fireplace insert is a steel or cast iron box with an insulated glass front that is installed into an existing masonry fireplace in order to improve its efficiency. The insert is designed to contain and radiate heat back into the room, cutting down on the inefficiencies of traditional fireplaces.
Why convert a traditional fireplace to a gas fireplace insert?
Warm air can be pulled up the chimney, resulting in heat lost within the room your fireplace is located in, as well as additional rooms. As a result, only 15% of the wood in your fireplace’s energy is actually converted into heat. In comparison, a gas insert can get up to 80% heat efficiency and properly heat your home.
How do you use a fireplace insert?
A fireplace insert is typically inserted into an open fireplace (like the one shown above).. The main types of fireplace inserts include wood burning, gas and electric.The insert may or may not take up the whole of the space within the fireplace firebox and an extra surround can be used to plug the gap between the insert and the opening of the fireplace.
How much does a fireplace insert cost?
The fireplace inserts come in different sizes depending on the size of the area you need to heat up. The bigger the size of the insert, the more it costs. An 18-inch fireplace insert that can heat an area of 100 square feet or less costs $500, while a 36-inch insert that can heat up to 2,000 square feet costs up to $2,000.
Is a fireplace insert better than a fireplace?
Pros: Perhaps the best part of owning a fireplace insert is the lack of cleaning it requires in addition to the amount of heat it radiates into your room. With options available including gas, pellet, or wood-burning, a fireplace insert sits inside your existing fireplace and connects to your flue.
What is the purpose of a fireplace insert?
Most fireplace inserts are designed to increase a fireplace's efficiency. An insert is basically a fireproof box that's surrounded by steel or cast iron and fronted by insulated glass, creating a closed combustion system. The steel or cast iron helps to trap the heat.
How do I know if I have a fireplace insert?
You can generally tell you have a fireplace insert if the firebox is metal and surrounded by a steel shell. To know for sure what type of insert you have, look for the nameplate under the grill by the pilot light and gas valve.
Are fireplace inserts safer than fireplace?
Are These Inserts Safe? There is obvious fire hazard risk with any fireplace, but it's much lower than a standard wood burning fireplace since the fire is contained within the insert's firebox. The main area of concern with fireplace inserts is if you have a ventless gas system.
Is a fireplace insert worth the money?
Are Fireplace Inserts Worth the Money? Overall, a fireplace insert gives most individuals the value the want including: Time Savings: Less maintenance such as cleaning, removing ash, and adding wood to the fire.
Do fireplace inserts increase home value?
According to the National Association of Real Estate Appraisers, adding a fireplace to home can increase the resale value of the home by as much as 6-12 percent.
How much does it cost to put in a fireplace insert?
Installation and Labor Costs The insert itself will cost around $1,200, with labor costs running between $500 and $3,500 depending on the complexity of the job. You will need to take into account some extra expenses before you install your new gas insert.
Do fireplace inserts need electricity?
Do Fireplace Inserts Need Electricity? Simple wood burning fireplace inserts and some gas log inserts may not require household electricity (110vac). However, if a blower (fan) is wanted then the fireplace insert would require a cord to be run to a nearby outlet in the room.
Do electric fireplace inserts need a vent?
Q – Do Electric Fireplaces need venting? A – No, Electric fireplaces do not create any emissions and therefore do not need to be vented through a chimney, direct vent, or other source like gas and wood fireplaces do.
How long do fireplace inserts last?
A wood-burning fireplace insert needs to last a minimum of 10 years, and it will experience considerable heat stress.
Will a fireplace insert heat my home?
Absolutely! And many houses already have a fireplace. It's just a matter of using it to bring some much-desired warmth into your home. That said, unlike central air, no fireplace is going to be able to properly heat your entire home at once.
Do you need a damper with a fireplace insert?
Fireplace damper clamps are typically used for gas fireplace inserts or gas logs sets where it's required for the damper to be in fully open position at all times. A damper does not need to be used to control a gas fireplace fire, and it can be very dangerous to use a gas fireplace with a damper in the closed position.
Will a fireplace insert heat my home?
Absolutely! And many houses already have a fireplace. It's just a matter of using it to bring some much-desired warmth into your home. That said, unlike central air, no fireplace is going to be able to properly heat your entire home at once.
How do you start a fire in a fireplace insert?
3:005:45building a wood fire in a fireplace insert - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI'm going to put a little larger kindling all the wood that I put on top is the truest one I have.MoreI'm going to put a little larger kindling all the wood that I put on top is the truest one I have. So it burns quicker. And it heats up quicker.
How much does it cost to put in a fireplace insert?
Installation and Labor Costs The insert itself will cost around $1,200, with labor costs running between $500 and $3,500 depending on the complexity of the job. You will need to take into account some extra expenses before you install your new gas insert.
Do fireplace inserts need electricity?
Do Fireplace Inserts Need Electricity? Simple wood burning fireplace inserts and some gas log inserts may not require household electricity (110vac). However, if a blower (fan) is wanted then the fireplace insert would require a cord to be run to a nearby outlet in the room.
What is a fireplace insert?
A fireplace insert is basically a stove, wood or gas, that is designed to be inserted into a fireplace that is already there. Usually a wood burning fireplace built with the home will get an “insert” put inside of it.
What is needed after a fireplace is installed?
After the fireplace gets installed into the wall there is typically drywall, tile, and stonework that will accompany the later portion of the project. Fireplaces will have large viewing areas and box dimensions because they are designed to be built into new construction and not limited by the existing fireplace opening size.
Why are inserts so small?
Inserts require very little if any construction because you are utilizing the existing fireplace and opening for the insert. Inserts are much smaller than fireplaces again because they are designed to fit into the opening, they will have much smaller glass fronts for the same reason.
Do you need an insert for a fireplace?
If you don’t want a construction project and you want heat you are after an insert. If you don’t have a fireplace in the home or you want to remove and entirely replace the existing one (tear open the wall, remove tile, drywall, paint, etc.) then you need a new fireplace.
What Is the Purpose of a Fireplace Insert?
To explain it simply, the purpose of a fireplace insert is to upgrade the capabilities of a fireplace that is not sufficient as is.
What Is the Difference Between a Firebox and an Insert?
It is easy to see why this confusion often exists because a fireplace insert can be considered as a type of firebox.
Do All Fireplace Inserts Have Blowers?
The topic of blowers is another thing that people commonly want to know more about regarding the fireplace insert topic. A blower is a fan that is mounted outside of the firebox itself. Its purpose is to circulate air around the hot exterior of the unit. From there, it pushes the air back into the room that is being heated by the fire.
Can You Use a Fireplace Insert Without a Fireplace?
Many property owners want to know whether or not you can use a fireplace insert without a fireplace. Though it is true that a fireplace insert offers many of the benefits of a wood stove, these inserts are designed specifically to be placed into a masonry fireplace with a chimney. For this reason, you must have a fireplace to be able to use a fireplace insert.
What is the difference between a fireplace and a fireplace insert?
The difference is in how the two are constructed and the efficiency with which they do their jobs.
How does a gas fireplace insert work?
Gas fireplace inserts perform similarly. The whole idea is to preserve as much heat as possible from the fire and deliver it to a room rather than up the chimney, which is where the majority of the heat created in standard fireplaces goes.
Why are inserts so popular?
Wood fireplace inserts are very popular, primarily because traditional masonry fireplaces that burn wood are notoriously inefficient in getting heat out of the firebox and into the room.
What is the efficiency rating of a wood fireplace insert?
A wood fireplace insert, on the other hand, cranks that efficiency rating upwards past 70%, with many models boasting ratings in the mid-80s.
Which is better, wood or gas?
Gas is easier to operate and very efficient; wood creates a much more lively fire but requires a lot more cleaning of the firebox as well as the chimney. At the end of the day, each homeowner must choose the fuel type and design specifics he or she wants in a fireplace insert.
Can you use wood logs in a fireplace?
No question about it – a roaring fire with crackling logs in a traditional masonry fireplace provides a visual that’s hard to beat. But a wood insert will give you essentially the same thing. Wood inserts use real wood logs and burn real fire – they just do it more efficiently.
Why do fireplace inserts work?
The reason for this is that a fireplace offers a better subjective experience in the sense of setting a mood and creating a certain type of atmosphere. While the inserts try to emulate the idea of a fireplace, when it comes to the sound of crackling wood and the aroma that comes from fire, a traditional mantel is completely unmatched.
When was the fireplace insert invented?
Whereas fireplaces have been around since time immemorial, the fireplace inserts, on the other hand, have their genesis in the modern era. Invented in 1896 by Joab R. Donaldson, it was a device similar to a stove that could be inserted into an existing fireplace. A coal miner by trade, Donaldson originally used ...
What is the story behind the fireplace?
There are a plethora of stories surrounding the fireplace – everything from Chris Cringle making his way down the chimney during Christmas to nostalgic stories that no doubt involve a grandparent and a rocking chair in front of a carefully wrought brick mantle with fire. Fireplaces are often seen as a central point in any room ...
What is a newer version of a fireplace?
A newer version of a fireplace, though not without its own important history, is the fireplace inserts. They offer many similar features of a fireplace, but in an updated structure that brings fireplaces into the modern era of energy efficiency.
What are the pieces of a fireplace?
There are many other pieces related to a fireplace as well, such as a grate, a mantelpiece, a damper and much more. Traditionally, these structures burn wood, but can also burn propane or natural gas (read about how much maintenance does a gas fireplace need here ). In terms of overall structure, there are typically two different types – the masonry and the factory-built fireplaces.
Why are fireplaces important?
Indeed, there’s a reason why so many painters and photographers create their portraits of famous individuals around these centerpieces; they bring a level of dignity and complexity that would be missing without them.
What is the place where a fire is contained?
The place where the fire is contained is simply called the firebox, while the smoke that’s produced from the fire is expelled through a flue. This flue is typically surrounded by some sort of chimney and allows the smoke to escape to the outside.
The Heatalator
There's also sort of "an in-between" situation, commonly called the Heatalator. Heatalator is a brand name which is applied to products which are generally like it. Just as all tissues aren't Kleenex brand, it's pretty common to just ask for a Kleenex and everybody understands. The same is true with Heatalator.
Fireplace Inserts
So what's a fireplace insert? In a word, it's a stove. Either gas or wood, it's a stove which is inserted into an open fireplace. Fireplace inserts are almost exclusively installed into masonry fireplaces, though there are a few very special models which are listed to be installed into prefabricated fireplaces, such as the Regency Alltera CI1250.
What is a fireplace insert?
The primary difference is that a fireplace insert is an appliance that can be installed into an existing wood burning fireplace to make it more efficient. A built in fireplace is new installation into a home where you do not already have a fireplace.
How efficient is an open wood burning fireplace?
An open wood burning fireplace can burn up to 25% efficient. Often times, the amount of air needed to sustain the fire actually draws more heated air from the home than the fireplace produces. An open wood burning fireplace goes through wood very quickly as well.
How long does it take for a wood burning insert to burn?
It is common to have to add more logs after only 1-2 hours of burning. A wood burning insert can (depending on size) can typically burn for 5-10+ hours. This means less wood is needed and also less clean up.
Can vent free inserts cause odor?
Excessive use of a vent free insert can cause issues with moisture levels in your home so make sure to read the manual. They can also burn any impurities in the air such as air fresheners, fresh paint, cooking odors, pet odors, etc.. This can cause the appliance to produce an odor similar to burning that impurity.
Do gas fireplace inserts need a vent?
There are inserts that burn wood, gas with a direct vent system, and gas inserts that do not require a vent. Wood Burning Inserts- Most people love the look of a brick masonry fireplace. They are attractive and rustic. The trouble with them is that they are not efficient heaters.
Gas Inserts
A gas insert is just that – an “insert” into an existing open hearth. Many people who have had a wood-burning fireplace for years come to us because they seek a gas option with less mess and higher heating efficiency. A gas insert is perfect for this situation because of the existing hearth and flue.
Gas Fireplaces
While the gas fireplace is built similarly to the gas insert, a new gas fireplace does not require an existing fireplace or chimney. So, if your house in brand new or was never designed with a fireplace in mind, this is really your only option, short of installing an electric fireplace.
What About Price?
Much like a car, the price of your unit will depend on a variety of factors, including how fancy you want to get! There are high-end fireplaces and inserts that can cost tens of thousands of dollars, or there are options for much lower.
About United Brick and Fireplace
Our family-owned business has been serving the Madison community since 1973 for fireplaces, brick, block, stoves, and outdoor stone needs. We work with homeowners, builders, architects, masons, and general contractors to supply the best products in each industry.
What is zero clearance fireplace?
Zero clearance is a term used to describe a lack of combustible materials associated with a fireplace. Still, you’ll find that some gas fireplaces are not entirely zero clearance fireplaces and tend to require non-combustible facing material in certain areas – around the sides and top – as safety measures. Additionally, a gas fireplace insert may ...
How many flexible liners are in a chimney?
Uses co-linear venting and a standard system has two 3″ flexible liners extended down the masonry chimney, held separately by caps that connect to the insert, with one-liner serving as the exhaust and the remaining functions as the air intake.
Is a vent gas fireplace a direct vent?
Typically larger than gas inserts and provide higher quality insulation or air space around the firebox so that the outside of it stays cooler and hence can be surrounded by combustible material. Vent gas fireplace has a coaxial direct vent system, with a pipe within a pipe, so to speak.
Is a gas insert the same size as a gas fireplace?
Installation of a gas insert occurs within an established masonry, wood-burning fireplace and is smaller than a gas fireplace. This kind of fireplace is equipped with fireboxes roughly the same size as the unit itself, with minimal insulation or air space.