With old man winter knocking at the door, nothing melts the cold away more than watching crackling flames in a fireplace. Don’t let most of the heat generated by that fireplace go up the chimney. As much as 90% of the heat generated by an open-face fireplace is released up the chimney, rather than radiating it back into the home. Adding a fireplace insert not only saves on the home’s energy costs, but it reduces the amount of noxious gases and particles released into the home’s interior.
A fireplace insert is a cast iron or steel box with heat-proof glass doors that is installed inside the existing fireplace design. The simplest explanation is to think of it as a wood burning stove that fits inside the existing fireplace. A decorative face plate is installed around the box ensuring most of the heat is delivered to the interior of the room, rather than up through the venting chimney. Fireplace inserts are available in a multitude of sizes to fit most existing fireplaces.
Fireplace inserts can be installed by almost any fireplace repair professional in gas, wood, or pellet fireplace designs. Gas direct-vent fireplace inserts expel 100% of the exhaust through the chimney, keeping the indoor air clean and healthy. Wood EPA-certified fireplace inserts provide a clean burn ensuring minimal impact on the environment. Pellet fireplace inserts use state-of-the-art technology to provide hours of comfortably regulated heat temperature.
Many fireplace designers have recognized the value in adding a fireplace insert to any existing fireplace and have introduced a variety of modern and classic insert designs to the market. Whether the home owner prefers a traditional sleek black steel design or a more modern metallic finish, there are many options available to choose from. Fireplace inserts are available for almost any type of fireplace including, built-in and wall-mount fireplaces.
The cost to have a fireplace insert installed will be recovered many times over through energy cost savings. A fireplace insert will not only provide a warmer interior environment, it will provide a healthier one, preventing noxious gasses from entering the living space through the fireplace. Start feeling good about using that old fireplace by adding a fireplace insert that will not only reduce heating costs, but add new life and beauty to that old fireplace.