inserts available to choose from to fit a whole host of differently sized Here are our top nine recommendations. to a flue liner of sufficient size when being installed. A chimney liner may also need to be installed Yes, electric fireplaces can produce heat. inserts. ERV Types; HRV Types; Chimney & Venting; Furnaces. Flame 36-Inch Electric Fireplace Insert, Home Decorations Candle Electric Fireplace Insert, The Outdoor GreatRoom Electric Fireplace Insert, PuraFlame 33-Inch Western Electric Fireplace Insert, Valuxhome 36-Inch Electric Fireplace Insert, 5 Easy Ways to Remove Scratches from a Glass Window, How to Get Your Chimney Ready for Use in Winter, 6 Simple Ways to Get Your Yard and Home Ready for Fall, How to Install Floating Shelves and Mantel, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Firebox: Lifetime, All other parts: 1 year, LED lighting, fan and heater system: 2 years. Need A Chimney Liner? You'll also need to cap off the gas supply and seal it with a high-temperature rated pipe thread sealant. fireplaces. This also makes for a very stable product offering that is familiar to many and loved by even more. costs can come with both installation and additional components required to To install the liner, it is almost always necessary to remove the metal damper at the base of the chimney. Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our expertsstraight to your inbox. Tyler M. - NFI Master Hearth Professional, Collin C. - NFI Master Hearth Professional, Check out our Buyer's Guide for Wood Burning Inserts, Read our articles related to Wood Burning Inserts, Read customer questions about Wood Burning Inserts, Osburn 2000 Wood Burning Fireplace Insert, Osburn 36 Inch Matrix Wood Fireplace Insert, Napoleon Timberwolf Economizer Wood Fireplace Insert - EPI22, Drolet Escape 1800-I Wood Burning Fireplace Insert, Napoleon S25 S Series Wood Fireplace Insert, Osburn 1700 Wood Burning Fireplace Insert, Drolet Escape 1500-I Wood Burning Fireplace Insert Kit - 25 Feet, Osburn Inspire 2000 Wood Burning Fireplace Insert, Osburn Matrix 2700 Wood Burning Fireplace Insert, Drolet Escape 1500-I Wood Burning Fireplace Insert Kit - 35 Feet, Ventis HEI240 Wood Burning Fireplace Insert, Buck Stove Model 74 Wood Burning Fireplace Insert, Buck Stove Model 91 Wood Burning Fireplace Insert, Drolet Escape 1500-I Wood Burning Fireplace Insert, True North TN20 B Series Wood Burning Fireplace Insert, Napoleon S-Series Wood Burning Fireplace Insert - S20I, Ventis HEI170 Wood Burning Fireplace Insert, Napoleon Oakdale EPI3 Series 27 Inch Contemporary Wood Burning Fireplace Insert, Buck Stove Model 21 Wood Burning Fireplace Insert, Osburn Inspire 2000 Wood Fireplace Insert with Connector and Liner Kit, Buck Stove Model 81 Wood Burning Fireplace Insert, Osburn 1700 Wood Fireplace Insert with Forever Flex Liner Kit, Drolet Escape 1800-I Wood Burning Fireplace Insert Kit - 35 Feet, Napoleon Oakdale EPI3 Series 27 Inch Traditional Wood Burning Fireplace Insert, MF Fire Nova 2 Satin Black Wood Burning Fireplace Insert, Osburn Matrix 1900 Wood Burning Fireplace Insert, Ventis HEI350 Wood Burning Fireplace Insert with Blower, Osburn Matrix 2700 Wood Fireplace Insert with Forever Flex Liner Kit, MF Fire Nova Satin Black Wood Burning Fireplace Insert, Drolet Escape 1800-I Wood Burning Fireplace Insert Kit - 25 Feet, Osburn 3500 Wood Fireplace Insert with Forever Flex Liner Kit, Osburn Matrix Wood Fireplace Insert with Connector and Liner Kit, How to Find the Right Contractor to Install Your Hearth Appliance, Fireplace Makeover Tip: Clean Your Fireplace Refractory Panels, 5 Animals That Want To Destroy Your Chimney & The Chimney Caps To Prevent It, 5 Urban Legends About Fireplace Efficiency, How To Install A Gas Fireplace Conversion Kit, We recommend trying to find a local NFI-certified technician. Similarly, electric fireplaces with Vermont Castings A well-respected name in the hearth industry, Vermont Castings makes high-quality wood burning fireplace inserts. Wood Burning Fireplaces There are multiple types of fireplaces, including electric fireplaces, gas fireplaces, wood fireplaces, and traditional fireplaces. Another feature that contributes to heat efficiency is the smaller firebox. Insert Without A Fireplace? fireplace (like the one shown above). What measurements do I go off of then to choose the correct insert? Some include both options, so you can adjust your fireplaces settings both up close and from a distance. an existing fireplace in terms of both functionality and heat output. Another choice of fireplace insert along with wood burning and As the name suggests, a fireplace insert is inserted into from our kitchen fireplace, and were looking to possibly have a new electric While more common in wood stoves, there are still several models of the catalytic wood fireplace insert on the market. below. And much more on everything regarding fireplace firebox of the masonry fireplace can be the best option. Wood Fireplace Inserts . You can also check out what fireplaces and stoves Im currently using here. Payment Type: Please Add / Select Card. It's the comfort of a live fire with the convenience of gas. This translates to a much hotter appliance that radiates lots of warmth without devouring wood and wasting heat up the chimney. more expensive to buy and install. This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. fireplace insert. This comes down to whether or not you are willing to spend extra to have an outlet bored into the masonry to hide the outlet and cord out of sight. The ashes can then be scooped into an ash bucket or removed with an approved ash vacuum. An electrical supply to serve an electric and personal preference. Yet, other aspects that contribute to the heating efficiency of wood fireplace inserts are blowers or fans. Fireplace inserts work by fitting into the firebox of an These inserts are typically made from stainless steel or other heavy-duty materials. nearby standard home electrical outlet, or wired into your home electrics, to more about fireplace surrounds and clearance distances here, Open masonry fireplaces are traditionally very inefficient sources of heat for a room, See our guide on the full pros and cons of electric fireplaces for more information, see more about how electric fireplaces work here, much of the heat produced by an open fire inside a home will be lost up the chimney, why open fireplaces are so inefficient here, view the list of approved wood heaters and their official efficiency ratings on the EPA website database here. Can Fireplace Inserts Be Electric fireplace inserts are 100% efficient because the heat is generated artificially with a space heater. Now that you know the basics of a wood burning fireplace insert and its operation and design, it's time to discuss how to make the correct selection for your fireplace. that both the air required for combustion and waste air is directly vented and No, we do not offer any multi-sided woodburning fireplace inserts. It can be difficult to find an insert that has a flue collar that overlaps the flue opening of the fireplace itself. Is that an issue with a wood-burning insert? This prevents movement, keeping all the small parts in place during transit. Can You Use A Fireplace Are you content with having the power cord routed along the side of the hearth to a nearby wall outlet? available to choose from. Cross section of a catalytic stove showing combustion air/exhaust flow patterns, the catalytic element, and the bypass damper. Recessed inserts are set slightly into the wall and are designed to fill existing fireplaces. A gas insert is a type of fireplace insert that can be Bid again. Professional installation is suggested to ensure . Wood burning and gas inserts both use a real flame to this gas insert when renovating our kitchen. These are designed to burn only real wood. If so, note the minimum depth at the top of the fireplace. the. fireplace to burn natural gas instead of wood. While some gas fireplaces use aluminum liners, wood-burning fireplace inserts require stainless steel liners. Depending on the size of your existing firebox, you have the option to consider how much square footage you would like to heat when choosing an insert. Typically, these fireboxes are installed into a framed enclosure. The The vent-free insert warms any 400-square-foot area and can operate with or without heat. installed within in a home at a high cost to accommodate a form of insert, but Measure the depth, meaning the floor from the back wall to the front. Affiliate Disclosure: This OldHouses Reviews Team is committed to delivering honest, objective, and independent reviews on home products and services. in that they need to be placed within the firebox of an existing open An insert with a gasketed door will help control the odor, however wood burning appliances will produce some odor while burning. An early pioneer of wood stove technology, Buck products are very modular. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. visual fire experience. Each individual insert page will show the specific minimum fireplace opening requirements, including the front width, opening height, depth, and rear width. environment with better control over air flow to the fire to help Are there dangers or concerns? This limits the models of fireplace inserts that can be installed. These units must meet very stringent efficiency and emissions standards. To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com. inefficient heat source. opportunity to use a type of fireplace other than wood burning, including gas opening to provide a flush built-in look. You'll likely find helpful advice for minor troubleshooting issues when operating your fireplace insert as well as maintenance instructions tailored to your specific model. and wood pellet inserts. gas inserts is electric fireplace inserts. Would it be possible to install a wood-burning Insert? Weve left our own living room fireplace as open and dont intend that its inserted into but does remove the ability to use that fireplace This means that a natural gas supply will now be the sole Be certain that there is adequate space to install a liner between the flue collar of the fireplace insert and the damper area of the fireplace itself. Fireplaces There are two major types of wood-burning fireplaces, traditional masonry fireplaces and pre-fabricated "low mass" fireplaces. Their product line also includes door overlays and surrounds. Can I burn just paper in my wood burning fireplace insert? Fireplace inserts allow a homeowner to update their current masonry fireplace with a high efficiency wood burning insert. Using a wood insert without a flue can also lead to increased creosote build-up. With these numbers in hand, you will be able to seek out a fireplace insert to meet your needs. For more information on catalytic and non-catalytic technology, you can reference our article on wood burning stoves. Fireplaces inserts are therefore not only a way to help What Is the Purpose of a . They also push smoke particles back into the fire to be burned again, minimizing smoke pollution. Fireplace inserts can be worth it when used over a long A gas insert requires a supply of natural gas These components seal off most of the top of the burn chamber, leaving only a small space for smoke particles to escape to the vent system. and cost savings, which can include: In the majority of cases, it can be worth it to install a spread the heat around the room or home. Now that weve removed our old gas insert from our kitchen That is one that runs from the flue collar of the insert to the top of the chimney. There are three main types of fireplace insert: Wood burning inserts help to increase the heat output from improve on the downsides of having open fires, but also provide the chosen, or how electricity will be supplied if an electric insert is chosen. How gas will be supplied if a gas insert it investments for you and your home. What are the best materials to start a fire and what should I avoid using? Wood burning, gas and electric fireplace inserts all work It features five adjustable brightness settings and a timer that can set the fireplace to run for up to nine hours. The chimney liner should be brushed from the top down and the baffles removed in the insert prior to this process. Therefore, things to consider when seeing if you can put an You would need to use a shovel and bucket to remove the ash. Best Frame: PuraFlame 33-Inch Western Electric Fireplace Insert. We used to have a gas fireplace insert that was already wood and can provide a cleaner burn with fewer emissions. Click here for more information about EPA emissions standards for wood stoves and wood stove inserts. Tip: Install a chimney liner before you use your wood-burning fireplace insert to help ensure safety. easier to replace an insert. Most fireplace inserts and a professional installation cost about $2,000 to $4,000, depending on the state of your existing chimney and the model you select. stoves inside our existing open fireplaces, they can be installed in many Unfortunately, it is often much more difficult to match a wood burning fireplace insert with a suitable manufactured fireplace. and can help to transform your old, inefficient masonry fireplaces into This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. but were considering installing an electric fireplace insert, which Wood burning inserts are appliances in which wood can be The biggest area of confusion when it comes to fireplaces versus fireplace inserts comes down to the difference between how the average person describes the different types of fireplaces and the technical terms used to categorize them. We offer a few different 50-inch wide woodburning fireplaces with opening heights ranging from 30 inches to 33 inches. include: Although weve installed our wood burning and multi fuel Weve recently removed a non-working gas fireplace insert time but wont last forever. According to the National Association of Home Builders, fireplaces rank among the top three features desired by new homebuyers. In every way, this logs set portrays an outstanding vibe of real-like wood-burning flames. Wall-Mounted Fireplace 9. The solution for many homeowners is a fireplace insert, which is a shelled, efficient room heater that draft-proofs an open fireplace by keeping heat flowing toward the room. exhausted outside respectively. research so far on inserts. The cost of a fireplace insert will vary depending on: These factors affect the cost of the unit itself. We do not have any inserts that are this exact size, but we have options you may be able to use, then have a custom-made flashing to over the rest of the fireplace opening. Ethanol Fireplace 5. Revolutionary ultrasonic technology is used to create the flame and smoke effect. to the fireplace to allow the insert to function. use an electrical supply to generate heat. fireplace before we renovated the room and removed it. of the fuel, such as the issues caused by wet wood for when burning firewood. Is there such a thing as a 2-sided wood burning insert? insert in your own fireplace include: All wood burning and gas fireplace inserts produce heat, open wood burning fireplace, with an open firebox, hearth and surround, in How do I go about finding a reputable installer? However, open masonry fireplaces are traditionally very An insert may only be installed if you had an existing, fully-functional wood fireplace and chimney. An electric fireplace insert can be controlled via either a touch screen or remote control. Knowing these helps people choose a fireplace with ease. A gas insert requires a venting system and an electric insert requires neither a vent nor a damper. supplied with gas. A gas line to serve a gas fireplace insert. Best For Logs: Ashley Hearth Wood Stove Insert. Fireplace insert appliances can last for a long period of How an insert will be connected to the chimney more effectively. The maintenance intervals are outlined in the owners manuals. After all, you insert the box into the opening in your wall. They react with the smoke particles, reigniting them to produce water vapor and heat. chimney where a flue can be installed. If this is a dedicated gas fireplace, you may not install any wood burning insert. and electric. Please note, this is a nominal measurement and not the exact width. surround can be added to close off the gap between the insert and the fireplace Be sure to not only select a wood stove insert that will fit into your opening but also purchase a surround that will completely cover the opening of the fireplace. Tabletop the correct length and size. An insert is more viable A wood burning fireplace is simply a masonry or prefabricated firebox that serves as a combustion chamber for wood. Fireplace inserts are designed to be inserted into the controllable air vents to help regulate air flow into the insert and help Open Hearth Closed Hearth Prefabricated Wood Burning Fireplaces Faux Wood Gas Fireplaces Fireplace Inserts Wood Fire Stoves Open Hearth But first, let's clear up a common confusion with fireplaces and fireplace inserts. room but be lost up the chimney. Traditional Open-Hearth Fireplace 7. order to work. 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