Chimney Care Company's Blog

What Exactly Are Fireplace Inserts?

A fireplace is a real selling point for a home. Many people love the idea of warming up in front of a crackling fire and a home with a fireplace is exactly what they want. The problem is that fireplaces, especially older fireplaces, are known to be drafty, cold, and inefficient. This is a problem because heating a room is what a fireplace is all about. If you have an older fireplace and you know that it isn’t running as efficiently as it should be, then maybe you need to look into converting your fireplace with a fireplace insert. If you’d like to have all the benefits of a working fireplace without the expense and time spent installing a new one, then a great option for you would be to look into a fireplace insert. Whether you want to heat with wood, gas, or pellets, we can hook you up with a great insert that will make your fireplace more efficient and still give a great looking fire!

What Is a Fireplace Insert?

One of the major reasons that adding or replacing a fireplace is not ideal is because it is a time-consuming undertaking. It can also cost quite a bit, not only because of the cost of labor and supplies but because you may have to pay to have your flooring reinforced in order to hold the weight of the fireplace structure. That’s why a fireplace insert is ideal. An insert, no matter what type, isn’t as heavy, as expensive, or as time-consuming to install as a fireplace would be.

A fireplace insert is basically a new firebox that is surrounded by steel or cast iron that is set inside your fireplace. It also includes an insulated glass front. Not only is this less expensive and easier to install, but it will also increase the efficiency of your fireplace because it’s a closed combustion system in which the cast iron or steel hold the heat. Some of these appliances are also outfitted with blowers that can take that trapped heat and blow it back into the room through vents located in the front of the insert. This can create a great source of supplemental heat to your home. Just turn down the furnace, fire up the insert, close as many doors as you can and you’ve got a room that is heated by the cozy flames of a mesmerizing fire. What a great way to spend the evening!

Types of Inserts

There are several different options to choose from when it comes to fireplace inserts. If you love the traditional look of a wood burning fireplace, you can definitely go that route. It does seem like a throw-back to a simpler time, when you went out and chopped your own wood, stacked it to make sure it was properly cured, then brought it in on a snowy evening, laid a fire and kept it burning all night long. If, however, you just don’t have the time or the energy to go to all that effort, it could be that a gas burning appliance is the right choice for you. All it takes is adding a gas line, getting your unit installed, and flipping a switch and you’ll have a great looking fire burning. Flip the switch again and you’ll be ready to turn in for the evening. It doesn’t get much simpler than that!

If you want ease but really like the look of a wood-burning fire, then maybe a pellet burning appliance is the right way for you to go. With a pellet burner, you buy pellets that are made of pressed wood or sawdust, so you’re using an environmentally friendly heat source that would otherwise go to waste. These pellets are stored in a hopper in the basement, then are augered into your insert at the touch of a switch where they burn with a natural looking wood fire. This is the best of both worlds, wood burning with touch of a button ease.

Let the Experts Help

If you’re looking into replacing your fireplace with a more efficient insert, whether wood, gas, fire, or propane, just give Chimney Care Co. a call and let us help you get it going. We are experts when it comes to the installation and upkeep of any type of appliance. When it comes to proper installation, it’s especially important to follow all the manufacturer’s directions to a tee. This is especially true when it comes to installing a gas appliance because it’s important to make sure that the gas hook up is right or you could run into some real safety problems. That’s why it’s so important to give us a call and let us set it up right. Our professionals are CSIA certified, so we’ve had the best education and training in the industry! Call us soon, and it won’t be long until you’re enjoying your warm, efficient insert!

Why Not Convert Your Existing Fireplace to Gas?

The mere thought of converting a classic wood-burning fireplace to gas is borderline blasphemous to some fireplace purists. Still, this has been a common route for many homeowners in recent years. Mull over these facts about wood-burning fireplaces as you continue with your decision-making process:

• Wood fires may warm your heart and soul, but they don’t actually heat your living space. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a traditional wood-burning fireplace draws in as much as 300 cubic feet per minute of heated room air for combustion, and then, with a crackle, straight up your chimney it goes.
• Wood fires may expose you and everyone in your home to large quantities of toxic byproducts, including respiratory irritants, carcinogens and deadly carbon monoxide. The EPA warns of other health dangers, namely asthma, reproductive issues and birth defects.
• Wood smoke is a large contributor to air pollution — so much so that some localities ban the use of all wood burning, both inside and out, when pollution reaches a specified level.
• Your house is in danger should the creosote, a tarry byproduct of wood smoke, ignite inside your chimney. According to the CSIA, chimney fires are the cause of over 25,000 house fires in the U.S. each year, resulting in millions of dollars in property damage — as well as tragic loss of life.
• Traditional fireplaces are high-maintenance and require a lot of your time and energy to operate.Some homeowners eventually give up on their wood-burning fireplaces altogether. Henceforth, it sits empty; the coziness it provided becomes a mere memory. Converting to gas can be an acceptable alternative since it allows you to regain much of the aforementioned coziness and, in some cases, the lost heat as well. Continue reading as we cover the three most popular options available to you, should you decide to go this route.

ARE YOU CONSIDERING A GAS LOG SET?

If you’re in the market for a realistic-looking wood-fire substitute at a budget friendly price ($100-$1,200 depending on the scope of the job), a vented gas log set will fit the bill quite nicely. The logs can simulate many different species of wood, and the flame and embers are pretty similar to their real-wood counterparts. They are convenient—no stacking, chopping or hauling wood is required. Some models even come with remote-controlled ignitions and adjustable flame controls, and none leave behind a mess. However, because gas logs have the same open combustion as wood, many of the same dangers and health hazards exist. The damper on your chimney must remain permanently open as the fire continually draws in your room’s air; some manufacturers even recommend keeping a window cracked during use of their vented gas logs. In addition to the obvious hazard of an open flame, older or defective vented log sets can circulate explosive gas into the air. Vented gas logs are an economical, convenient replacement for those of you who are looking for the ambiance of real-wood units without the cleanup hassles associated with them. Keep in mind, however, that they are practical only for their ambiance.

ARE YOU CONSIDERING A GAS INSERT?

These units are the most appealing and sensible solution for a wood-to-gas conversion, but they have a much higher price tag associated with them ($2,000-$4,000 depending on the scope of the job). Springing for a gas insert can provide you with a beautiful fireplace that incorporates all of the desirable features that their wood-burning counterparts lack. Unlike vented gas logs, inserts are actually more like heaters that operate at around 85% efficiency. They exhaust air to the outside, keeping byproducts out of your house and hourly operating costs to a few cents. As a natural gas product, they also add little in the line of outdoor pollution. Remote control operation adds another level of convenience. Their flames and glowing embers are every bit as mesmerizing as those of a wood fire. No electricity is required to run the majority of gas inserts, which is a huge plus in the event of a power outage; you’ll still be able to snuggle up with that special someone.

When you start to weigh the deciding factors — convenience, ecology, safety, health, efficiency and ambiance — converting your wood-burning fireplace to gas makes sense. The first step is to make peace with the past and your attachment to your wood-burning fireplace. It’s all down hill from there! Be sure to buy the correct-sized log set or insert for your specific space, as using a heater with greater heat output than recommended may be harmful to your health. Come by our showroom to start shopping today. We’re standing by to help you through the entire wood-to-gas conversion process.