An insert, like a wood-burning stove built to fit into the combustion chamber of a stone fireplace, is intended to both confine and radiate heat into the room. It has the potential to boost the efficiency of your fireplace by up to 70%. Wood, charcoal, natural gas, propane, or wood pellets can all be burned in various forms.
A classic stone fireplace may appear to heat your home, but in most situations, it merely heats the surrounding environment. When a fire is lit, the fireplace wastes energy and creates drafts by drawing warm room air up and out of the fireplace.
A typical fireplace also does not make the best use of the fuel it burns. Wood-burning fireplaces only emit 5 to 10% of the heat they produce in the room. The remainder escapes through the chimney flue.
Construction Of inserts
A fireplace insert contains its own combustion chamber, which is encased in a cast iron or steel shell. The fire may be seen via a glass in the front door, which is securely closed. As the combustion chamber warms up, the metal casing traps the heat and pumps it back into the room, sometimes with the assistance of a blower. The fireplace aperture surrounding the stove is sealed with a beautiful metal liner.
SizeThe Insert
When purchasing a fireplace insert, consider factors other than looks. Make sure you purchase the correct size for your requirements. It is essential to choose one that suits the size of your fireplace and delivers the appropriate quantity of heat. To discover if a specific insert will suit your fireplace, measure its depth, breadth, and height. Then think about the heat output. If an insert lacks sufficient heat output, it will not heat properly. However, if you pump too much heat into the room, it will be forced out.
An insert's heat production rate is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units) per hour. (See What Is a BTU? for additional details.) The inserts are rated at 30,000 to 85,000 BTUs per hour or higher. The more BTUs per hour the insert should give, the greater the space or area you intend to heat.
When sizing a chimney insert, it is typically best to consult with an expert dealer. Many factors are considered, such as how effectively the home is insulated, whether the stove will offer primary or supplemental heat, and so on.
If you have a factory-built fireplace, find out what sorts of inserts are compatible with it, if any. An insert cannot be utilized with a factory-built chimney in many circumstances.
Putting In An Insert
Installation is often the responsibility of a certified expert, and certain building rules demand it. The inserts must be linked to a stainless steel chimney liner that runs from the stove to the top of the chimney. This directs the smoke to the outside and clears the chimney of creosote buildup.
Has the chimney been cleaned before installation? (This is normally included in the price of a professional installer.) The siding is installed from the top down, and the insert is installed from the inside out. It should be noted that if an insert contains a fan, it must be linked to the home electrical supply. A gas fireplace insert must also be linked to a gas line.
Depending on the extra features of a fireplace insert, such as blowers, thermostatically controlled fans, specialized finishes, materials, and hardware, the price can range from $1,000 to $2,500, without counting installation or the cost of fuel and energy.
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