Do you own a traditional wood burning or gas fireplace? If you do, you may notice that it really doesn’t heat up your home as well as you would like. This is because traditional fireplaces release most of their heat up the chimney and out of your home. You may think that there is little that you can do to increase the heating efficiency of your fireplace. However, we here at the Chimney Guy can update your chimney’s efficiency with a fireplace insert.
What is a Fireplace Insert?
A fireplace insert is an appliance that is inserted into your current fireplace. It consists of an insulated steel-shelled firebox equipped with a heating unit. The shell helps direct heat out into the home, instead of up and out of the chimney. This means inserts are far more efficient at heating your home than a traditional fireplace. One of the decisions that you’ll have to make before you upgrade to a fireplace insert is the fuel source you would like to burn.
Wood Inserts
The aroma and gentle crackling of a real wood fire provide an ambiance that it hard to beat. A wood insert combines the tradition of a wood burning fireplace with the heating efficiency of a modern heating appliance. Newer models of wood inserts are up to 80 percent efficient. This is much more efficient than a traditional wood fireplace which is closer to 5 to 10 percent efficient. Wood inserts do require a little more maintenance than gas or electric inserts which do not leave behind ash and soot.
Gas Inserts
A gas insert uses natural gas as a fuel source. This means your fire will burn more cleanly and efficiently than a wood insert.There is also no ash or soot to clean up. Gas inserts can also be turned on with a switch or remote, making them easier to operate than other fireplace options. However, depending on the location in your home, gas inserts may be a little more expensive to install than other types of inserts if a new gas line needs to be ran to your fireplace.
Electric Inserts
Electric inserts are usually cheapest and easiest type of insert since all they need is an electric source to provide heat. They are more portable than gas or wood inserts, installable almost anywhere in your home. They also require very little maintenance. However, electric inserts do not produce a real flame and cannot run during a power outage, unlike wood and gas inserts.
If you would like to upgrade the efficiency of your fireplace, we here at The Chimney Guy have the right type of insert for you! You still have time to spend a warm and cozy holiday around the fireplace with your family, so call us today at 920-830-1920 or go online to set up an appointment today!
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