Fireplace inserts can change polluting, inefficient standard fireplaces into units that provide increased warmth and save energy.

In addition, they can be as attractive as masonry fireplaces. Before a homeowner spends another season in front of a drafty, soot spewing hearth it might behoove him/her to investigate the purchase of a modern fireplace insert.

People have fireplaces for two primary purposes: Heat and enjoyment. However, a fireplace is actually a poor and expensive source of warmth. Fireplace inserts heat a room, even a house, much more effectively and much more economically. Some families, though, hold onto their fireplaces even in the face of low efficiency and high cost because of the atmosphere which a fireplace provides to a home. Fireplace inserts can supply the same ambiance as a fireplace with the added benefits of controllable heat and lower cost.

Fireplace inserts slide into the existing fireplace. The amount of modification required to the current structure depends upon the type of insert selected. Most fireplace inserts use gas, wood or wood pellets as their fuel. They may be vented or non-vented. In recent years, however, laws have mandated that all fireplace inserts which make actual use of the fireplace chimney are connected to the bottom of the flue. Once inserted, the unit will fill the entire opening of the original fireplace. Some fireplace inserts are designed to extend out onto the hearth. Glass doors on the fireplace insert allow for continued enjoyment of the flickering flames. Blowers in some models further enhance the heating capacity of fireplace inserts.

For those who have altogether tired of the work and expense of an open hearth, electric fireplace inserts are available. These self contained models provide thermostat controlled heat as well as realistic logs and flames. Because electric fireplace inserts require no vent and plug into standard electrical outlets they are oftentimes much less expensive to install than gas or wood fireplace inserts. Many are also equipped to provide a flame effect without heat for those nights when a fire is desired but the weather really doesn’t call for one.

Fireplace inserts can be excellent investments for those who wish to upgrade their current chimneys. They are cleaner, more easily maintained and cost less over the life of the home. Prudent people who own homes with fireplaces might consider making the smart jump to fireplace inserts.

Before the start of another cold season it might be wise to consider replacing that drafty, dirty, money sucking fireplace with an efficient, less polluting, cost effective fireplace insert. Most families use their fireplaces for warmth and a homey environment. A fireplace insert provides more heat at less cost as well as the appeal of a bustling fire.

A fireplace insert fits into the mouth of the current fireplace. It will be constructed of cast iron or steel. If the fireplace insert sits flush in the fireplace opening then the open space will be sealed off with a face plate. A fireplace insert can also hang out over the fireplace itself onto the actual hearth. This type of insert resembles a wood burning stove. Most varieties have glass doors which allow the homeowner to see the fire just as it would be in a fireplace.

Gas, wood or wood pellets supply the fireplace insert with fuel. Modifications to the current fireplace chimney will have to be made to comply with fire codes. Initially the exhaust from a fireplace insert was just dumped into the pre-existing chimney; since the nineties though safety standards have required that there be a connection between the fireplace insert and the chimney flue. The extent of the chimney alterations will depend upon the type of fireplace insert selected. Some fireplace inserts are vented, some are not. There are also units that operate with the flue closed and those which require that the flue be open.

In order to receive the most heat and savings from a fireplace insert, the initial installation should be done by a professional in the field. It is important for both safety and efficiency that the fireplace insert be correctly attached to the chimney. Also, because of the material from which it is constructed, a fireplace insert is very heavy and hard to handle.

Buying and installing a fireplace insert will run in the range of $1,200 to $3,000. The savings to a home’s utility bills will allow this sum to be easily recouped over the life of the insert. Those who want similar benefits at a lower price might consider an electric fireplace insert. Choosing either the more costly fireplace insert or a more economical electric fireplace insert will generate more heat and lower cost while still creating a welcoming ambiance.