Like a traditional fireplace they are best for heating individual living spaces.
Fireplace insert vs wood stove.
Wood stoves are often big freestanding metal units that simply look awkward when not in use and do little to add beauty to a room.
An insert operates similar to that of a space heater transforming an inefficient traditional fireplace into a highly efficient heat producer without sacrificing aesthetics.
As the name implies a fireplace insert is a self contained unit placed into an existing firebox.
This voids the warranty of the fireplace and is not to code.
Pellet stove the first pellet stoves introduced to the market were boxy and looked more like simple unattractive wood burners.
Never install a wood burning insert into a manufactured fireplace.
Resist the temptation to purchase a stove second hand.
This unit has a large viewing area that really gives the homeowner a great look at this fireplace s flames and it has an arched cast iron door that gives it a classic look.
It s a 45 inch wood burning fireplace insert that can generate up to 55 000 btu of heat and uses a 6 inch flue.
A nice compromise is to opt for a wood stove insert which would occupy the fireplace area but you might still want to have a standard wood fireplace for added beauty.
A wood fireplace insert on the other hand cranks that efficiency rating upwards past 70 with many models boasting ratings in the mid 80s.
If you re interested in a model that is even more eco friendly some of the newest stoves and inserts produce only 1 to 4 grams of smoke per hour.
Wood heat stoves are available in both insert and free standing models with or without doors fireplaces fireplace inserts wood cookstoves and box heat stoves.
Why fireplace inserts work so well.
A fireplace insert is a self contained heating appliance that fits inside an existing fireplace opening.
Environmental protection agency limits wood stove and fireplace insert emissions to 7 5 grams of smoke per hour for non catalytic models and 4 1 grams per hour for catalytic models.
In many jurisdictions they are illegal.