Heat from a fireplace insert?

[JFoy]

Our present house has a fireplace that has never worked well as the chimney was constructed wrong. We were originally thinking of a wood stove but given how far it will stick out into the room, we're not so sure about that. Now we're thinking of a fireplace insert. For us, it's purpose would be an occasional scenic fire plus heat backup for the few winter days when the ice takes down the power lines. Either way, we'd have to get the chimney reworked and fortunately, we have some brick masons in the family. I know a regular fireplace is grossly inefficient compared to a wood stove, but what about a fireplace insert? Will the insert be any better than just the fireplace itself?

Thanks,
JFoy

 

[Egon]

One of the air tight insert fireplaces with fans would definetly provide heat. You may be able to use a flexible chimney insert. Check out codes you have to meet.

 

[mbohuntr]

Our present house has a fireplace that has never worked well as the chimney was constructed wrong. We were originally thinking of a wood stove but given how far it will stick out into the room, we're not so sure about that. Now we're thinking of a fireplace insert. For us, it's purpose would be an occasional scenic fire plus heat backup for the few winter days when the ice takes down the power lines. Either way, we'd have to get the chimney reworked and fortunately, we have some brick masons in the family. I know a regular fireplace is grossly inefficient compared to a wood stove, but what about a fireplace insert? Will the insert be any better than just the fireplace itself?

Thanks,
JFoy

My buddy uses a quadrafire insert with a SS liner in a traditional stone fireplace. Heats like a beast!

 

[dragoneggs]

There are decent 'high efficiency' fireplace inserts starting about $2000. Check them out to make sure the fan/forced air is not too noisy before you buy. We have one running off propane with a variable fan and hooked up to a thermostat. It feels very weird just to walk over and turn on the fire but got used to it. Now I am not even burning wood inside any more. Thinking of putting a wood burning stove in the shop just for old times sake. Now I end up giving away all the wood I cut down.

 

[teejk]

There are decent 'high efficiency' fireplace inserts starting about $2000. Check them out to make sure the fan/forced air is not too noisy before you buy. We have one running off propane with a variable fan and hooked up to a thermostat. It feels very weird just to walk over and turn on the fire but got used to it. Now I am not even burning wood inside any more. Thinking of putting a wood burning stove in the shop just for old times sake. Now I end up giving away all the wood I cut down.

We went with a propane unit on our new house and I think it would heat the living area if it had to. My dad was a big wood fan but even he said you get heat by cutting it, splitting it, stacking it, burning it, cleaning out the ashes and finally vacuuming up the mess you make. Nice to hit that "button" for instant heat. Our fan is adjustable and while I could deal with the increased noise from a higher speed and increased heat output, my wife doesn't like it so we "compromised" and keep it low.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Inserts are quite efficient. Much more so than an open fireplace. You can use the fan or not.

 

[Texas Dawg]

Our present house has a fireplace that has never worked well as the chimney was constructed wrong. We were originally thinking of a wood stove but given how far it will stick out into the room, we're not so sure about that. Now we're thinking of a fireplace insert. For us, it's purpose would be an occasional scenic fire plus heat backup for the few winter days when the ice takes down the power lines. Either way, we'd have to get the chimney reworked and fortunately, we have some brick masons in the family. I know a regular fireplace is grossly inefficient compared to a wood stove, but what about a fireplace insert? Will the insert be any better than just the fireplace itself?


Thanks,
JFoy

Years ago, my parents put in a fireplace insert. The first time they loaded it up like you would a fireplace. A few hours later, we had to open windows to let the place cool down. I think it was a Buck Stove insert if my memory serves me correct. It was WAY more efficient than just the fireplace.

 

[Pirate]

We have an Xtec fireplace insert. I had a screen made for the front so I can burn a log or two for ambiance, although 3 sticks of wood will heat the living room right up. It's nice to be able to shut the door and not worry about fire danger, sparks, etc.
The biggest problem I have it is too efficient. It really has to be 40 or below to use it or it makes the house too warm.

 

[jk96]

We have an insert that heats almost our entire home. You want to make sure it has combustion air intakes from outside the home so that your combustion air is pulled from outside air and not using heat from your home. They will be way more efficient than an open fireplace. Also - ours is a see through to the outside so we can load and clean from either inside or outside the home. Without the ability to load and clean from the outside I think I would agree with a few others and strongly consider gas if its only for occasional use. I love burning real wood but wouldn't want to deal with the mess inside the house if we didn't have the see-through option.

 

[s219]

Inserts can be very good. Ours is rated 100,000 BTU/hr, and it's only middle of the line. There are others, especially european designs, that are even better. None of the inserts are as good as a stove, but they are way way better than an open masonry fireplace.

 

[JFoy]

Wow.. I had no idea these inserts could put out the heat like that. Now we just have to get the chimney fixed and decide on an insert.

Thanks to everyone.
JFoy

 

[GPintheMitten]

Regarding the chimney, you might want to l look into stainless steel flex tubes.

 

[pmhowe]

My wife and I live in a mountain valley in Colorado. We are at just about 8000' above sea level. The hills rise up behind us and in front of us. In winter, because of the mountains behind us, we get sun from about 10 AM to about 2:30 PM. It is cold. We have had snow on our roof since middle October. Every morning for the last week and a half, the temperature has been below zero - not as cold as some other places in Colorado, but still cold. We have a fireplace insert (brand is Lopi, but there are lots of others equally good or better).

We have a 2700 square foot house built in 1948. However, we have taken pains to insulate it very well For example, our attic has a rating of R60, and we had a thin layer of foam sprayed to reduce exfiltration. With all of that, our woodstove easily heats the entire house in the coldest weather.

I agree with s219 above, in that a free standing stove is better than a fireplace insert, as it is out in the room. However, the difference between a free standing stove and an insert is much, much smaller than the difference between an insert and a fireplace. I love the ambience of a fireplace but - for heat - go with an insert.

As jk96 suggests, go with an outside air intake if you can. We couldn't, but the heat output of the insert far overrides the inside air loss. Still, I would prefer an outside air intake if I could do it.

 

[jk96]

Wow.. I had no idea these inserts could put out the heat like that. Now we just have to get the chimney fixed and decide on an insert.

Thanks to everyone.
JFoy

Most inserts are probably going to require some type of stainless flue so your chimney repairs will probably be more cosmetic/structural as opposed to functional if going with an insert. Also don't forget to price the cost of the flue. Depending on size it can get very expensive. Ours is a huge firebox with 16" flue. The price of 32' of flue was more than the insert.

 

[motownbrowne]

Most inserts are probably going to require some type of stainless flue so your chimney repairs will probably be more cosmetic/structural as opposed to functional if going with an insert. Also don't forget to price the cost of the flue. Depending on size it can get very expensive. Ours is a huge firebox with 16" flue. The price of 32' of flue was more than the insert.

Yeah, usually the stove is less than half the cost. The house my mom owns has a Lopi Answer insert with a blower fan. I think the fan makes a huge difference since most of the stove is inside the original fireplace and behind some decorative flashing material. That thing puts out lots of heat. It pretty handily heats their living room and kitchen and probably most of the second floor. The bedrooms on the first floor are a little chilly without a space heater or some heat from the furnace.

 

[Egon]

Check around for air tight inserts. Most do not require a large diameter flue. If the flue diameter is too large smoke velocity drops and the stove has draft problems.


This is guessing but flue diameter may depend on open door area and a runaway unattended fire???

Do remember the insurance company may have their own code which must be met for coverage.


Also note their are two styles of inserts.

May not be considered air tight.


Airtight:


If serious start by looking at inserts to determine all the clearance/code requirements before the restoration work is started.

Inside/outside combustion air are equal on fuel efficiency. Both heat the combustion air. The outside Intake would make for less drafts inside and eliminate negative house pressure.

 

[Coyote machine]

We've done it all. Our house came with an old fireplace insert which we replaced with a wood stove. the stove was too far out into the room, so we switched back to a wood insert. That worked well but sometimes it produced too much heat.
When we remodeled and added on we put gas fired, (propane) inserts in the existing fireplace opening and the new dining room. Both run off wall t-stats with all kinds of settings as needed. One has a fan, the other doesn't Both are zero clearance type and get air and exhaust to the outside, through a double wall metal vent, with screen.
There is no overheating the room because you can shut it down manually or at a preset temp. Can't do that with a fireplace, or wood insert, No muss, no fuss, instant on, T-stat off at preset temp. What's better- nothing.....
Won't need a full chimney either.... Can vent through wall.

 

[labhaven]

My previous home had a fireplace with a brick chimney. Several sections of the chimney liner had cracks. Like previous posters, I went with an SS liner. I opted for a wood stove with its legs removed. The stove manufacturer made a kit to finish off the exterior similar in appearance to how an insert looks. There was an optional blower kit that I did not go with.

 

[jk96]

There is no overheating the room because you can shut it down manually or at a preset temp. Can't do that with a fireplace, or wood insert.

Actually our wood insert with blower is setup with a 120v wall thermostate so that the blower kicks on and off depending on room temp. Fan speed is also separately adjusted if needed. Cant argue with the ease of operation of gas though.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Our chimney too, wasn't built right. We have a heat-a-later (sp?) So the only way to have a fire without smoke in the room was to enclose it with glass doors. I ended up putting an airtight insert in the downstairs fireplace but kept the upstairs one with the glass doors.

What I like about it:

The view of a real fire, never the same twice.

I can burn stuff I can barely lift.

When we cut deadfall, I cut it into three foot pieces and stack it on the porch for immediate burning in the fireplace. It's very satisfying to get the warmth from wood you cut that day.

What I don't like:

I spent over an hour yesterday cleaning the glass from use over the holidays!