Heat from a fireplace insert?

[Mendonsy]

I had a wood burning fireplace insert for about 10 years, but as mentioned above controlling the heat can be difficult and there are lots of chimney issues to deal with.
I have had a wood pellet insert for the past 15 years with a SS flex pipe inside the fireplace chimney. It works fine and supplies almost all of the heat I need for the entire house. My furnace does not come on until the outside air gets down to the mid 20's. I shut the insert down when the outside temp gets much above 50 because it is just too warm. Mine is an older version which does not have a thermostat.
The one issue with a pellet insert is that it does require electricity to run. If the power goes off it will shut down.

 

[jk96]

What I don't like:

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

IT how are you cleaning the glass? We have a see through indoor/outdoor unit which means 4 doors to clean. I clean once a week and takes about 15 minutes for all.

 

[murphy1244]

Since he is burning fresh wood cleaning glass is a daily chore

 

[Egon]

Clean glass = easy off stove cleaner and nice hot fires.

 

[Deere Dude]

Windows get dirty more often when the dampers are throttled back, it seems, but after 3-4 days of almost continuous burning my wife cleans the windows and it takes about 2-3 minutes. For me, I like fireplace inserts but only if airtight.
Use outside air for combustion, usually a 4-6" insulated flexible pipe.

They use ceramic glass with is almost impossible to break from normal use. I had my fireplaces almost white hot and they held up. My non-airtight fireplace went through windows from overheating just a little.

Many chimneys can use 6-8" stainless steel insulated or three layer metal chimneys that screw together for exhaust. Easy to install and only has 1" clearance, but check codes.

The fireplace uses standoffs so clearance requirements are easy to figure out, but it is generally 1-2".

I prefer wood but it does not instantly heat the house. But because of the burning wood embers and heat absorbed into the metal it takes a long time to cool down. It is gradual, whereas gas heat is nice, but when the gas shuts off, it is cold instantly.

They don't stick way out into the room and can be stoned or bricked to look like an old fashioned fireplace.

Don't get to small of a firebox if you want a lot of heat.

Make sure it comes with a blower run by a switch, at least. I had a nice fireplace blower with a thermostat but never used it. I just turned it on or off. I did not like the option where the fireplace would have to come up to heat before the blower would start up. Generally the fireplace would be very hot before it would start which would be 1/2 hour after I would want it to start. Now I start the fire, wait 5 minute and the blower comes manually on. It works great that way. If it gets to warm in the house, I turn it off and the residual heat will continue to heat fro a while.

Try to make sure it uses regular firebricks instead of formed or shaped bricks because replacements would be much easier and cheaper.

My fireplace cost $2700 over the internet and is adequate to keep a 1800 sq. ft. not very insulated house fairly warm. The chimney I got from Menards over the internet delivered for about $900 if I remember. It has two 30 deg elbows and about 20+ feet of 6" double wall insulated pipe.

I installed it but the lamo insurance man made me get a contractor to check it out to make sure it was up to specs.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

My fireplace has a Fisher insert that was installed about 40 years ago. It's still in great shape and has no trouble heating the whole house. We have upgraded the house insulation, so now it only takes a small fire to keep the house warm. Regulating the heat is just a matter of not filling the insert with wood. A small fire works fine. When we bought the place there was inadequate clearance between the front of the insert and non-combustible surfaces, but we solved that by replacing the floor with ceramic tile over cement board. There is no liner in the chimney, which has a 12" fire clay liner in excellent shape. We have no draft problems since we installed a stainless chimney cap.

 

[Deere Dude]

Oh ya, when cleaning out day old ashes don't set the metal pail ofn carpet overnight or even a couple hours. The carpet melts to the bucket and then has to be replaced/

 

[Industrial Toys]

I used to use "Timber" brand glass cleaner, but ran out a while ago. Now I use some industrial cleaner I got in a thirty or so gallon drum. It works about just as good but both are funny (and time consuming) processes. I spray a little on and it only takes off so much off. Waiting for it to soak in doesn't help. So much cleaner only seems to attack so much creosote, so I have to keep repeating the process. I used to rinse the glass inbetween, but this doesn't seem to help, except to make it easier to see where the creosote is still stuck on.

I have never broken a piece of piero-ceram (sp?) from heat, but just let two pieces tap together, as in when cleaning and there will be pieces broken off!

 

[Tomtint]

We have one in our living room. It's on almost every night when we are watching TV. It will throw a insane amount of heat, to the point where it heats 750 SF to 80* .. It runs on propane and is decent as far as efficiency. Our oil furnace does not kick on much until very late at night after the fire is out.

 

[jerrybob]

Inserts are excellent. We put in two Kozy Propane inserts about 12 years ago. One of them....we use almost every night in Winter. Never have had a problem with either to date. The one downstairs gets used on occasion. Both heat the rooms very well. We have very high ceilings upstairs......that room obviously takes longer to warm. We installed two 120 gal. propane tanks when we put the inserts in. I usually fill them twice a year. The inserts came in real handy a few years back when we lost power for 6 days due to a bad storm......even ran the fan off the generator....we were warm.

 

[farmeratheart]

Hi JFoy,

We, also, have a Quadrafire insert that we put in over 15 years ago. It has been our primary heat source for all of that time- usually burn 3 or 4 full cords. Most years we end up using about 100-125 gal of propane as supplemental heat from a gas furnace. Our fireplaces chimney has a 10" ceramic flue tile. When the stove was installed be put a double walled flex pipe, 6" diameter, right inside the existing flue. It has worked flawlessly.

Frank

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

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I'm considering a gas fireplace and moving the pellet stove to the basement. Any recommendations on good brands? Want one that direct vents. When I built my house I poured foundation for a masonry fireplace, but only built it up to the hearth level. Everything is framed with a header to open a hole, but am thinking an insert type. I will have to build the box, there is already concrete for the insert to sit on. My pellet stove sits inside in front of where the fireplace would be. Other plan is a 2nd pellet stove for the basement.

 

[farmeratheart]

IT,

My favorite cleaner for fireplace glass when it gets sooty is damp wood ash itself. When I 1st heard about this 20 years ago- I found it hard to believe. Take a a paper towel and fold it over into fourths. Dip it into water and then wring out the excess- leaving it damp, but not dripping. Touch the dampened towel to some of the "clean" gray ash from the stove. Rub this moist ash right on the glass like it was scouring powder- in a sense it is! The soot will scour away and leave the glass sparkling clear. After all of the soot has been 'cut' by ash, the remainder can be wiped of the glass with a clean, dry paper towel. I have not used oven cleaner or other harsh cleaners on our stoves in years.

Try it!

Good Luck.

Frank

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!

 

[dragoneggs]

IT,

My favorite cleaner for fireplace glass when it gets sooty is damp wood ash itself. When I 1st heard about this 20 years ago- I found it hard to believe. Take a a paper towel and fold it over into fourths. Dip it into water and then wring out the excess- leaving it damp, but not dripping. Touch the dampened towel to some of the "clean" gray ash from the stove. Rub this moist ash right on the glass like it was scouring powder- in a sense it is! The soot will scour away and leave the glass sparkling clear. After all of the soot has been 'cut' by ash, the remainder can be wiped of the glass with a clean, dry paper towel. I have not used oven cleaner or other harsh cleaners on our stoves in years.

Try it!

Good Luck.

Frank

What a great idea thanks for posting!

Oh ya, when cleaning out day old ashes don't set the metal pail ofn carpet overnight or even a couple hours. The carpet melts to the bucket and then has to be replaced/

Another great idea? :ashamed:

 

[Egon]

IT,

My favorite cleaner for fireplace glass when it gets sooty is damp wood ash itself. When I 1st heard about this 20 years ago- I found it hard to believe. Take a a paper towel and fold it over into fourths. Dip it into water and then wring out the excess- leaving it damp, but not dripping. Touch the dampened towel to some of the "clean" gray ash from the stove. Rub this moist ash right on the glass like it was scouring powder- in a sense it is! The soot will scour away and leave the glass sparkling clear. After all of the soot has been 'cut' by ash, the remainder can be wiped of the glass with a clean, dry paper towel. I have not used oven cleaner or other harsh cleaners on our stoves in years.

Try it!

Good Luck.

Frank

Your making Lye.

 

[jk96]

IT,

My favorite cleaner for fireplace glass when it gets sooty is damp wood ash itself. When I 1st heard about this 20 years ago- I found it hard to believe. Take a a paper towel and fold it over into fourths. Dip it into water and then wring out the excess- leaving it damp, but not dripping. Touch the dampened towel to some of the "clean" gray ash from the stove. Rub this moist ash right on the glass like it was scouring powder- in a sense it is! The soot will scour away and leave the glass sparkling clear. After all of the soot has been 'cut' by ash, the remainder can be wiped of the glass with a clean, dry paper towel. I have not used oven cleaner or other harsh cleaners on our stoves in years.

Try it!

Good Luck.

Frank

Frank this is exactly why I asked IT how he was cleaning his glass. This is my cleaner along with a small bowl with a little water and ash.

Scrub brush that's rough enough to cut the soot but doesn't harm the glass, a small bowl with a little water to dip it in, and ash. Takes about 60 seconds of scrubbing in a circular motion to cut the soot and turn everything into a black slurry. Wipe off with a paper towel. Spray with glass cleaner and wipe again one or two times and done. (foam glass cleaner works best) I found newspaper works but this cuts it all almost instantly. Even with a lot of soot.

 

[jk96]

Also while I can't argue of the convenience of gas. I really enjoy a real fire. Different view each time you burn, the sounds of the wood crackling, and ability to control the heat from a little to intense is hard to beat. Ours is cranked up as I type.

 

[hosspuller]

2016 will be 20 years of heating with wood. (Granted, it's the South) The insert & I have to work hard when the temp drops below 10 F degrees for several days. Rest of the time it's more than enough to keep it toasty warm. 15 of those years, we've used a Pacific Energy insert in a 1600 ft house. Vented with an insulated 6 inch flex pipe. It has a glass front. I thought, Nah it'll soot up and be useless... I'm impressed at how clean the glass stays. It does get a film build-up after a few days. A damp paper towel followed by a dry towel makes the glass almost disappear. I clean the chimney every three years. A nylon brush produces this ( pic)

 

[dragoneggs]

Also while I can't argue of the convenience of gas. I really enjoy a real fire. Different view each time you burn, the sounds of the wood crackling, and ability to control the heat from a little to intense is hard to beat. Ours is cranked up as I type.

Beautiful fireplace there JK... thinking your house must be quite beautiful and grand as well. :thumbsup:

 

[jcummins]

We have an open fireplace. Been here 4 years and never had a fire...because....past experiences just ain't good. Needs to be enclosed. Previous owner had a propane gas line run to the fireplace, never used. I checked on cost of a decent propane insert....$6500 once you add in proper flu piping/install/etc.

I'd love to have it, but cannot find anything reasonable. What's everyone else experience.