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Fireplace versus Fireplace Inserts: Which is Which?
There can be a lot of confusion for some homeowners when it comes to distinguishing between a fireplace and a fireplace insert. Many people think they have an insert or a fireplace when they have the exact opposite. How can you tell the two different styles apart?
In short, a fireplace is normally built into your home with brick and a fireplace insert is a custom-fitted stove that is designed to fit inside a pre-existing fireplace’s footprint.
Why Would You Want a Fireplace Insert?
A fireplace insert requires some of the existing structural features of a fireplace in order to work—namely the ability to vent through a chimney—so why would you want one? (And if you don't have a chimney, you can look into ventless fireplace inserts.)
Well, while fireplaces obviously bring warmth and charm to any home, unfortunately, they often can have other issues as well. Fireplaces can feature outdated styling, have broken or dangerous structural faults to their masonry or firebox, and generally are less energy efficient than a fireplace insert.
So, if you have an existing masonry fireplace that has seen better days and you’re looking for an easy way to refresh its look and functionality, a fireplace insert may be a great option for you.
How Does a Fireplace Insert Work?
Fireplace inserts are ideal for those that want to leverage their existing fireplace’s structure. This is because each insert is manufactured to fit specifically within each individual fireplace’s footprint. A fireplace insert then functions as a sealed heating system inside your fireplace’s existing masonry.
Installing a fireplace insert will give you a new and more efficient way to enjoy a fire, with the added safety, new features, and convenience an insert allows for. And while they may seem novel, fireplace inserts aren’t new. Inserts were first invented in 1896, but they didn’t gain widespread popularity until the 1980s. This is when design advances to boost their efficiency were created. The main improvement made was in the design of the chimney liner, which now is required to be insulated and benefits both safety and eco-friendliness.
Different Fuel Types
Fireplace inserts are largely differentiated based on the type of fuel you plan on using. Inserts can be made for nearly all types of wood-burning fireplaces, pellet fireplaces, gas fireplaces, and electric fireplaces. Consider the different fuel types, what differentiates them, and what benefits each might have because the fuel type can make a difference in the process of installation of your fireplace insert.
Inserts for Wood-Burning Fireplaces
Wood-burning inserts are a great option for those that want to overhaul their existing wood fireplace economically and easily. Wood-burning inserts have many additional benefits besides allowing homeowners to preserve the classic charm and atmosphere that only a woodfire can provide.
Due to their ability to function as an air-tight system, wood-burning inserts have many advantages over the traditional fireplace. Some of these advantages can include:
- Soot and smoke are kept out of the home thanks to the sealed front door and chimney liner an insert uses.
- Woodfire inserts can burn up to five hours longer when compared to standard wood.
- Greater efficiency, EPA-certified wood stoves can have an up to 81% overall efficiency HHV when using cordwood.
One thing to remember is that wood-burning fires will also burn much hotter inside your new insert, which is part of the reason why they require an insulated chimney liner.
Inserts for Pellet Fireplaces
A pellet insert (for most purposes) can be treated much like a wood-burning fireplace insert, as they both rely on being loaded with external fuel sources to produce a fire. The main difference between the two is the size and composition of the material being burnt. While wood-burning inserts burn cords of wood, pellet fireplace inserts require specially manufactured pellets as their fuel source.
Using pellets as a fuel source has many advantages over standard cordwood, including:
- Using pellets provides greater efficiency during combustion, meaning you can burn far fewer pellets and produce more heat than your typical log-fed fire.
- Storing pellets takes up much less space than devoting an area to your woodpile.
- Pellet fires last much longer than a log-fed fire, saving you money in the long run.
For these reasons and more, many homeowners choose to switch over to a pellet fireplace when rethinking their fireplace.
Inserts for Gas Fireplaces
Gas fireplace inserts provide all the charm of a live flame while removing the chore of lugging in firewood every time you want to enjoy the twinkling spontaneity of a fire. A typical insert for gas fireplaces will also allow you to modernize your fireplace and increase its heating footprint while reducing the carbon footprint when compared to other fuel types such as wood or pellets. Additionally, they allow greater control over heat generation when compared to wood-fueled fires as well.
When installing a gas fireplace insert there are a few unique issues to consider.
- Can you connect to a gas line? Connecting to a gas line will be of primary importance when deciding if a gas insert is feasible for you.
- How will you be venting? When it comes to expelling the noxious byproducts of its flames, gas fireplace inserts have a choice of two styles: vented and ventless. The availability of both will be dependent on your own home’s situation.
- Is there a power supply nearby? Despite running on gas, these inserts will still require access to electricity to run things like fans, electric ignitors, and any displays it may have.
While requiring a little more work than either wood-based or electric fireplace inserts, gas inserts make up for it when it comes to the unique blend of ease of operation and enjoyment that they provide their users.
Inserts for Electric Fireplaces
Electric fireplaces are prized for their versatility and the ability to be installed no matter the surrounding structure—thanks in large part due to a distinct lack of venting needs. And while they may not produce a real flame, many can produce a realistic facsimile that would make most folks stop and do a double-take. An additional benefit is that most models are also capable of producing enough heat to warm up a room.
Electric fireplace inserts have a variety of other benefits, some of which include:
- Inexpensive to operate: Electric fireplaces are by far the most efficient style of fireplace insert to use, often being more energy-efficient than a comparable portable electric heater.
- Ease of installation: Electric fireplaces typically require no additional ventilation and can be plugged in and ready to use almost instantly.
- Versatility within the home: Some electric fireplace options don’t even require a preexisting fireplace to function. In fact, many models can function alone mounted on a wall like a flatscreen TV or incorporated into a piece of furniture, like a television console.
Electric fireplace inserts are also a good family choice, as the lack of venting and accompanying hot spots make them safe for children and pets to be around. For example, areas such as the glass viewing window on the front of an electric fireplace should be cool to the touch as opposed to the spot where heat is transmitted as it would be on other inserts. Largely, the only exposed heating areas should be whatever vents the hot air is expelled from.
While inserts for electric fireplaces can be less common than those for fireplaces that use other fuel types, they are still made and can be worth considering for a variety of reasons.
Sizing the Right Fireplace Insert for You
When picking out the right fireplace insert, there is a lot to consider. You must decide on a type of fuel and larger design, of course, but there are other important considerations you will need to address that will also affect your decision.
Things to consider when installing your own insert:
- What size is the fireplace? Make sure you get an accurate measurement of your fireplace’s height, width, and depth, as this will determine the size of the fireplace insert you will need.
- Does your insert come with a liner? Most fireplace inserts will require an insulated liner due to the high heat of the exhaust it produces.
- What size is the room your insert will be in? How large the room your insert will need to be able to heat will determine how many BTUs it will need to be capable of outputting.
- Can you access a gas line or electricity if needed? Gas inserts will need access to both a gas line and electricity. Most electric fireplace inserts simply need to be plugged into a standard 120-volt outlet. Wood and pellet inserts require even less, only the proper ventilation precautions and a suitable fireplace to be housed in.
- Will you need to go ventless? Some gas inserts—and nearly all-electric inserts—are able to operate without the need for ventilation, which makes such models ideal for when heat is needed but venting isn’t possible.
As you can see, there is a lot to keep straight when installing a fireplace insert. And though the installation itself is normally straightforward, most homeowners still enlist the help of a professional to ensure the job is done safely.
We're Here to Help
We hope you have learned something new about the different types of inserts available for fireplaces, and that you’ve enjoyed yourself along the way. If you have any questions or comments send us an email, or call 866-848-3473 to speak with our NFI-certified experts today. In the meantime browse our selection for more information or look through other articles in our Learning Center.