While many homeowners love the look and feel of a crackling fire during the winter, the care and upkeep of traditional wood burning fireplaces can often be overwhelming. Because of that, more and more people are upgrading their fireplaces using fireplace inserts. Inserts are able to reduce overall maintenance while still serving as both a beautiful focal point and heat source for the room.
Although people chose fireplace inserts for a number of reasons, here are five reasons why you should consider upgrading your fireplace with an insert.
1. Increased efficiency
Fireplace inserts also offer homeowners a way to drastically improve the efficiency of their fireplaces. Wood burning fireplaces, which have efficiency ratings as low as between 5-10%, use open combustion to burn. During this process, warm air from a room can be pulled into the fireplace, causing cold air from the outside to rush in. Inserts, however, take placed in a sealed system. This allows for more complete combustion and a more efficient fire. According to the Hearth, Patio, and Barbeque Association’s Leslie Wheeler, adding a fireplace insert has been known to reduce energy bills by as much as 40 percent.
2. Save on masonry repairs
If you are faced with the need to renovate or even rebuild your existing fireplace or firebox, adding an insert is an excellent way to save time and money. Rather than spending weeks living in a construction zone and taking a chunk out of your bank account for a major renovation, the purchase and installation of an insert takes considerably less time and money.
While inserts can easily be fitted into existing fireboxes, they should be professionally installed to ensure that they are correctly placed and connected. In many cases, adding a new chimney liner may be recommended to ensure that the inserts are operating with maximum efficiency.
3. Environmentally friendly
Most inserts available on the market today are EPA certified. For wood burning inserts, emissions are reduced to nearly zero, making a significantly smaller environmental impact than traditional wood burning fireplaces.
4. Multiple fuel choices
Unlike with an open fireplace, inserts offer a wide variety of fuel choices. This gives homeowners the freedom to choose from a fuel source that matches their needs and personal preferences. There are inserts available that burn wood, natural gas, pellets, propane, and even coal.
5. Multiple available styles
In addition to having choices when it comes to the fuel source, homeowners also find there are many different aesthetic style choices for fireplace inserts. A new insert can turn a neglected firebox into the beautiful focal point of any room. From more modern designs to classic looks and everything in between, there is an insert to fit almost every home, style, and budget.
If you have questions about the benefits of fireplace inserts, contact Mason’s Chimney Service. Our Master Hearth Professionals are available to discuss the pros and cons of inserts, as well as help you decide whether or not an insert is right for you and your family.