Many of us prize fireplaces for their ability to provide ambiance, warmth, and value to any space. However, if your existing fireplace isn’t heating your house as well as it should, you wish to update it and not spend a fortune. One of the best solutions is fireplace inserts.
How do Fireplace Inserts Work?
The fireplace insert is a stove inserted directly inside an existing fireplace to boost heat output. Inserts are usually positioned within older masonry structures because they provide efficient warmth without the high heat loss associated with traditional fireplaces.
They use a blower to circulate cold air from the room around the stove continually and then push it back inside your living space. Circulating the air alone increases the efficiency significantly versus a traditional fireplace. These inserts dramatically reduce the cost of upgrading an existing fireplace and, aside from higher efficiency, will also give it greater eye appeal.
How Do These Inserts Differ From Classical Fireplaces?
There is a definite distinction between a fireplace and a fireplace insert. A fireplace is a reference to the existing structure, built at the same time as the home. Most fireplaces use wood for fuel, display sizeable viewing areas, and firebox measurements since they are constructed directly into the wall. However, their downside is that they are incredibly inefficient.
On the other hand, fireplace inserts are coal or wood stoves (gas and electric are also available) installed inside the existing fireplace. Homeowners have multiple options regarding the fuel type and style they want, which are much easier to manage. The insert measurement will be determined by the existing fireplace, meaning the insert usually has a smaller viewing space. On the plus side, they have much greater energy efficiency.
Another difference between the two is the ease of installation. Fireplaces are very expensive to install and should be considered a major renovation project. Fireplace inserts, by contrast, are simple and cost-effective to set up. They provide benefits such as a lower carbon footprint, higher efficiency heat, customizable design options, and more affordable repair costs.
Coal Stove Fireplace Inserts
Coal Fireplace inserts are built heavier than wood inserts, coal burns much hotter, and so its stoves need to be able to handle the extra heat. Coal fireplace inserts will have grates for easy removal of ashes and to allow the coal to burn correctly.
Coal fireplaces are simpler than wood stoves. Anthracite coal inherently burns very clean. Coal stoves do not need fancy catalytic converters or unique flame patterns that limit the stove’s lifespan. Coal stoves are more simple, heavier duty, and have a longer lifespan than wood stoves