Wood Burning Fireplace Inserts

How to Install a Wood Burning Fireplace Insert

Adding a wood burning fireplace inserts to a home's already existing wood burning fireplace is a great way to gain efficiency with the fireplace. The inserts produce more heat than the standard fireplace and are a great way to reduce heating bills. The inserts push heat into the room rather than it being lost up the chimney. The standard fireplace also sucks in air from the surrounding room, this helps the fire burn, yet it causes heat to be lost from the room. The inserts provide longer burning time and also increased safety. With correct installations, wood burning fireplace inserts tuck neatly into the existing fireplace and often go unnoticed.

First, it is essential to figure out what type of fireplace exists in the home. There are masonry based fireplaces and metal fireplaces, which are also known as pre-fabs or zero clearance fireplaces. The first kind of masonry based fireplace is a 100% masonry site built fireplace which is built by a mason on site with a combination of materials. There are also heatform or metal fireplace that has a metal firebox that is built into a full masonry chimney. Finally, there is also a 100% prefabricated masonry fireplace, in which the masonry is completed at a factory and transported to the site. Metal fireplaces or pre-fabs can be identified by looking at the flue which runs from the top of the fireplace, up the chimney to the outside air. If the diameter of the flue is between 8" and 11", the fireplace is a metal or pre-fab fireplace.

If it is a metal or pre-fab fireplace, the options become quite limited. Pre-fab fireplaces are often small and it can be hard to find an insert for. Firstly, try to find a insert that fits and also is approved for use in a pre-fab fireplace. Secondly, rip out the entire assembly and replace it with a built in high efficiency fireplace.

However, when it comes to a masonry based fireplace, the next step is choosing a model by looking at the height, width, and depth of the fireplace opening, the width of the damper opening, the distance that the hearth comes out from the fireplace, and the overall age and condition of the fireplace and chimney. The chimney must be fully cleaned and may need relined before installation of the wood burning fireplace inserts. Plan on inserting a block off plate prior to instillation. A block of plate sits on the upper area of the fireplace and is vital for an efficient insert installation. A non-combustible material will also need to be installed on the floor in front of the door opening. Paying close attention to every step of preparation will help the installation of wood burning fireplace inserts go smoothly.