Fireplace Inserts!!!

[paulk68]

I am looking for some info on wood burning fireplace inserts. I have heard very mixed reviews on these. I am looking to heat my family room wich is 25x25. I want to go with an insert in my existing fireplace opening. I have heard that even with the blower system you loose ALOT of heat up the chimney. what are your thoughts. thanks

[wmhjr]

I've had wood burning fireplace inserts, unvented gas logs, and currently have a free standing wood stove.

The unvented gas logs are very efficient, and while I'm sure somebody may chime in with a concern, new stuff is safe with CO sensors, etc. I actually completely capped my chimney in that house, so all heat was going in the house. But, you're still paying for gas though it certainly was a lot more clean and convenient.

The fireplace insert doesn't lose any more heat up the chimney than a free standing stove. The combustion chamber and the seal of the unit which controls the burn also controls how much is being discharged through the chimney. The problem is that you get a lot less radiant heat because all but one side of the unit are not exposed to the home interior. A blower definitely helps, and the one I had burned so hot and the blower put out so much heat that we never used the high blower setting. Good thing, because the blower sure wasn't whisper quiet. The blower also helps to distribute dust and dirt even more through the room and the house :(

Free standing units radiate tons of heat. I have 2700sq feet upstairs in my house, and about 1200sq feet downstairs not including the garages. The house is "L" shaped. The stove is downstairs on one end of the house. The thermostat is upstairs right in the center. So long as I keep the stove hot, the furnace rarely comes on even in 20 degree weather.

My advice is that if you could possible make a free standing unit work, that's optimal, but the inserts are pretty darned effective.

[Restomod]

We have a small Drolet in ours and with the blower it is WAY more effective than just the fireplace was with less wood!

[ELVIS_PRESLEY]

I had ventless logs put in mine about 2 months ago and the heat it produces is unreal. It has also saved me money. The tech guys said a blower is way less efficient.

[mdprovee]

My parents have a 2 story 1600sf house, and they heat the house with a insert 80% of the time. It has to be 20 years old now. They get a good fire going, then turn down the "air intake" and burn slower and maintain it as needed. They have one without a blower.

[MonzaRacer]

anything to move air.keep swept around unit.and always go for better liner/piping.
if you keep it dirty around it it will move that around.
also make sure the unit is lined with fire brick.

[shmoov69]

I have a Country Flame free stand unit that could be used as an insert also. It is the biggest one they have. My house is 2000sf and it is located in the SE corner of the house in the living room. Which is the worst place to have it around here, it should be in the NW corner of the house, but that is where my bedroom is. But anyway, it heats my family room, living room and kitchen to a nice temperature of "melt" or "coma"! But leaves the bedrooms a bit cool, which is great for sleeping! But that is because of the house layout and not the stove. My old house had a Buck Stove insert in the fireplace, which was downstairs, so it heated about the whole house perfectly. My mom has a Pacific Energy free stand unit that they love. It is small, clean and pretty, along with really efficient.
Wood heat is incomparable, but the pain in the ass is about as bad too!! By the time you figure buying the stove and pipe, chainsaw, time to cut it, haul it, stack it and that is IF you don't get hurt somehow (sore back included!); Or buy the wood from someone else. It is prolly just cheaper to go o ER and turn the dial on the wall to turn up the thermostat!! LOL!

But I am writing this sitting on the couch beside my wood stove pumping out the wonderful heat!! LOL!!