An Overview of Wood Burning Fireplace Inserts

Wood burning fireplace inserts really enhance theneed to consider the fuel in your choice. One of
look of your existing fireplace as well as providingthe factors that can help you make this decision
you with a cheaper means of heating your home.is the ready supply of fuel. If you do not have
Nothing beats the sound of a crackling fireplace onaccess to a ready supply of wood, then perhaps
a cold winter's night when the wind is howlingyou are better off choosing an insert that burns
outside. In addition, a fireplace insert increases thegas or propane. A cheaper type of fuel that is
efficiency of your fireplace.now on the market is wood pellets. This fuel is
 relatively inexpensive and a bag of pellets will last
It doesn't matter if your existing fireplace wasfor a full day when you have the fire burning in
factory built or if was built by a mason onsite.the fireplace continuously.
The inserts you can buy that will enable you to 
burn wood are made of either cast iron or steel.The size of the insert depends on the size of the
They have glass doors that allow you to see theopening in your fireplace. Take the measurements
fire as it is burning. These doors are alsoof the opening before you visit a dealer or have a
self-cleaning so you won't have any extra work.professional come in to take the measurements
Many of them also come with fans orfor you. It is important that you already have an
thermostats that can control the heat.existing fireplace with a working chimney in order
 to have an insert installed. The fireplace must
All older wood burning fireplaces can benefit fromvent through either a chimney, but if not then it
having one of these inserts installed. This ishas to be vented through a chimney or directly. If
because the traditional method used in olderyou are using a chimney, you should have it
fireplaces was open combustion, which meantchecked out to make sure it is safe and install a
that they have very low fuel efficiency. Becauseliner appropriate to the fuel you intend to burn in
of the open combustion, too much air gets intothe insert. When you purchase the fireplace insert,
the fireplace and the fire burns very quickly,you will not be permitted to install it yourself. This
which in turn uses a lot of wood. When you installinstallation requires the skill of a qualified installation
a fireplace insert, the closed doors prevent airprofessional.
from reaching the fire and this controls both the 
fire itself and the heat.The benefits of having an insert in your fireplace
 for burning wood or wood pellets are many. They
With the many types of fireplace inserts you canare clean, convenient and easy to use and will
choose from, you want to choose one that suitssave you money, especially with the rising costs
the style of your fireplace. Since these inserts canof gas and propane.
burn different types of fuel other than wood, you