| Nothing beats the warmth and ambiance of a | | | | environmentally friendly and come in many styles |
| crackling fireplace. If you are looking at purchasing | | | | and colors. If you thought that wood stoves only |
| or upgrading a fireplace, wood stove or fireplace | | | | came in black and belched smoke then think again. |
| insert (or any hearth appliance) there are lots of | | | | The new wood stoves are energy efficient, clean |
| choices. Depending on the style and features of | | | | burning and there is a wood stove to fit any |
| your home, your energy needs, design | | | | home or life style. |
| preferences and budget there are many hearth | | | | Fireplace Inserts |
| options to choose from. | | | | If you have a masonry fireplace but don't like the |
| Masonry Fireplaces | | | | associated, draftiness, energy costs or overall |
| New masonry fireplaces have come a long way | | | | inefficiency, you should consider purchasing a |
| since the days when they provided more | | | | fireplace insert, sometimes referred to as a |
| ambiance than warmth. Today's models are much | | | | fireplace stove insert. A fireplace insert is basically |
| more energy-efficient and some European models | | | | a wood stove designed to fit into a fireplace. |
| can even heat an entire small home. The cost of | | | | Fireplace inserts are usually constructed of cast |
| a masonry fireplace varies, depending on a | | | | iron or steel just like wood stoves. |
| number of factors, including type of material used | | | | Installing a fireplace insert will typically require the |
| (particularly on the fireplace face, which could be | | | | installation of a chimney liner. The chimney liner |
| composed of marble, granite, brick, etc.), the | | | | essentially narrows and insulates the chimney vent |
| hearth (brick, stone, concrete, tile, marble or | | | | and connects directly onto the fireplace insert |
| wood) and other factors such as chimney liners | | | | creating a closed highly efficient system. No more |
| and chimney caps. | | | | opening and closing the damper. Fireplace inserts |
| Gas Fireplaces | | | | can use various fuel options and are clean burning |
| Housed in their own metal casing, gas fireplaces | | | | (minimal smoke and particulate emissions). |
| can be installed just about anywhere. Inside the | | | | Fireplace inserts like wood stoves are heavy, |
| gas fireplace you will find ceramic logs, fiber gas | | | | usually weighing upwards of 300 pounds. This |
| logs or glass or crystal elements and a burner | | | | means delivery and installation are better left to |
| that produces a glowing natural gas-powered | | | | certified installers or professional chimney sweeps. |
| flame. These new gas fireplaces are not the old | | | | Gas fireplace inserts utilize natural gas or liquid |
| gas fireplaces. The quantity and quality of the | | | | propane as the fuel source and consist of a gas |
| flame has been dramatically improved and most | | | | log set installed into a steel or cast iron stove and |
| now have the look and feel of a traditional wood | | | | are usually sealed on the front with glass. Most |
| burning fireplace. Many gas fireplaces now have | | | | gas inserts have fans or blowers that |
| flames that are difficult to distinguish from wood | | | | automatically circulate the heat. Gas inserts are |
| burning fire flames. Modern gas fireplaces also | | | | available with remote controls, wall switches or |
| come with electronic remote controls and | | | | wall-mounted thermostats. |
| automatic fans to better circulate the heat. The | | | | Wood-burning fireplace inserts use firewood as |
| new remote controls are relatively sophisticated | | | | the fuel source. Wood inserts come with fans or |
| with touch screens, child safety locks and | | | | blowers that automatically circulate the heat. |
| automated temperature control operation. | | | | Wood burning inserts would typically include an |
| There are three different styles of gas fireplaces: | | | | operable glass door in the front to allow for |
| the direct vent model, the top vent design, and | | | | loading of firewood and flame viewing. Wood |
| the vent-free model. | | | | inserts vary in size of flame viewing area (the |
| The direct vent gas fireplace uses two vent pipes | | | | bigger the better) and maximum log length that |
| that lead directly to the outside. One pipe uses | | | | can be inserted into the stove for burning. |
| combustion air from the outside while the other | | | | Pellet fireplace inserts use wood pellets or other |
| vents the exhaust gas. | | | | types of pellets (corn based, soy based, etc.) as |
| The top vent gas fireplace design can be installed | | | | the fuel source. Pellet fireplace inserts come with |
| into existing fireplaces and uses the metal or brick | | | | fans or blowers that automatically circulate the |
| chimney as the exhaust vent. The combustion air | | | | heat. |
| for top vent fireplaces is drawn from inside the | | | | Pellet-Burning Hearth Appliances |
| home while the chimney vents the exhaust gas. | | | | Pellet-burning hearth appliances are simpler to |
| The vent-free gas fireplace model uses no | | | | operate and more convenient than other |
| exhaust vent. This style includes an | | | | wood-burning appliances. In fact, they are almost |
| oxygen-depletion sensor that turns off the gas if | | | | as easy to use as gas, oil or electric heaters. |
| it senses a dangerous lack of oxygen inside the | | | | Pellet stoves and pellet inserts burn wood pellets |
| house. While fireplace manufacturers claim that | | | | or compressed wood. Pellet-burning hearth |
| vent-free fireplaces burn clean, are | | | | appliances are loaded with pellets through a |
| energy-efficient and don't threaten indoor air | | | | hopper and the rate of burn is controlled by an |
| quality, be aware that a number of states do not | | | | electronic circuit board that is typically controlled |
| permit the installation of vent-free fireplaces. In | | | | by burn settings or a thermostat. Most pellet |
| the New England states of New Hampshire, | | | | appliances have at least two burn settings and |
| Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine and Connecticut | | | | some new models use thermostats to control the |
| installation of vent-free gas fireplaces is permitted. | | | | fire. They also use a forced-air system to |
| Massachusetts has in the past not authorized the | | | | distribute the wood pellet heat. Pellet-burning |
| installation of vent free gas fireplaces for safety | | | | appliances are highly efficient, clean burning and |
| reasons. | | | | environmentally friendly. |
| Prefabricated Fireplaces | | | | Pellet stoves burn wood very efficiently and |
| Prefabricated fireplaces, also known as | | | | many do not need chimneys. Rather, they can |
| zero-clearance fireplaces, are highly insulated, so | | | | exhaust fumes by venting directly through a wall |
| they can be installed within an inch of combustible | | | | to the outdoors. Pellet-burning appliances need to |
| materials, such as wall framing. They are | | | | be refueled less frequently than most other wood |
| preferred in new construction because they're | | | | burning appliances. Refueling varies from once a |
| much lighter in weight, are faster and easier to | | | | day to twice a week, depending on the model |
| install than standard masonry units, and are | | | | and your heating needs. Most pellet stoves require |
| energy-efficient. Many newer prefabricated | | | | electricity to operate. |
| fireplaces are prefabricated from metal and | | | | Customizing Your Fireplace |
| installed in wood-frame walls. They generally have | | | | Your fireplace can be customized with a variety |
| a metal shell and a realistic brick-lined firebox. | | | | of functional and stylistic options. |
| Wood Stoves | | | | Gas fireplaces, for instance, feature three |
| A wood stove is essentially a metal container for | | | | different kinds of logs: vented logs that provide a |
| a fire. Made from cast iron or brick-lined, welded | | | | realistic burning wood look with less heat; ventless |
| plate steel, a wood stove has an inlet for | | | | logs, which produce a yellow flame with a high |
| combustion air and an outlet for combustion | | | | degree of efficiency; and partially vented logs |
| gases, or smoke. Most modern wood stoves are | | | | which provide a middle ground option in warmth, |
| airtight and allow the amount of combustion air | | | | appearance and efficiency. Each type of gas log is |
| that feeds the flame to be controlled. This control | | | | available in many different gas log set styles |
| allows a wood stove to burn far more efficiently | | | | including types of wood (oak, cedar, northern oak, |
| than a traditional open fireplace. | | | | etc.), flame size and color and other unique and |
| Wood stoves built during the 1970s and early | | | | interesting styles (camp fire, beach fire, glass, |
| 1980s offer efficiencies of 50 to 60 percent. | | | | crystal, etc.). |
| Those built since new governmental requirements | | | | Gas fireplaces, gas stoves and gas inserts can all |
| were put in place in 1988 offer 75 percent or | | | | be used with remote controls, wall switches and |
| higher overall efficiency; that is, they convert up | | | | wall mounted thermostats. |
| to 75 percent or more of their fuel into heat. | | | | Other options or accessories for fireplaces include |
| Concern about particulate emissions or air pollution | | | | a wide array of hearth rugs, custom glass doors, |
| carried by wood smoke have also forced changes | | | | ash containers and buckets, wood holders, fire |
| in wood stove designs. Although old wood stoves | | | | starters, flame enhancers, fireplace screens, tools |
| gave off up to 50 grams of particulates per hour | | | | and fireplace gloves. There are many accessories |
| in smoke, new certified stoves give off only | | | | and options available for wood stoves as well. The |
| about 5 grams. | | | | most popular options include tool sets, hearth |
| Most new wood stoves are energy efficient, | | | | rugs, stove scents and steamers. |