| Traditional fireplaces require air for the fire to burn. | | | | hearth. The inserts that extend often prove to be |
| The air is drawn to the fire, heated and much of it | | | | more efficient because the sides and top areas that |
| goes up the chimney. This is called a draft. The | | | | stick out allow additional radiant heat to be released |
| problem with a conventional fireplace is the fact that | | | | into the home. |
| it pulls air from inside the house up the chimney and | | | | Fireplace inserts often have built in blowers that |
| the vacuum created by the draft pulls cold air into | | | | improve efficiency and the circulation of the heat |
| the house. | | | | throughout the room or rooms. The blowers may be |
| If you enjoy your fireplace but don't like the | | | | mounted inside the front or sides of the insert. |
| increased burden and expense it places on your | | | | Depending on the model you choose they may be |
| furnace, a wood burning fireplace insert may be just | | | | controlled manually or automatically by a thermostat. |
| what you need. A wood burning fireplace insert uses | | | | When installing a wood burning fireplace insert, the |
| the same technological improvements that have been | | | | insert must have a positive connection from it's |
| developed for wood burning stoves. The difference | | | | outlet to the first section of the flue liner. This |
| is that it fits right into your existing fireplace. In the | | | | ensures that the smoke will go up the chimney |
| United States wood stoves, new wood burning | | | | directly and minimizes combustible deposits that can |
| fireplace inserts must be certified by the | | | | end up condensing in the fireplace. An even better |
| Environmental Protection Agency. This same type of | | | | installation option is fully relining the chimney since the |
| certification process is required in many parts of | | | | smaller pipe size provides a better draft and an |
| Canada as well. | | | | added margin of safety. |
| These new inserts are normally made from plate | | | | If you do decide to install a full relining system, |
| steel or cast iron. They are clean burning and | | | | stainless steel pipe that connects to the insert and |
| extremely efficient. They have glass doors on the | | | | goes all the way to the top of the chimney can help |
| front that allow you to view the fire and fit right into | | | | you avoid the need to remove the insert when it is |
| the opening of an existing fireplace. Some sit flush | | | | time to clean the chimney. Since most inserts are |
| with the fireplace while others protrude onto the | | | | heavy and difficult to move this can be a real benefit. |