Fireplace Inserts are a great way to add warmth and beauty to your home efficiently. Because of the efficiency of these fireplaces, they are often eligible for a 30% Consumer Tax Credit.
A traditional masonry fireplace is very inefficient because most of the heat from the fire goes directly up into the chimney. To add to that, the air in the room, including the already heated air, gets sucked up through the chimney as well. With a fireplace insert, however, most of that heat is radiated into the room. The outer shell prevents heat from escaping into the masonry and instead enables that heat warm the room. Some fireplace inserts even use blowers to aid in heating.
Another added advantage to fireplace inserts is the control that you gain over your fireplace experience. If you want the freedom of choosing what type of fuel to use in your fireplace, a mulit-fuel fireplace insert will be perfect. The amount of heated air blown into the room can be adjusted on some models of fireplace inserts.
When shopping for your fireplace insert, take into consideration the height and width of your firebox. If your firebox is too small, you may need to purchase a hearth fireplace instead. These are efficient as well and can be placed in front of your fireplace and attatched to your chimney with a vent.
