Clean Sweeps of Michigan's Blog

Improve Fireplace Efficiency With a Wood or Gas Insert

Few things can beat the ambiance created by a beautiful masonry fireplace. Unfortunately, few things are also as inefficient; masonry fireplaces are the most energy inefficient heating appliances available today, with as much as 90% of the produced heat going straight up the chimney.

Luckily, there is a way for homeowners to enjoy the look and feel of a crackling fire – without the energy inefficiency of a masonry fireplace. A new fireplace insert can be installed into your existing masonry fireplace, drastically improving efficiency. Below are just four of the many reasons why you should consider having a fireplace insert installed in your home.

1.    Improve efficiency

Open hearth masonry fireplaces are extremely inefficient, with the majority of the heat created by fires being lost up the chimney. Unfortunately, this inefficiency can also translate directly to higher energy costs; heated and cooled air from your home can also escape up the chimney. Because inserts burn using closed system combustion there is a much lower chance of energy loss. This increased efficiency can save money and reduce your heating and cooling costs; according to the Hearth, Patio, and Barbeque Association, installing a fireplace insert into a masonry hearth can reduce energy bills by up to 40%.

2.    More flexibility in fuel choices

Whether you prefer the look and feel of wood, the convenience of gas, or something else entirely, fireplace inserts are available with many different fuel sources. This gives homeowners the freedom to find the fireplace and fuel source that best meets their heating needs.

3.    Avoid potential costly repairs

If your fireplace has been damaged from moisture, the elements, or overuse, it may no longer be able to burn safely. However, you may be able to continue using your fireplace – with few to no expensive repairs. Fireplace inserts can sometimes be used as a way to prevent masonry repairs; as the insert is installing directly into an existing fireplace, any firebox damage does not need to be repaired.

Inserts can do more than just replace a damaged firebox – they can also be used to improve the structural stability of the chimney system. However, because the same chimney and venting system are used for both masonry fireplaces and inserts chimney repairs may need to be done.

4.    Better for the environment

All modern inserts must be certified by the EPA. This means that all inserts undergo rigorous testing to ensure that the smallest amount of smoke and particulate emission is released as possible. For this reason inserts may be better for the environment – and your family. Those suffering from respiratory issues such as asthma or allergies may benefit from a home with a fireplace insert.

Installing a new fireplace insert can help improve the efficiency of your existing fireplace system. For more information on the benefits of installing an insert in your home, contact the fireplace experts at Clean Sweeps of Michigan today!

Heat your home more efficiently with a fireplace insert

Would you like to reduce your heating bills, improve your home’s indoor air quality, and reduce your environmental impact? A fireplace insert can do all three, along with improving the look and ambiance of your home.
A wood-burning, pellet, or gas insert for your fireplace can cut your home heating bills by as much as 40 percent, depending on what type of insert you choose, your home’s layout, and your region’s climate. Inserts also eliminate the fine particles that make their way into your home while an open-hearth fire is burning and greatly reduce the air pollution created by your fireplace.
If getting rid of your open-hearth fireplace is right for you, there are many home-heating options.

Wood-burning inserts maintain the traditional feel of a wood fire

If you enjoy the sights and sounds of wooden logs burning in a fireplace, a wood-burning insert might be right for you. You burn wood as you would in a traditional fireplace, but the inserts radiate heat from their glass doors and employ blowers to return heat from the fire to your home, rather than letting it escape up the chimney as it would with an open-hearth fireplace.
Most inserts are now EPA certified, and burn with 60 to 80 percent efficiency.

Pellet stoves decrease your environmental impact

Pellet stoves seem to the favorite type of home heating appliance among those looking to lessen their home’s environmental impact, and an insert can turn your existing fireplace into a pellet stove.
As the name suggest, pellet stoves burn tiny pellets made from compressed, dehydrated wood byproducts, such as shavings and sawdust. Some stoves burn biofuels, such as corn, cherry pits, or wheat hulls. Because the fuel for the stoves contains little moisture, the smoke contains fewer particles, and the fires burn hotter.
Pellet stoves still provide the smell of burning wood, and the ambient glow of a traditional wood-burning fireplace, but without the logs. They are also lower maintenance than a wood-burning fireplace, as the pellets can be purchased in 40 pound bags, and once the stove’s pellet tray is loaded, the fire can burn for more than 16 hours without needing to be reloaded.

Gas stoves provide convenience

If you enjoy the glow and warmth of a fireplace, but too often your hearth remains empty because you don’t want to deal with the hassle of building and maintaining a fire, and constantly cleaning ashes out of your fireplace, a gas insert could be the heating appliance you’re looking for.
With a gas fireplace insert, you can enjoy a roaring fire at the push of a button or the flip of a switch. Many gas fires mimic the look of wood-burning fireplaces very convincingly, and you don’t have to clean the ash box when you’re done enjoying your fire.
Natural gas or propane also are extremely efficient and provide little air pollution when burned in an efficient fireplace insert.

Upgrade now to save this winter

If you’re interested in using your open-hearth fireplace to lower your heating bills, the experts at Clean Sweeps and Air Ducts of Michigan can help you select your fireplace insert today. Call 734-668-4780 to schedule an appointment!