The Wood Fireplace Insert Blog

Technorati Tags: wood fireplace insert

With the Holiday rush quickly coming to an end now may be the best time to buy a wood fireplace insert.

Many dealers may be looking to bolster sales for the end of the year.  Others may need to move out older models to make room for new ones.  Also, with retail sales in the shape they are many dealers are discounting much further than normal.  Plus you get the benefit of lowering your heating costs.

This is also somewhat off-season now that we are part way through the winter.  It will likely be easier to schedule installation.  All in all if you have been thinking of adding the benefits of a wood fireplace insert to your home now is probably a good time to start checking around.

Technorati Tags: insert discounts

As with any other human activity, heating with wood can be done poorly or well.  Wood can be harvested badly, burned dirty with most of the heat wasted or it can be harvested in a sustainable way, burned in a clean, efficient manner with the energy used in a way that reduces  greenhouse gas emissions.

Obviously, we are all for the latter approach and you will find support for your efforts here - to use wood well. There are a lot of misconceptions about wood heating – hopefully we can help clear some of them up.  You’ll get a balanced view of the benefits of heating with wood.

Regardless of the energy source you choose, it will have an impact on the environment. The best energy sources are the ones that are renewable and the best are solar power and wind power since their environmental impacts tend to be the lowest. They do still have their problems and limitations however. Wood is another energy source that is renewable and it too has its problems and limitations.  Some of these can be managed and minimized, others cannot. But when used effectively, wood is a very good fuel compared to the alternatives like oil, gas and coal.

Wood Fireplace Insert

Technorati Tags: wood fuel, wood heating

Many homes have beautiful brick fireplaces that are simply used to create a certain ambiance for the room while others use their fireplace as a secondary heating source for the home and a primary heating source in case of a power outage.  Unfortunately conventional masonry fireplaces are extremely inefficient heat sources and create a lot of air pollution.

That is why the United States Environmental Protection Agency issued a standard for wood stoves and fireplace inserts in 1988.  This standard limits the amount of smoke emissions that can come from any newly built wood stove or insert.  Any wood stove or fireplace insert sold in the U.S. must meet the standards set by the EPA.

When certifying a stove or insert the EPA uses a measure of emissions called the emission rate.  When comparing different stoves or inserts to each other, the emission rate can be a reliable factor for deciding which models are cleaner burning.  For non-catalytic wood stoves the limit is 7.5 grams of smoke that can be released per hour.  The emission limit for catalytic stoves is 4.1 grams per hour.  With recent improvements in technology some stoves have been certified to release as little as 1 gram per hour.

Although catalytic inserts create a more even and longer burning heat, non-catalytic inserts are easier to maintain and run. Catalytic inserts have a catalytic element that should be cleaned regularly and the insert should be run at efficient heats to keep the element in good condition.  Burning anything other than clean seasoned wood can harm the element.  The element will typically need to be replaced anywhere between two and six years of use depending on how well it is maintained.

The main components of a non-catalytic wood burning insert include a system for pre-heating the combustion air before it gets to the firebox, insulation for the firebox itself and a large baffle that creates a flow path for the combustion gases that is longer and hotter.  This system creates an interesting flame pattern that many home owners find enjoyable to watch.  Because of the high heat created by a wood insert some of the internal parts may need replacement over time.

Technorati Tags: catalytic insert, epa standard, non-catalytic insert, wood insert emissions, wood stove emissions

New homes using modern construction methods are more energy efficient and more air tight than ever before.  In many cases this is a good thing because it keeps the heat in the home and the cold air out, or visa versa in the summer.  Unfortunately a tight home can sometimes cause drafting problems for fireplace inserts. Wood burning fireplace inserts require air to keep a fire burning.  When a fireplace insert is unable to draw sufficient air from the home it will not burn as efficiently and can begin smoking.

Air supply ventilators can be added to help solve this problem.  Air supply ventilators are installed through an outside wall and bring outside air into the combustion chamber of the fireplace insert to provide combustion air for the fire.  That way the fire is consuming outside air rather than pulling inside air and heat into the insert and up the chimney.  The installation and operation of an air supply ventilator can be very simple.  There are no batteries or electrical wiring or ductwork needed.  A ventilator works automatically by taking advantage of the negative air pressure inside the home. It can be opened or shut manually.

Most include an exterior grill and insect screen.  They are made of ABS molded polymer and can be painted with latex paint to match your decor.

Technorati Tags: air supply ventilator, fireplace draft

The problem with traditional brick fireplaces is most of the heat goes up the chimney.  Have you ever had a roaring fire in the fireplace and wondered why the room is freezing?   The fireplace is actually working against you.  The heat radiates a few feet into the room, and then gets sucked back into the fireplace. 

A fireplace does not control the burn. The only control is based on the wood that is put in the fireplace.  Because of this an open fireplace burns harder and faster and Seventy-five percent or more of the heat is lost up the chimney

The beauty of a wood fireplace insert is that it makes an existing fireplace much more efficient.

Installing a wood fireplace insert makes a good investment.  Depending on the size and type a fireplace insert can cost from $1,200 for a small basic model to $3,500 for a large, top-of-the-line insert before installation.

A wood fireplace insert is an insulated, closed-door system which gives you more control over the combustion process. Heat is radiated through the glass and stays in the room rather than being sucked up the flue.

A fireplace insert not only increases the efficiency of a fireplace but it also helps protect air quality by reducing emissions and provides multiple fuel options (such as wood, pellet, coal, corn, natural gas and propane) that are cost efficient. 

A wood-burning insert, provides a much cleaner and complete burn than an open fireplace.  When wood is burned in a regular fireplace, 150 grams or more unburned particulate matter is released into the air, whereas a wood-burning insert releases only 3 or 4 grams per hour.

In a closed-door system the smoke becomes another fuel and is burned in secondary combustion which increases the efficiency. It improves the air quality while increasing the heat in the home.

Technorati Tags: fireplace efficiency, wood fireplace insert

Some people suffer from breathing problems in the winter time.  Some if these problems are caused by smoke from wood burning fireplaces.  It doesn’t have to be this way.  Old fashioned conventional fireplaces can put out a lot of smoke, especially if one is not careful about what is being burned.  Green wood can put out a lot of smoke as can wet wood.  A fire that has a poor draw will tend to smolder and put out a lot of smoke. Burning trash can also produce smoke and toxic gas, depending on what it being burned.

If you have a conventional fireplace you should seriously consider installing an EPA Certified fireplace insert. If not for yourself, do it for your neighbors.  An EEPA Certified fireplace insert can cut the emissions coming from your chimney by as much as ninety percent or more to the point where you will hardly see any smoke coming from the chimney.  In some areas there are actually codes that require smoke coming from a chimney not exceed a certain amount of opacity (density).  A fireplace insert can help you achieve this.

The new EPA Certified fireplace inserts create a dual burning process that not only helps the wood burn at the best temperature and rate of burn to burn most efficiently, but it also re-burns the smoke and gas coming from the fire so that most of the smoke and emissions are consumed by the fire, leaving less to come out of your chimney and in fact consuming less wood over time because of the slower more efficient burn.  Converting to a certified insert makes good sense for everyone, especially if you live in an area where air quality is a regular problem.

Technorati Tags: air quality, fireplace insert, fireplace smoke

There are many different fireplace wood inserts made by different manufacturers.  Fireplace wood inserts fit right into an existing traditional fireplace and can normally be vented up the existing chimney, although there are some adjustments that have to be made.

These fireplace wood inserts tend to work better than gas inserts or electric inserts when it comes to creating heat because they burn a lot hotter.  With the new designs mandated by the EPA they not only create more heat but they are much more efficient in the way they use that heat and they create less pollution.

Fireplace wood inserts have a double combustion system.  The first burns the wood under controlled levels so that it burns slower and more completely, leaving only a small amount of white ash.   Because the wood burns slower, you will have less wood to buy or chop and you won’t have to load the insert up as often. 

The second combustion system that wood inserts use burns the smoke and other gases that were not burned with the wood.  This creates additional useable heat and reduces the overall amount of emissions that are released into the air making wood inserts very environmentally friendly as well as economical.

Because wood inserts burn hotter than a regular fireplace or gas inserts there are some adjustments that have to be made to vent them properly.

Wood burning inserts need to have a positive connection between the first section of the flue liner and the outlet from the insert itself. This lets the smoke and gases that are still unburned go up the chimney in a more direct route, minimizing the amount of combustible deposits that can condense in the fireplace.

An even better idea when installing a wood insert in a fireplace is fully relining the chimney.  This approach works better because the smaller sized pipe provides a better draft and increases the margin of safety.

Completely relining the chimney with a stainless steel pipe that connects directly to the insert and goes all the way to the top of the chimney can also make the maintenance easier because you can avoid the necessity of removing the insert when it is time to clean the chimney.  Most fireplace wood inserts are heavy and difficult to move so this can be a real time and back saver.

Technorati Tags: fireplace wood inserts, wood fireplace insert

A wood burning fireplace insert can be a great way to save money on your heating bill and provides for a cozy atmosphere as well.  But your insert is only as good as the fuel you put in it and using good fireplace insert wood is the key to getting the best efficiency and heat from your fireplace insert.

Qualities of Good Fireplace Insert Wood

Good fireplace insert wood will, first and foremost, be dry wood.  Burning wet wood in your fireplace insert will cause several problems.  First, there will be more smoke because the heat will not be high enough to burn as much of the smoke and gases as it normally wood if the fireplace insert wood was dry.  This will cause creosote to build up on your chimney faster.

The evaporation that takes place in the process of the wood burning actually reduces the heat of the fire.  More smoke also means more emmissions which will lower the air quality.  Wood that has a moisture content below 15-20% will burn the hottest and therefore the most efficiently and smoke free.  If you are collecting your own wood you will want to season it for at least a year to get the moisture content down.  That means planning ahead to get your wood ahead of time.

The best wood will also be untreated and free from compounds that could be toxic, such as wood stains, paint, or pesticides.  Avoid using scrap wood or landscaping wood that may have been treated with creosote or other substances that can become toxic when airborne.  Clean untreated logs make the best wood for your fireplace insert.

Technorati Tags: fireplace insert wood, wood fireplace insert

Be sure you are taking the proper precautions when installing and maintaining a wood fireplace insert or stove. The Midwest Chimney Safety Council issued a warning to its members recently to be prepared for the busiest fall season in decades. “Chimney sweeps will likely not be able to keep up with the demand for cleaning, inspection, and installation services,” said Kirk Scott, President of the MCSC. “There are only so many qualified chimney sweeps to go around, and we don’t have enough to serve the public.” Chimney sweeps are already reporting that their busy season, which usually starts September 1, started in mid-July this year.

As consumers turn to alternative methods of heating such as wood stoves, wood-burning fireplace inserts, and wood-burning furnaces may attempt to do the installation or service work themselves. “One of the biggest mistakes is not installing a properly sized flue liner with a fireplace insert,” says Marge Padgitt, Educational Director for the MCSC. “If the liner is too large it can cause excessive flammable creosote accumulation, which can lead to a chimney fire.”

Most house fires related to heating appliances are due to improper installation and maintenance, so consumers are encouraged to wait until a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep can inspect and sweep the chimney rather than doing it themselves or hiring an unqualified chimney company.

Fireplace flues should typically be inspected and cleaned annually. Wood stoves or inserts used for heating should be inspected and cleaned at least twice during the wood-burning season. Some manufacturers recommend sweeping the chimney once per month so check your owners manual for details. Furnace/hot water heater flues should be inspected annually for clogs by debris or nests, or breaks or gaps in the flue liner that could pose a Carbon Monoxide hazard.

Visit the MCSC website at http//www.mcsc-net.org Midwest Chimney Safety Council for free consumer information.

Technorati Tags: fireplace safety, wood fireplace insert, wood insert safety