The Wood Fireplace Insert Blog

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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.

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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.

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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.

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A catalytic combustor is a ceramic honeycombed device coated with a noble metal such as palladium. It causes the smoke from the fire to be burned rather than allowing it to go up the chimney unused.  Although there are various sizes and shapes, the most common cataltyic combustor is circular in shape, measuring around 5-6 inches in diameter and 2 inches thick.

As long as a fire is burning at a temperature above 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit the gases given off by the wood will burn too. However, if the fire is turned down and the temperature is below 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, the gases will not burn. This is where the catalytic combustor comes in.  When the gases pass through the combustor, the metal acts as a catalyst causing the gases to burn at temperatures as low as 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

The catalytic combustor slows down the burning process in the stove so that the wood is slowly “Cooked” as opposed to being burnt which results in total combustion with virtually no waste. Coals and ash are reduced to a fine white powder.  The increased heat output while using less wood to heat your home creates a huge savings in time and money.

This increases the efficiency of the stove or insert by 10 percent, reduces creosote production by 20-90% and decreases air pollution by as much as 75%.

Catalytic Combustor Maintainence

By keeping your catalytic combustor operating properly you can add to the wood stoves efficiency. To maintain your catalytic combustor remove and clean it periodically using a shop vacuum to get the light coating of ashes that can accumulate on the surface. If the ceramic cells are clogged you can clear them using a pipe cleaner.

Just like your cars catalytic converter, a catalytic combustor has to be replaced periodically.  Once is starts to crumble it should be replaced. Used properly they will last 10,000 to 12,000 operating hours.  If a combuster is contaminated with foreign materials the operating capabilities will be reduced. To avoid contaminating the catalytic combuster you should burn only natural seasoned wood. Avoid burning trash, colored magazines, coal, paper logs, treated wood, painted wood and lighter fluid.

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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.

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