Wood Stove vs. Inserts

Wood Stoves

• Wood stoves have a strong connection with the past. At one time, wood stoves were a primary source of heat for homes, and commonly referred to as pot belly stoves. You still can get a classic cast iron potbelly, keep a stack of wood logs on the side and tend the fire; or you may opt for a stylish, updated wood stove, complete with fancy copper and brass knobs and trimmings, and see-through glass doors. Unlike fireplace inserts, wood-burning stoves are not camouflage appliances or fireplace lookalikes. Wood stoves have a look of their own.

Inserts

• Once you have an insert in place, you can fire up the fireplace. Inserts are prefabricated units that essentially serve as the firebox for the fireplace. Inserts are manufactured to specifications to accommodate a wood-burning or gas fireplace. For example, a homeowner who is converting a wood-burning fireplace to gas would install a gas-burning fireplace insert. The insert is surrounded by heat-tolerant masonry work such as a stone or brick, and connected to the chimney system of flues and dampers.

Wood Stove Advantages

• As long as you have proper ventilation, such as a pipe and duct system for venting smoke, you may put a wood stove in the middle of a room. It doesn't have to be relegated to a corner or a wall in order to vent through a chimney. You can even purchase a wood stove that makes others think you're roughing it. Get a hopper-style wood-burning stove; the stove reloads and refuels itself. Instead of fire logs, you the hopper uses wood pellets. Pellets are made of wood chips and sawdust. The hopper detects when more wood pellets are needed, and automatically loads them into the stove. A wood stove is a good way to heat a single room that tends to stay cold and drafty, such as a basement or garage.

Insert Advantages

• Inserts dress up a fireplace and make it look bigger and deeper. Inserts turn fireplaces from simple and austere to well designed pieces of interior, or exterior furnishing for an outdoor fireplace. You may select a wood-burning fireplace insert to create different fireplace views, such as a see-through fireplace or a view to the fireplace from three sides, provided the home has a chimney above to vent the smoke. There are insert solutions for homes without chimneys: vent-less and vent-free gas-fireplace inserts. These types of inserts may be used just about anywhere. There are vent-less gas-fireplace inserts you can install in a wall.