Pros & Cons of Fireplace Inserts

Benefits

• Fireplace inserts can add beauty to any room. They also can allow heat to be distributed back into the home instead of going up the chimney. This can cut down on your heating bill in the winter, making your home more energy-efficient.

Disadvantages

• Maintaining a fireplace insert can be costly. Normal fireplace use can cause the buildup of creosote, which leads to a fire hazard if not cleaned yearly.

Types

• Pellet inserts use pellet fuel, which is inserted through the top of the fireplace. The pellets can burn up to eight hours without having to reload the fireplace. Wood-burning inserts allow you to burn wood more efficiently. They are loaded with wood and then work much like a normal masonry fireplace except they have electric blowers that blow the heat out into the room. Gas inserts use natural gas to heat the room. Realistic gas logs are use to give the appearance of regular wood.