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Fireplace insert?

Nobodybusiness

Nobodybusiness

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My son lives in a house built in 1968.
Have modernize it, brought everything up to date.

He has a fireplace in the family room and he likes the aesthetics of burning wood but it just loses more heat and pulls in cold air from outside in winter.

The damper stays close when not in use.

What insert would you recommend?
Maybe something with external air intake?
Maybe an electric fireplace?

What manufacturer?
Pros / cons?

I think the fireplace opening is probably 3’ wide by 21/2’ tall.
Hearth comes out a foot or more.

Standard old brick fireplace.
 
I don’t know if droplet makes inserts. If they do, they are cheap and good. Definitely a cold air intake if you can.

Edit-I’ve got a freestanding stove. Not an insert. But they do make them.

I’ve purchased from these guys. They do have sales.

 
Bluedog225 said:
I don’t know if droplet makes inserts. If they do, they are cheap and good. Definitely a cold air intake if you can.

Edit-I’ve got a freestanding stove. Not an insert. But they do make them.

I’ve purchased from these guys. They do have sales.

Click to expand...
Thanks for the info..!
 
We have two buildings on our current property. One has a fireplace with an insert, the other a small, free standing wood stove with exposed pipe up through a cathedral ceiling. Previous owners told us that the insert and stove were installed at about the same time and are from the same manufacturer (Pacific Energy). The insert is much larger (holds about 2x amount of wood) compared to the wood stove.

Using each of these devices, I don't think I would even bother with an insert if it were possible to install a wood stove, if you wanted it for heat more than ambience. Sure, the fire is "pretty", but it takes a day or two to get the insert to the point it's really able to heat the house to a comfortable temp, and the thing consumes about 3-4x as much wood to heat a similar space compared to the small wood stove. Bottom line: If the device will be used only a few evenings per year, primarily for ambience, I wouldn't bother with an insert and would just convert to a vented gas fireplace with doors that seal well when not in use. If heat is needed, I'd think about a wood stove. Inserts are not my favorite, period.
 
My last house had a 5 foot wide fireplace, talk about drafts !

I ended up blocking the flue with styrofoam board. Then I rented a 4 inch masonry hole saw and cut a hole through the back of the fireplace to outside.

Installed a corn burner (like a wood pellet stove) with a coaxial horizontal pipe. 3 inch center was exhaust and the remaining 1 inch around that was outside air intake, which actually preheated the intake air a bit. At that time I was able to buy a 50 pound bag of corn for just over $2 and it would run for 2 days plus on that.

IIRC it was a 60,000 BTU unit that really cranked out the heat and there were no more draft issues.
 
I installed a pellet stove insert about 25 years ago, still using it today. After years of dealing with chopping, splitting, stacking firewood, and the mess it can make, I opted for pellets. So much cleaner, don't have to worry about critters making homes in the wood, no worry at all about chimney fires or having to clean the flue.

Removed the damper and hardware, ran a 4" flexible exhaust pipe up the chimney with pretty well sealed cap. No drafts, no rain intrusion.

I absolutely prefer the infrared heat of a wood stove to the convection heat of the pellet, but the tradeoff is worth it to me.
 
Madcodger said:
We have two buildings on our current property. One has a fireplace with an insert, the other a small, free standing wood stove with exposed pipe up through a cathedral ceiling. Previous owners told us that the insert and stove were installed at about the same time and are from the same manufacturer (Pacific Energy). The insert is much larger (holds about 2x amount of wood) compared to the wood stove.

Using each of these devices, I don't think I would even bother with an insert if it were possible to install a wood stove, if you wanted it for heat more than ambience. Sure, the fire is "pretty", but it takes a day or two to get the insert to the point it's really able to heat the house to a comfortable temp, and the thing consumes about 3-4x as much wood to heat a similar space compared to the small wood stove. Bottom line: If the device will be used only a few evenings per year, primarily for ambience, I wouldn't bother with an insert and would just convert to a vented gas fireplace with doors that seal well when not in use. If heat is needed, I'd think about a wood stove. Inserts are not my favorite, period.
Click to expand...
He doesn’t have NG and doesn’t want to tear out the fireplace to add a huge stove but thanks for the info..
 
Bluedog225 said:
... Definitely a cold air intake if you can.
Click to expand...
What he said! Feeding cold OUTSIDE air directly to your insert will make everything better. It will burn more efficiently because colder air is more oxygen dense and the house will stay warmer by limiting (and possibly reversing) the air leaking in through gaps at the perimeters of the house.

I use a pellet stove insert. I wouldn't get an insert without a blower if you are serious about using it for heat.
 
SparkyGage said:
What he said! Feeding cold OUTSIDE air directly to your insert will make everything better. It will burn more efficiently because colder air is more oxygen dense and the house will stay warmer by limiting (and possibly reversing) the air leaking in through gaps at the perimeters of the house.

I use a pellet stove.
Click to expand...
I kinda figured.

Just have to find a good insert now..

Thanks
 
Back when I was burning wood I had a large Englander stove that was awesome.

I checked and they make inserts in the USA with free shipping and tax credit eligible, you might find one that fits.

Wood Fireplace Inserts

Reduce your heating costs with your Englander wood insert. Efficient and durable, they are designed to fit into your masonry hearth to heat your home.
www.englander-stoves.com www.englander-stoves.com
 
42OhmsPA said:
Back when I was burning wood I had a large Englander stove that was awesome.

I checked and they make inserts in the USA with free shipping and tax credit eligible, you might find one that fits.

Wood Fireplace Inserts

Reduce your heating costs with your Englander wood insert. Efficient and durable, they are designed to fit into your masonry hearth to heat your home.
www.englander-stoves.com www.englander-stoves.com
Click to expand...
Thanks man..I’ll check it out..
 
Nobodybusiness said:
My son lives in a house built in 1968.
Have modernize it, brought everything up to date.

He has a fireplace in the family room and he likes the aesthetics of burning wood but it just loses more heat and pulls in cold air from outside in winter.

The damper stays close when not in use.

What insert would you recommend?
Maybe something with external air intake?
Maybe an electric fireplace?

What manufacturer?
Pros / cons?

I think the fireplace opening is probably 3’ wide by 21/2’ tall.
Hearth comes out a foot or more.

Standard old brick fireplace.
Click to expand...
A picture would be great!
Everyone suggesting stoves and such is fine but is it integrated grate or free standing, does the house have a hot water cylinder that could benefit from a stove with a back boiler?
If it's a freestanding fireplace( box in the wall with a flue) and there is a hot water cylinder I'd recommend just a wood burning stove with back boiler and add a fresh air vent somewhere near. This would also mean you would have to add a liner(not sure of regs in your area but double skinned is best) to the current chimney and seal off any unused space around it(normally I would fill with ceramic insulation before fitting some form of cap around the liner).
 
Are you after efficiency or aesthetics?

If you want efficiency the best option is probably a pellet stove.
But it sounds like you don't that.

With the exception of a Rumford fireplace no open box wood burning fireplace is going to be net efficient unless its burning or you manually manage the damper. And even then, barely.

The next option would be an insert. As natural gas is not an option, you might look into an electric insert.
Not quite the same as the real thing, but it will block the draft and some produce heat.
 
I'm a Regency fan for life. With ICC Galvalume double wall if you're doing the chimney pipe too. The Canadians do it best.

Pros of a Regency are beautiful picture glass door and single lever draft control. Cons is the price, and dealing with the mineral wool bat if it's one of the models that use that above the baffle.

Both Regency and ICC are old fashioned distributor model so have to contact a local wood stove supply to order.
 
Last edited:
hwy17 said:
I'm a Regency fan for life. With ICC Galvalume double wall if you're doing the chimney pipe too. The Canadians do it best.

Pros of a Regency are beautiful picture glass door and single lever draft control. Cons is the price, and dealing with the mineral wool bat if it's one of the models that use that above the baffle.

Both Regency and ICC are old fashioned distributor model so have to contact a local wood stove supply to order.
Click to expand...
The barrel type regency stoves were in many of the modern barn conversions I worked at, had really nice aesthetics. Though esse stoves were bulletproof especially the older ones. For the eco type it was burley with their catalytic converters and the mega rich always had AgA
 
SoggyShoes said:
Are you after efficiency or aesthetics?

If you want efficiency the best option is probably a pellet stove.
But it sounds like you don't that.

With the exception of a Rumford fireplace no open box wood burning fireplace is going to be net efficient unless its burning or you manually manage the damper. And even then, barely.

The next option would be an insert. As natural gas is not an option, you might look into an electric insert.
Not quite the same as the real thing, but it will block the draft and some produce heat.
Click to expand...
Cover up the fireplace hole to keep from drawing warm air out and cold air in while still able to burn wood or at least have some warmth
 
hwy17 said:
I'm a Regency fan for life. With ICC Galvalume double wall if you're doing the chimney pipe too. The Canadians do it best.

Pros of a Regency are beautiful picture glass door and single lever draft control. Cons is the price, and dealing with the mineral wool bat if it's one of the models that use that above the baffle.

Both Regency and ICC are old fashioned distributor model so have to contact a local wood stove supply to order.
Click to expand...
Thanks!

I will check them out also!!
 
Have you thought of glass doors for when the fireplace is not in use?
Good custom bifold glass doors that make a decent seal can make a world of difference. Combine that with closing the damper and any draft should pretty much be eliminated.
 
SoggyShoes said:
Have you thought of glass doors for when the fireplace is not in use?
Good custom bifold glass doors that make a decent seal can make a world of difference. Combine that with closing the damper and any draft should pretty much be eliminated.
Click to expand...
He still wants to be able to use it in some capacity though.

Using it in existing configuration pulls heat out and cold air in.
This is why I was considering a wood insert or electric fireplace.
 
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