What Is a Fireplace Insert?

• A fireplace insert is a device that is placed inside your existing fireplace cavity that will act as a heating component. It functions similarly to a regular fireplace; however, it has a closed door and uses blowers or fans to push the hot air from the fireplace out into the room. Fireplace inserts eliminate the smell of burning wood, and do not emit any smoke into the room. In fact, this can be a much cleaner option for homeowners.
  
  Fireplace inserts use regular electricity from your home, and many times can be plugged in directly to an outlet near the fireplace. The insert uses the electricity only when it is using the fan or blower to push the hot air out. Fireplace inserts can be installed into a working or nonworking fireplace cavity. Regular fireplaces only emit about 5 to 10 percent of the heat they create into the home. However, a fireplace insert can increase that amount to as much as 70 percent.
  
  

How Does a Fireplace Insert Work?

• Fireplace inserts are installed into the existing cavity, and the chimney must be lined with steel. This will help eliminate the buildup of creosote inside the chimney, which is a dangerous safety hazard (it is a byproduct of burning some woods, and thick buildup of it makes it very flammable). Once the unit is installed, you can start a fire inside the unit just as you normally would, and close the door. To monitor the amount of oxygen reaching the fire, you adjust the damper lever on the side of the unit. The more oxygen you feed the fire (opening the damper), the faster the wood will burn. The less oxygen you feed the fire (closing the damper), the slower it will burn. This is important to monitor when starting your fire to make sure it is getting enough oxygen to get started properly.
  
  After the fire reaches a certain temperature, the unit should kick on an automatic blower to start blowing the hot air into the room. The blower will help circulate the hot air into the room, without adding ash, dust or smoke to the room.
  
  

Cost of a Fireplace Insert With Blower

• Fireplace inserts should be installed by a professional. The chimney will need to be lined with steel, and needs to be properly installed to ensure the smoke and byproducts of burning wood will be able to escape through the chimney properly. Depending on the size of the fireplace, and the amount of power you want on your blower to put out the hot air, the cost can vary between $2,000 and $6,500 with installation. The smaller the unit, the less expensive it will be, but you must take into account how much heat you want your unit to emit into your home. In some cases, a fireplace insert can help eliminate or greatly reduce the need for additional heating components in your home.