Heat from a fireplace insert?
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GPintheMitten
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Regarding the chimney, you might want to l look into stainless steel flex tubes.
pmhowe
Silver Member
My wife and I live in a mountain valley in Colorado. We are at just about 8000' above sea level. The hills rise up behind us and in front of us. In winter, because of the mountains behind us, we get sun from about 10 AM to about 2:30 PM. It is cold. We have had snow on our roof since middle October. Every morning for the last week and a half, the temperature has been below zero - not as cold as some other places in Colorado, but still cold. We have a fireplace insert (brand is Lopi, but there are lots of others equally good or better).
We have a 2700 square foot house built in 1948. However, we have taken pains to insulate it very well For example, our attic has a rating of R60, and we had a thin layer of foam sprayed to reduce exfiltration. With all of that, our woodstove easily heats the entire house in the coldest weather.
I agree with s219 above, in that a free standing stove is better than a fireplace insert, as it is out in the room. However, the difference between a free standing stove and an insert is much, much smaller than the difference between an insert and a fireplace. I love the ambience of a fireplace but - for heat - go with an insert.
As jk96 suggests, go with an outside air intake if you can. We couldn't, but the heat output of the insert far overrides the inside air loss. Still, I would prefer an outside air intake if I could do it.
We have a 2700 square foot house built in 1948. However, we have taken pains to insulate it very well For example, our attic has a rating of R60, and we had a thin layer of foam sprayed to reduce exfiltration. With all of that, our woodstove easily heats the entire house in the coldest weather.
I agree with s219 above, in that a free standing stove is better than a fireplace insert, as it is out in the room. However, the difference between a free standing stove and an insert is much, much smaller than the difference between an insert and a fireplace. I love the ambience of a fireplace but - for heat - go with an insert.
As jk96 suggests, go with an outside air intake if you can. We couldn't, but the heat output of the insert far overrides the inside air loss. Still, I would prefer an outside air intake if I could do it.
Most inserts are probably going to require some type of stainless flue so your chimney repairs will probably be more cosmetic/structural as opposed to functional if going with an insert. Also don't forget to price the cost of the flue. Depending on size it can get very expensive. Ours is a huge firebox with 16" flue. The price of 32' of flue was more than the insert.
motownbrowne
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Yeah, usually the stove is less than half the cost. The house my mom owns has a Lopi Answer insert with a blower fan. I think the fan makes a huge difference since most of the stove is inside the original fireplace and behind some decorative flashing material. That thing puts out lots of heat. It pretty handily heats their living room and kitchen and probably most of the second floor. The bedrooms on the first floor are a little chilly without a space heater or some heat from the furnace.
Egon
Epic Contributor
Check around for air tight inserts. Most do not require a large diameter flue. If the flue diameter is too large smoke velocity drops and the stove has draft problems.
This is guessing but flue diameter may depend on open door area and a runaway unattended fire???
Do remember the insurance company may have their own code which must be met for coverage.
Also note their are two styles of inserts.
May not be considered air tight.
Airtight:
If serious start by looking at inserts to determine all the clearance/code requirements before the restoration work is started.
Inside/outside combustion air are equal on fuel efficiency. Both heat the combustion air. The outside Intake would make for less drafts inside and eliminate negative house pressure.
This is guessing but flue diameter may depend on open door area and a runaway unattended fire???
Do remember the insurance company may have their own code which must be met for coverage.
Also note their are two styles of inserts.
May not be considered air tight.
Airtight:
If serious start by looking at inserts to determine all the clearance/code requirements before the restoration work is started.
Inside/outside combustion air are equal on fuel efficiency. Both heat the combustion air. The outside Intake would make for less drafts inside and eliminate negative house pressure.
Last edited:
Coyote machine
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We've done it all. Our house came with an old fireplace insert which we replaced with a wood stove. the stove was too far out into the room, so we switched back to a wood insert. That worked well but sometimes it produced too much heat.
When we remodeled and added on we put gas fired, (propane) inserts in the existing fireplace opening and the new dining room. Both run off wall t-stats with all kinds of settings as needed. One has a fan, the other doesn't Both are zero clearance type and get air and exhaust to the outside, through a double wall metal vent, with screen.
There is no overheating the room because you can shut it down manually or at a preset temp. Can't do that with a fireplace, or wood insert, No muss, no fuss, instant on, T-stat off at preset temp. What's better- nothing.....
Won't need a full chimney either.... Can vent through wall.
When we remodeled and added on we put gas fired, (propane) inserts in the existing fireplace opening and the new dining room. Both run off wall t-stats with all kinds of settings as needed. One has a fan, the other doesn't Both are zero clearance type and get air and exhaust to the outside, through a double wall metal vent, with screen.
There is no overheating the room because you can shut it down manually or at a preset temp. Can't do that with a fireplace, or wood insert, No muss, no fuss, instant on, T-stat off at preset temp. What's better- nothing.....
Won't need a full chimney either.... Can vent through wall.
labhaven
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My previous home had a fireplace with a brick chimney. Several sections of the chimney liner had cracks. Like previous posters, I went with an SS liner. I opted for a wood stove with its legs removed. The stove manufacturer made a kit to finish off the exterior similar in appearance to how an insert looks. There was an optional blower kit that I did not go with.
Actually our wood insert with blower is setup with a 120v wall thermostate so that the blower kicks on and off depending on room temp. Fan speed is also separately adjusted if needed. Cant argue with the ease of operation of gas though.
Industrial Toys
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Our chimney too, wasn't built right. We have a heat-a-later (sp?) So the only way to have a fire without smoke in the room was to enclose it with glass doors. I ended up putting an airtight insert in the downstairs fireplace but kept the upstairs one with the glass doors.
What I like about it:
The view of a real fire, never the same twice.
I can burn stuff I can barely lift.
When we cut deadfall, I cut it into three foot pieces and stack it on the porch for immediate burning in the fireplace. It's very satisfying to get the warmth from wood you cut that day.
What I don't like:
I spent over an hour yesterday cleaning the glass from use over the holidays!
What I like about it:
The view of a real fire, never the same twice.
I can burn stuff I can barely lift.
When we cut deadfall, I cut it into three foot pieces and stack it on the porch for immediate burning in the fireplace. It's very satisfying to get the warmth from wood you cut that day.
What I don't like:
I spent over an hour yesterday cleaning the glass from use over the holidays!
