Fireplace Insert Venting Simplified

Fireplace inserts transform masonry built, highly inefficient wood-burning fireplaces into beautiful heat producers for the home. There are three types of fireplace inserts – gas, wood and pellet. Gas inserts are a good choice if convenience matters, as they operate at the flip of a switch or remote control. If you’d prefer to keep heating with wood, or make a change to pellets, a wood or pellet insert will transform your fireplace into a heating powerhouse.

Each type of insert uses the existing chimney to ventilate vertically, terminating at the roof. This illustration will help you visualize the venting required for fireplace inserts…

Open, masonry built wood-burning fireplaces are inefficient. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), they can exhaust as much as 24,000 cubic feet of air per hour to the outside, which in turn draws in cold air in through the home’s doors and windows. Because they are only -15 to +15 percent efficient, the DOE considers them one of the most inefficient heat sources in homes. Converting to an insert will turn those statistics around, making your fireplace up to 85 percent efficient.

Upgrading your masonry built wood-burning fireplace with an insert is a smart decision that you’ll never regret. Doing so will not only make your home more efficient, it can help to save money by transforming the fireplace into an efficient heating unit.