Fireplaces & Fireplace Inserts: What’s the Difference? Which Is Best for Your Home?
While fireplaces and fireplace inserts both burn fuel and serve as supplemental heating sources, there are major differences to take into account when deciding which style would be right for your home.
The Chimney Guys of Pataskala, OH, would like to outline the differences between fireplaces and fireplace inserts to help you make a good decision when it’s time to buy.
Two types of fireplaces
In the fireplace category, there are two main styles:
- Hand-built masonry fireplaces
- Manufactured fireplaces
Masonry fireplaces are expensive to build and don’t do a great job of heating a room. Their open design allows nearly all of their heat to be lost up the chimney. These fireplaces are beautiful, however, and add charm and elegance to the living space.
Manufactured fireplaces are made in a factory and arrive ready to be installed within a wall. They draft through an included vent pipe that runs up a chimney chase built on the outside of the home.
Along with superior heating performance, manufactured fireplaces are less drafty than their masonry counterparts and come in a variety of attractive design styles and finishes.
Manufactured fireplaces can run on gas, wood or electricity. Masonry fireplaces are made to burn wood, but they can be equipped with a gas log set or fitted with a fireplace insert.
Fireplace inserts
These “all-in-one” appliances are designed to be placed into an existing firebox, usually in a masonry fireplace. They operate similarly to manufactured fireplaces with a closed system that retains the majority of the heat they produce and dramatically reduces draftiness.
Though they’re self-contained units that can run on either gas or wood fuel, fireplace inserts aren’t appropriate for wall installations. When correctly set up in a firebox, they vent through their own pipe that runs up the existing chimney.
Comparing fireplaces and inserts
Your reasons for purchasing a new heating appliance will help to determine which type is best for you.
Go with a manufactured fireplace if:
- Your home has no fireplace.
- You’re building a new home.
- There’s an existing masonry fireplace, but you want a new fireplace located in another part of the room.
- You have an older manufactured fireplace or an under-performing builder-grade unit that came with the home, and you want to do a changeout.
Go with a fireplace insert if:
- Your masonry fireplace simply doesn’t produce enough heat.
- You want to change to a gas unit but keep your fireplace in its current location.
- You’re tired of the backdrafts common with a masonry fireplace.
- You want to enjoy a nice fireplace, but there’s no appropriate space in which to install a new one.
Fireplace and insert installation
No matter what type of unit you decide on, it should be installed by local professionals. This is critically important for two main reasons:
- Experienced fireplace technicians know how to perform installations according to the appliance manufacturer’s instructions, and they know how to do it safely.
- Professionals who serve your city or region are familiar with the code regulations that govern the installation of all heating appliances. They’ll do the job correctly.
Let us help you decide
If it’s time for a new fireplace or fireplace insert, let The Chimney Guys guide you to the model that will best meet your heating needs, decorative tastes and installation requirements. We’ll then install your new appliance safely and in compliance with all state and local codes.
Speak with an Ohio fireplace expert by giving us a call or using our simple contact form.
