Do you enjoy the crackling sounds of wood burning in your fireplace and the glow cast on your family room by the firelight? At the same time, are you constantly tending to your fireplace to keep the fire lit and your space warm? If so, then it’s time to upgrade to a fireplace insert.
Designed to be inserted into an existing fireplace, a fireplace insert is basically a wood or gas stove. Since you are using the opening of the current fireplace, inserts require little construction. Wood fireplace inserts are a cost-effective way to bring new life to your mantle and warmth to your home. Here are some reasons why Pittsburgh homeowners should consider fireplace inserts before the harsh winter weather sets in.
With traditional fireplaces, the heat generated often escapes through the chimney, even with the damper closed. This results in higher heating bills as you raise the temperature of your furnace to keep your living space warm. With a fireplace insert, the area is sealed reducing the amount of heat lost.
It is estimated that around 85-90% of the heat generated through a traditional fireplace is lost through the chimney. Therefore, you are continually tending to a fire that is only 10-15% efficient. Wood fireplace inserts allow for longer burn times and their efficiency rate is around 70-75%. In other words, less work is involved to keep the warm air where it is supposed to be.
With the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cracking down on what emissions can be released into the environment, many homeowners are opting to replace their traditional masonry fireplaces with a fireplace insert. The black smoke that is released through chimneys from traditional fireplaces causes air pollution.
A fireplace insert will update the look of your room without the expense of a major home renovation. Also, the closed in area of a fireplace insert gives a cleaner look to your mantle without the soot and ash associated with a traditional fireplace. Your newly installed fireplace insert will be the focal point of your living space, while providing the same warm glow of a masonry fireplace, but with better heat efficiency and less mess.
For over 30 years, Ed’s Woodshed has been a premier retailer of fireplace products, while providing superb fireplace services to customers in Pittsburgh and southwestern Pennsylvania. Located in Bridgeville, PA, our experts are willing and able to evaluate any chimney system for a transformation to an effective, cost-saving fireplace insert. Call Ed’s Woodshed today at 412-257-0492 to speak to an expert.
