It is only as winter approaches and the temperatures start dropping that most homeowners feel the need now to implement these ways to keep themselves warm and comfortable. Open wooden fireplaces are so beautiful, but they are not so efficient and certainly bring on the added work of cleaning and maintenance. If you are thinking of an upgrade, take into account wood-burning inserts.
Here are five convincing reasons to switch this winter.
Enhanced Efficiency
One embedded advantage of a wood fireplace insert with a blower is its efficiency. Unlike conventional open fireplaces, which allow most of the heat they generate to escape up the chimney, fireplace inserts are designed to release only minimal combustion byproducts into the atmosphere. A wood fireplace insert is a closed unit with a super-efficient combustion process, quite unlike an open fireplace. It holds in heat and then releases it out into the room or even throughout the house by blowing it around.
This efficiency converts to more heat from each log burnt; you get to use less wood with the same warmth. Over time, it picks up, and you notice yourself spending a lot less on heating bills. But for those who are comfort-oriented yet also interested in savings, using a wood fireplace insert will offer a great solution.
Cleaner Burning
Wood fireplace inserts are specially designed to be able to burn wood in a much cleaner and more efficient manner than was previously done by a conventional open fireplace. These are fitted with developed combustion technology, which supposedly helps in making wood for fireplaces to be completely burnt, thereby reducing the wood smoke and particulate emissions.
This cleaner burning process benefits both the environment and your home. The more this emission is reduced, the lesser the air pollution. Moreover, less smoke means fewer soot and creosote deposits in your chimney, reducing the risk of chimney fires and the possibility of cleaning your chimney more often.
Increased Safety
A very major concern with a traditional open fireplace is its safety. There are always chances of the open flames or embers that are not handled properly wandering away, and that might have the potential to cause a spark. Safety could be a great need for wood fireplace inserts since they provide a closed chamber for combustion. Sparks can be prevented by the glass door on the insert and it is serving to keep the flames baying within.
Adding to this, most of the wood-burning inserts designed these days have been fixed with safety features such as automatic shut-off systems and heat shields. As such, these features will avoid overheating, thus adding to the safe operation of the unit. For a family with kids or pets, the addition of a wood fireplace insert further avails an extra edge in safety, the fact that this insert tends to be closed in terms of design.
Aesthetics Improved and Designed
Not only do wood-burning inserts render their old functions to the previous fireplace, but they also enhance its beauty many times over. Available in numerous styles and finishes, one can definitely pick an insert that might just fit in with the decoration of your home. You may like the smooth, modern look or perhaps the more rustic, classic designs—an insert that can match your aesthetic preferences.
Many inserts have large glass fronts, which add to the view of beautiful flames and comfort in your living room. This creates a lovely and hospitable environment, just right for those winter nights. Installing a wood insert can change the appearance and atmosphere of the room with the fireplace.
Is Easy to Maintain
It is challenging to keep traditional, open fireplaces efficient and safe. The structure would have to be regularly cleaned out from ashes, inspected, and cleaned out of the chimney from any signs of damage, etc. Wood-burning inserts, on the other hand, are designed for easy maintenance.
A wood fireplace insert has a built-in ash pan to collect ashes for easy disposal. The enclosed design further contains dust and debris, like ashes and embers, from burning wood inside the unit. Chimney maintenance is still a necessity but quite reduced because of low creosote formation from cleaner burns.
Besides, many wood fireplace inserts also have self-cleaning glass doors that eliminate continuous wiping and maintenance. This way, the user can spend more time appreciating the warmth and beauty of the fireplace than its maintenance.
Bottom Line
Upgrading your open-hearth fireplace with a wood fireplace insert will increase efficiency, improve the cleanliness of the burn, enhance safety, and actually reduce maintenance requirements. With wood-burning inserts, making the switch will certainly result in a more pleasing and efficient fireplace and will also place you in this circle of people who maintain safe and ecologically friendly home environments.
If you have been seeking to improve the effectiveness and aesthetics of your dwelling's heat source this winter, you may want to consider investing in a wood-burning fireplace insert from nearby shops. With its combination of efficiency, safety, and beauty, it is bound to be a choice that keeps you warm and comfortable through the cold months while increasing your home's charm and value.