Everything You Need to Know About Fireplace Inserts

When it comes to updating an existing wood-burning fireplace, many homeowners set their sights on fireplace inserts. But what exactly is a fireplace insert and how does it work? This overview will cover what a fireplace insert is, types of fireplace inserts available, how much they cost to install and run as well as tips for making the fireplace insert selection and install process seamless and easy.

What is a Fireplace Insert?

Simply put, a fireplace insert is a self-contained appliance designed to fit into an existing wood fireplace. Fireplace inserts can be fueled by gas, wood pellets, wood or electricity, and are installed by a hearth professional.

While traditional, open wood fireplaces offer the ambiance and nostalgia homeowners cherish, existing wood fireplaces can boast outdated styles (think: brass doors, etc.). And homeowners often want to eliminate soot, ashes and odor that goes hand-in-hand with burning wood. In addition, an open wood fireplace can be drafty and inefficient, resulting in a fireplace that is rarely used. All of these issues can be solved by installing a fireplace insert!

And the good news is that any wood fireplace can be an option for a fireplace insert. “Anytime a homeowner is looking to upgrade or renovate, a fireplace insert will bring convenience along with updating the style and design of their home,” says Randy Wendolek, director, marketing category management at Hearth & Home Technologies, Heat & Glo’s parent company.

“Any fireplace insert will improve the efficiency since there is no longer an open chimney to the outside of the home. With a gas fireplace insert for example, you can boost heating efficiency from 15 percent with wood to around 70 percent. This means more fuel is converted into useable heat and you stay warmer.”

Types of Inserts

To begin, consider what kind of fuel you’d like to run your fireplace insert. “When installing an insert, choosing your fuel will be the most important decision,” Wendolek says.

Gas fireplace inserts: What you may not realize is how truly inefficient a traditional wood-burning fireplace is. According to the EPA, “Fireplace drafts pull the warm air up the chimney, causing other rooms to be cooler. If you use central heat while burning in a fireplace, your heater will work harder to maintain constant temperatures throughout the house.” That’s why installing a gas fireplace insert within an existing fireplace opening significantly improves the heating power and efficiency of the fireplace. The gas fireplace insert is designed to contain and radiate heat back into the room, rather than sending the majority of that heat up a chimney flue.

In addition to heating efficiency, a gas insert brings back the ambiance by updating the space you love, while adding a sense of calm and wellness as there's no heavy wood to haul or stack.

In its simplest form, a gas fireplace insert fits inside your wood-burning fireplace opening, and is fueled via a gas line, bringing instant warmth into your home – all at the touch of a button. For homeowners without natural gas service, a liquid propane (LP) tank can be installed and used to fuel the fireplace. Vented fireplace inserts utilize a flexible, aluminum flue liner through the existing chimney and many gas inserts have a blower that helps direct the hot air into the room through the insert’s front vents. (For more on gas fireplace venting, check out this article on Venting for Fireplace Inserts.)

While gas inserts are a popular option, electric inserts, as well as wood and pellet inserts work in a similar fashion, transforming the drafty and inefficient fireplace into a beautiful focal point of the home.

Electric fireplace inserts: With electric fireplace inserts, instead of a ‘live’ flame that you normally get with a gas insert, the flame effect is created by LED lighting effects to provide the fire experience that homeowners are looking for.

“The ease of install and the cost-effectiveness of electric inserts are what make them a very popular choice,” says Joe Kuefler, director, brand marketing at Hearth & Home. “With a gas insert you need to have a gas line to run to your fireplace and you need to vent it. Both of those require professional help from an installation standpoint. With an electric insert, you can simply choose your insert and surround and slide it into your fireplace opening. You do need an electrical connection as well.”

Electric inserts are ideal for those homeowners who may not have a gas line accessible to the fireplace area. Electric inserts are also shallower so if depth is constraining your ability to install a gas fireplace insert, they are a great solution. Like gas fireplace inserts, electric fireplace inserts are also available in a range of sizes.

Pellet fireplace inserts: Pellet inserts also are designed to fit within an existing fireplace opening and as the name implies, are fueled by wood pellets, which are stored inside a hopper in the insert. Pellet inserts are a great option for areas where natural gas or liquid propane isn’t readily available.

A sister brand of Heat & Glo, Harman’s collection of premium pellet fireplace inserts are built with uncompromising quality and timeless styles married to innovative pellet technology to ensure efficiency and ease-of-use. Harman pellet inserts are easy to own and provide the most accurate temperature control, and boast technologies like wireless room sensors, programmable thermostats and intuitive controls.

Wood fireplace inserts: Wood-burning fireplace inserts can transform a wood-burning fireplace into a powerful, highly efficient and clean-burning heat source. Available via another of Heat & Glo’s sister brands, Quadra-Fire, wood fireplace inserts or Vermont Castings, wood fireplace inserts, allows you to get more heat from less wood with exclusive technologies. And, durable construction means warmth and comfort will be delivered year after year.

How Much Do Fireplace Inserts Cost to Install and Run?

Depending on the features and capabilities selected by a homeowner, the cost of a electric fireplace inserts start at around $1,000. Most gas, wood and pellet fireplace inserts have starting prices at mid-$2,000 and go up from there. Items to consider beyond the cost of the fireplace insert will be installation, including labor, running a gas and electric line if needed, and venting. Except for electric inserts, venting will be required. Fireplace inserts that require venting can run venting up a chimney with liners, making them much more cost effective than having to fix a fireplace chimney that is not up to code.

People often ask the question, “how much does it cost to run a fireplace insert?” The answer is that the cost to run any fireplace insert is overall pretty low, but the exact cost depends on the type of fuel, as well as how often the fireplace is used. For example, for a traditional wood or pellet burning fireplace insert, using wood logs or pellets means energy costs to run the fireplace are low, but this will likely be offset by higher cleaning and maintenance costs, plus the cost of the wood or pellet fuel.

For gas or electric fireplace inserts, the cost to run depends on:

• Size of your home
• Volume of space being heated
• Fireplace usage
• Cost of fuel in your area

“It's very inexpensive to run a gas fireplace,” Wendolek says. For instance, the Escape Indoor Gas Fireplace Insert costs about 42 cents/hour to operate. There will be variation depending on the model selected and on natural gas utility costs in your area (or on the price of propane if using an LP model).

While gas fireplace inserts are dependent on costs of fuel regionally, electric fireplace inserts require minimal costs to run, based on the price of electricity in your area. Typically, an electric fireplace costs around 18 cents/hour to run at its highest setting. In addition, the total cost of installation is much less when you consider the venting and installation needs required with a gas fireplace insert.

The price of wood pellets is famous for being stable, making pellet fireplace inserts an appealing option for those put off by the fluctuation of energy prices. Pellets are typically bought in bulk at the beginning of the fireplace season, so when you consider this fuel type, bear in mind that you’ll need a spot to store pellet fuel.

Wood fuel, depending on where you live, can often be obtained easily and at low or no cost. Like wood pellets, burning wood as your fireplace insert fuel means you’ll have to have a spot to store the wood safely, keeping it dry and readily accessible.

Fireplace Insert Options

The adage, “it’s in the details” applies to today’s fireplace inserts. When selecting a gas fireplace insert, which are designed to emit a lot of heat, homeowners need to purchase one with variable flame height adjustment. This level of control will allow you to turn down the heat, while still enjoying the fire.

“Controls are very important and that’s why most fireplace inserts have remote control,” Wendolek says. In addition, some models from Heat & Glo have IntelliFire® app control. With the IntelliFire app, you can use your mobile device to monitor your fire from anywhere or have a cozy environment greet you when you walk in the door. The IntelliFire app can even be controlled with the sound of your voice by using your smart speaker.

In addition, the battery backup feature will allow you to run your appliance without electricity if needed and a built-in fan will help move the heat into the room more quickly.

On the aesthetic front, gas inserts are available with a wide array of front styles that can suit any and every home décor style, from streamlined, contemporary to traditional, rustic. Most fronts are available in a range of finishes, too, ranging from black and grey tones to bronze. Anti-reflective glass, available with the Escape Indoor Gas Fireplace Insert, is virtually invisible, unveiling bold, beautiful flames without an annoying glare. Most people are stunned by the clear view of the flames, thinking there is no glass in front of the fire.

Fireplace Insert Installation

The process of replacing a traditional wood-burning fireplace with a fireplace insert is straight-forward and can typically be completed in as little as one day by a hearth expert.

Step 1: Take measurements for your fireplace and then consult with a hearth professional to select the appropriate size models. Measurements should include the height and width of the front opening of your fireplace, the depth of your fireplace, and the height and width of the back wall of your fireplace. Knowing these measurements can help you to choose a fireplace that will fit in your firebox.

Step 2: Choose the model of your fireplace based on the features you want. There are many options to select from to ensure your fireplace insert matches your style.

One key consideration includes determining the ideal heat output for the space in which the fireplace resides. Gas fireplace inserts can range from 27,000 to 40,000 BTUs per hour, wood fireplace inserts clock in at around 40,000 to 60,000 BTUs while pellet inserts offer BTUs in a range between 30,000 and 50,000. Factors such as the size of the area you will be heating will help you determine the perfect solution for your space. A smaller den or living room will require a smaller BTU insert than a larger great room or open area. A hearth professional can help you determine the best BTU level for your situation.

Step 3: Schedule your insert installation, which will typically take half a day (depending on the gas line accessibility for gas inserts). Note that prior to the installation, many professional installers will want to do a preview to ensure everything will work. They would then schedule your job and any permit inspections that are required.

Connect with a Pro

Fireplace inserts should be installed by a professional. Heat & Glo, Quadra-Fire, Vermont Castings, and Harman, all of which are part of the Hearth & Home Technologies family of brands, offers a nationwide network of authorized hearth experts who are factory-trained and certified professionally. These professionals are the best in industry and have the training and capabilities for any job, big or small. Request your no-obligation consultation today!