Fireplace Inserts
Fireplace Inserts - Wall-Mounted Heating Installations
Fireplaces create a welcoming focal point in a room. There's just something about an open fire that catches our eye and beckons us closer. Maybe it's the way the flame flickers and dances, or how there's a glow of light around the hearth. Often times it's simply the draw of heat on a chilly evening. Regardless of the reason, the right fireplace insert can transform a wall and turn an ordinary room into a cozy space where friends and family can relax and find comfort.
Built-in Bio-Ethanol or Electric Fireplaces
Modern ventless fireplaces are easily installed in dry walls, since they don’t require gas connections or flues to disperse smoke and toxic fumes. Ethanol fireplace inserts simply need to have their burners refilled once the eco-friendly fuel has burned off. Bio-ethanol fuels like e-NRG produce a pleasing orange flame, with low odor and very little mess or need for ventilation. Similarly, wall-mounted electric fireplaces are simple to install and only need a connection to an outlet or power line within the wall. It generates radiant heat, but no actual flame, so there’s no soot, smoke, smell or fumes to worry about. The digital flames can even be adjusted for size and color, along with heating settings.
Highly Configurable Fireplace Options
Fireplace inserts come in a wide range of sizes and configurations, especially high-end ethanol versions from companies like EcoSmart Fire. Their Flex Fireplace collection comes in multiple widths, one to three open sides and with or without decorative storage boxes in a variety of positions. This adaptability makes the fireplace compatible with almost any architectural setting indoors and out. Electric fireplaces are also customizable, although they need a little more shelter from the elements to minimize electrical exposure.
Key features to compare - Fireplace Inserts
- Customization - Every wall space has unique requirements for dimensions, open facings, one or two sides and storage areas
- Clearance - Some options require zero clearance, while others need buffer space or ventilation shafts
- Gas or Electric Connections - Most bio-ethanol options store fuel in burners, while propane and natural gas versions have plumbed connective pipes and electric fireplaces need to connect to a power supply
- Ventilation - Gas versions need a flue, while bio-ethanol fireplaces burn cleanly without toxic fumes or smoke and electric ones emit nothing
- Heat Output - Electric fireplaces can be purely aesthetic with zero heat or 2,500-5,000 BTU/hr versus bioethanol at 5,800-45,000 BTU/hr and gas fueled options even higher
Helpful articles
- Fireplace Insert Buying Guide
- Fire Pit & Outdoor Fireplace Buying Guide
- Types of Fuel for Fire Pits - Pros & Cons
Frequently Asked Questions - Fireplace Inserts
Which fuel type is the most energy-efficient for fireplace inserts?
Fireplace inserts vary in the fuels they burn to generate heat and the required ventilation to safely operate, which greatly impacts their energy efficiency.
- Wood produces a lot of heat but is extremely inefficient since most of it is lost up the chimney
- Natural gas and liquid propane generate less heat but are more energy efficient as less heat is lost through ventilation
- Bioethanol doesn’t produce as much heat as gas but it doesn’t have fumes that need to be ventilated, so all of the heat remains in the room - more efficient
- Electric fireplace inserts typically generate the least heat, but like bio-ethanol versions, they are ventless and highly energy-efficient
In addition to energy efficiency, you’re probably also concerned with cost. While electric fireplace inserts are 100% efficient, they also have the highest cost followed by bio-ethanol. Liquid propane is relatively inexpensive and readily available, while natural gas is extremely affordable once you have a plumbed line installed. Wood is the cheapest in the short run but you’ll need to keep replenishing it so the cost rises in the long run.