Can I Use A Fireplace Insert As A Wood Stove?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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But to work properly, an insert needs a proper chimney liner.

A fireplace insert is like a wood stove that has been modified by its manufacturer to fit within the firebox of a masonry fireplace

. Inserts are used to convert masonry fireplaces, which are inefficient and polluting, into effective heating systems.

Can you cook on a fireplace insert?

While cooking in a well-maintained wood-burning fireplace is perfectly safe,

you should never cook in a gas fireplace

. The most important reason is that your gas logs need to stay clean and unobstructed to properly work.

Can a fireplace insert heat a house?

Can a Fireplace Really Heat Your Home?

Absolutely!

And many houses already have a fireplace. It's just a matter of using it to bring some much-desired warmth into your home.

Do you need a chimney liner for a wood stove insert?


When an insert has no liner, or a partial liner, it cannot be cleaned in the normal way

(by putting a brush into the chimney through the insert). Doing so would cause ash and creosote to fall behind the insert, where it would build up and potentially ignite.

Are fireplace inserts worth it?

Are Fireplace Inserts Worth the Money? Overall,

a fireplace insert gives most individuals the value the want

including: Time Savings: Less maintenance such as cleaning, removing ash, and adding wood to the fire.

How do you convert a fireplace to a wood burning stove?

Are wood stove inserts safe?


When properly installed, wood-burning inserts are very safe

and are much safer than an open fire.

Will a fireplace insert save money?


You can save money on your energy bill if you install a fireplace insert

. A more efficient wood-burning heating system means less gas, oil, or electricity is required to heat your home.

Can I cook on my wood-burning stove?

Wood heat stoves heat a room or house by burning wood. You can also use them to cook food, even if they weren't specifically designed for it.

Any wood heat stove with a large enough flat surface on top to hold a pot can be used for cooking

.

Can I smoke meat in my fireplace?

There are many benefits of grilling in a fireplace:


You can cook over a wide temperature range, from 160 degrees for slow roasting to over 750 degrees for high heat grilling

. The food is cooked over wood, giving it incomparable flavor (not to mention a leg up even on your charcoal or gas grill).

Can you roast marshmallows in your fireplace?


Roasting marshmallows in the fireplace can become great memories with loved ones

. However, it's important to stay on top of fireplace maintenance to prevent chimney fires due to creosote buildup.

Can a furnace chimney be used for a wood stove?

Each chimney flue may only service one solid fuel-burning appliance. No combination of fuel-gas, oil-fired, or additional wood, wood pellet, coal or corn stoves may be vented into the same chimney flue as a solid fuel-burning appliance.

Do fireplace inserts require a chimney?

Do Electric Inserts Need a Chimney? Unlike wood-burning and direct vent systems,

electric fireplaces do not need a chimney to vent combustible byproducts

. However, they do have other unique needs that wood and gas burning inserts may not require.

Does a brick chimney need a liner?

Do brick chimneys need to be lined? Many older homes have unlined brick chimneys. They were built during a period when most building codes didn't require them. Today,

most building and fire codes require chimney liners, even if you have a brick chimney

.

How much does a wood-burning fireplace insert cost?

Most fireplace inserts and a professional installation cost about

$2,000 to $4,000

, depending on the state of your existing chimney and the model you select.

What is the advantage of a fireplace insert?

Fireplace inserts

solve the issue of heat loss

by containing everything in a sealed box. This stops drafts from coming in and from heat rising directly out the chimney. In addition a sealed box allows for a much more efficient burn – around 70-75%. This increased efficiency also creates longer burn times.

Do fireplace inserts increase home value?

A homeowner can often recover over 100 percent of the expenses associated with adding a fireplace upon selling their home. According to the National Association of Real Estate Appraisers,

adding a fireplace to home can increase the resale value of the home by as much as 6-12 percent

.

Can you turn a fireplace into a stove?


A wood burning stove can be installed in an existing fireplace

, subject to there being a sufficient amount of space available in the fireplace to hold a stove, and there being a proper chimney.

What kind of chimney do I need for a wood stove?

A

prefabricated metal chimney unit

may be the best choice for or fireplaces in these homes. Prefabricated chimneys are easier to erect than masonry units, and although materials cost more, total unit cost will be nearly the same.

Can I turn my fireplace into a pellet stove?

The obvious way is cranking up your central furnace, which gets expensive. But you can turn your fireplace into an effective heater, too.

That drafty, heat-sucking fireplace can become a fuel-efficient heating source with a pellet stove insert

. What is a Pellet Stove Insert?

Are fireplace inserts safer?

Are These Inserts Safe?

There is obvious fire hazard risk with any fireplace, but it's much lower than a standard wood burning fireplace since the fire is contained within the insert's firebox

. The main area of concern with fireplace inserts is if you have a ventless gas system.

Do wood burning fireplace inserts need electricity?

As with freestanding wood stoves,

wood fireplace inserts won't typically require a source of electricity

. If a wood insert has a blower then it will typically require an electrical supply in order to operate.

Are electric fireplace inserts safe?

There is no need to worry! While improper use and other safety issues can arise with any electric appliance,

electric fireplaces are actually very safe

. In fact, many people choose an electric fireplace over traditional gas and wood-burning options for that exact reason.

Are wood fire inserts worth it?

Studies have shown that as much as 95 percent of the residual heat in a traditional wood fireplace is expelled outside.

A wood-burning fireplace insert offers a slower, more efficient burn rate providing up to five hours of uninterrupted heat

. It consumes less fuel and has heating efficiencies of 80+ percent!

What type of fireplace insert is most efficient?

Looking for a fireplace insert with low risk and warm reward?

Electric inserts

are your best bet. The flame-free inserts are safe and simple to install with a plug-in design that washes the room with cozy warmth and the glow of (faux) flames and embers.

How efficient is a wood-burning fireplace insert?

Only 5% of the heat produced, is actually used to heat your house. After installing a wood stove insert, you can expect heating efficiencies

up to 80%+

.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.