On a chilly Saint Lawrence day, nothing “warms” up a space (metaphorically speaking) like a roaring fireplace. The light, sound and movement all combine for a romantic, relaxing ambiance.
Unfortunate fact is, an open-hearth woodburning fireplace hardly warms a space. Up to 90 percent of the fire’s heat is lost through the chimney. An open fire actually pulls more heat out of a space than it could possibly return. Homeowners endure a fire risk from airborne sparks landing on combustible surfaces, as well.
Want to make your fireplace experience safer, far warmer and more comfortable with a sleek, highly-efficient fireplace insert in Saint Lawrence!
Fitting directly into the fireplace opening, a fireplace insert for a woodburning fireplace is a self-contained appliance that directs heat directly into a room, rather than sending most through a chimney. The fire can be seen via a glass panel. The ambiance stays – along with far more warmth!
Homeowners can choose between gas fireplace inserts and wood fireplace inserts. Both are offered by Butler Chimneys, your fireplace and chimney inspection company in Saint Lawrence.
A gas insert is ideal for those who want instant, low-maintenance fire. The fire literally goes on at the flip of a switch. Available in a broad selection of designs, gas fireplace inserts are fast, clean, and minimal effort to operate and maintain.
A woodburning fireplace insert emits significantly more heat than gas. The work involved is much greater, though. A fire has to be physically ignited, wood added, and air controls adjusted to moderate the blaze. Because it burns so completely, a wood fireplace insert uses much less timber than an open-hearth setup. For those with unlimited or cheap sources of firewood in Saint Lawrence, a wood burning insert can be noticeably) more cost-effective, and a nice {supplemental heating source for a home.
The decision between gas or woodburning is completely user preference. Many Saint Lawrence homeowners proactively put in insert-style fireplaces for enhanced heat and cleanliness, often when designing homes.
The alternative scenario for adding an insert is when a fireplace inspection reveals cracked or missing flue tiles. Installing a brand-new insert will bypass many issues, and is often less expensive than doing repairs. The decision might not be difficult.
Fireplace inserts are made of heavy-gauge sheet steel. The doors are cast iron, which allows great heat conduction. Fire is completely enclosed within, seen through ceramic glass, and can be left unattended.
Smoke is expelled via a new stainless steel liner installed inside the chimney. Wood fireplace inserts use a single 6-inch liner; gas, two 3-inch liners, one for providing air to the firebox, and another for expelling gases.
Butler Chimneys typically installs fireplace inserts – gas or wood – in homes in Saint Lawrence in one day. If the former is added, a new fuel line is run from a gas source elsewhere in the house.
New stainless steel chimney liners have lifetime warranties. Their installation can sometimes allow homeowners to bypass expensive chimney repairs that would otherwise be needed to ensure safe venting of fireplace gases.
Another advantage of fireplace inserts? If power goes out, they remain a steady, reliable heat source. In severe weather, they can literally be a lifesaver.
Ready to consider a fireplace insert? Contact Butler Chimneys. You’ll appreciate the ambiance of a fireplace … and a far warmer, more comfortable space around you!