Most older homes with wood burning fireplaces can benefit from the installation of a new fireplace insert. These older fireplaces have very low heating efficiency primarily because of the open combustion design. These open fireplaces draw to much air in and burn to quickly wasting energy. The fireplace insert with its closed insulated doors slows the fire down, increases the temperature of the fire resulting in a better more complete combustion. This higher efficiency will have a noticeable impact in reducing higher home heating bills. If you choose an EPA-certified wood burning fireplace insert, it can reduce wood burning emissions almost to zero.

There are several important considerations when you are selecting a fireplace insert. While there are a variety of fuel types available - wood, gas, propane, pellet and coal - the availability and cost of the fuel source is of prime concern. Availability and cost of fuel types can vary widely across the country.

Size is extremely important when purchasing a fireplace insert. Get this wrong and it will cost you time, money and certainly frustration. There are four key measurements you will want to make. Measure the front opening height and width. Measure the depth of the fireplace. Because most fireplaces are not as wide in the back measure the width at the back of the fireplace. Also have the depth of the hearth available. Some inserts require a certain hearth depth to fit correctly.

Consider the location. A fireplace insert needs to be used in an existing masonry or factory built fireplace. They are either vented naturally through a working chimney, direct vented or vent free depending on the fuel used. In most cases, a chimney liner is required for naturally vented fireplaces. Make sure to check on all building codes before installing.

Now you can have the fireplace of your dreams. Pick the style, color and finish of that perfect fireplace insert. It will dramatically transform that old drab fireplace you have been living with. It will add value to your home for years to come.

John Stoner is the owner of Patio Furniture, Fountains and Fireplaces a website featuring decorating tips and ideas for the home, patio, deck and garden. Here you’ll find more information on fireplace inserts .

1. If your hearth area has sharp edges, pad them with foam or cushions to prevent injury should a child fall against it.

2. Secure your fireplace screens and tools so they cannot be pulled over on top of a little body.

3. Put a heat resistant door in front of the fireplace opening. Regular glass may not work so please ask your dealer about its ability to defray heat so little hands don’t get burned. You want it to be fairly cool to the touch.

4. If possible, lock your fireplace doors. If not possible, burn a barrier in front of the fireplace.

5. If you’re running a gas fireplace be sure the ability to turn on the gas is locked or hidden.

6. If your fireplace is wood burning, be sure the matches and other flammable items such as paper and instantly igniting wood chips are out of reach or hidden.

7. Take the time to educate your children about the dangers of all fireplaces, remind them of how hot it really is and how easily they can be burned if not careful.

For more information on corner electric fireplaces and electric fireplace inserts please visit our informative retail sites.

The best course of action to take sometimes isn’t clear until you’ve listed and considered your alternatives. The following paragraphs should help clue you in to what the experts think is significant.

The information about gas outdoor fireplace presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about a gas outdoor fireplace or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

If you are considering a gas outdoor fireplace, you may be like many people who want the ambiance of a fireplace year round. In the cool summer evenings, you may want to be outdoors relaxing on the patio instead of in a stuffy living room. A gas outdoor fireplace gives you the best of both worlds. If you’re wondering about the advantages of gas logs, there are many.

First and foremost, they save you time and effort. A wood fireplace requires hauling, cutting, and splitting the wood. Wood also takes more effort to get a fire going. With a wood fireplace, you can also run into issues with smoke interfering with your evening. Wood is not the cleanest burning material, and leaves a combustible material called creosote on the chimney and constant cleaning out of ash is required. You won’t find any of these hassles with a gas outdoor fireplace.

Gas logs can be found conveniently, everywhere from your grocery store to the gas station. Gas logs are an environmentally safe option to wood or even natural gas. When planning an outdoor gas fireplace, the gas log is the way to go. Tests show that the gas log leaves 75% less creosote than wood. It is also safer as it does not send sparks flying like a wood fire does. Since an outdoor gas fireplace is often on a patio, the emissions are a concern. When using gas logs in your gas outdoor fireplace, tests show that there is 85% less carbon monoxide produced than natural gas and 50% less smoke than with wood. These considerations make a gas outdoor fireplace a mighty comforting option.

Knowing enough about a gas outdoor fireplace to make solid, informed choices cuts down on the fear factor. If you apply what you’ve just learned about gas outdoor fireplace, you should have nothing to worry about.

A gas ventless fireplace vents out into the room. Therefore, it is important to be in a room large enough to support it. Regardless of whether it uses gas or wood a fire requires oxygen to create a flame. If it were completely ventless, it would automatically extinguish itself. Even though they have built in safety features, these types of fireplaces are banned in some states. The possibility that they can build up carbon monoxide and deplete oxygen levels is a major health concern. Before you purchase one of these fireplaces, you must consult your local laws to determine whether they are allowed or not.

Another concern associated with a gas ventless fireplace is that these appliances increase the humidity in the room. This can lead to mold or mildew forming in areas of the room.

In conclusion, make sure you are allowed by law to install a gas ventless fireplace before you purchase one. If you are able to get one installed, make sure you follow all the safety precautions associated with these units.

Some people wonder if they’re ok, however, ventless fireplaces are completely safe and healthy as long as your home has adequate air exchange in place. Ventless fireplaces are available with their own mantel or hearth, or you can find one that will fit in your existing fireplace as an insert. Of the many different fireplaces that can be seen in homes the gas ventless fireplaces are the new style of fireplaces. These fireplaces are designed so that your home is protected from the smoke of the burning fireplace.

Gas fireplaces are available in either vented or ventless models. Vented models use either a traditional chimney/flue or else a purpose-built vent pipe, while ventless models would be more accurately termed “room-vented”. These kinds of gas fireplaces are the most flexible, and they can include gas logs (gas fireplace inserts ) as well as wall fixtures or complete fireplace inserts as a retrofit for your old-fashioned wood-burning fireplace.