Some Important Differences Between a Fireplace and a Fireplace Insert

Have you been thinking of adding a new fireplace to your Florida home? If so, the first step is deciding in advance exactly what kind of fireplace you want.

Doodlebuggers Fireplace, Grill & Outdoor Store of Pensacola, FL, and Destin, FL, would like to explain a little about the differences between fireplaces and fireplace inserts to help you make an informed choice when buying.

Two types of fireplaces

Fireplaces come in two basic styles.

1. Manufactured fireplaces

These appliances are factory-built and designed to be installed in a wall somewhere within a home. They vent through a pipe that’s enclosed in a chimney chase on the outside of the house.

Gas and wood manufactured fireplaces provide:

• Low incidence of drafts
• Efficient, EPA-approved operation
• Heavy-duty insulation for safety
• Consistent heat production
• Elegant and attractive designs and finishes

A new manufactured fireplace is the right choice when your home has no fireplace, when you’re building a new home, or when an older manufactured fireplace needs to be replaced.

2. Traditional masonry fireplaces

Masonry fireplaces are built from scratch on-site as opposed to in a factory. They look beautiful and exude the nostalgia of an old-fashioned wood-burning fireplace. But there are often problems.

Because of their “open” design, homeowners encounter:

• Heat going up the chimney instead of into the room
• Backdrafts and downdrafts
• Difficulty in getting fires started
• Firewood that won’t burn efficiently or completely

If you have a masonry fireplace and love its ambience but not its performance, the solution is a fireplace insert.

Fireplace inserts

A fireplace insert is a self-contained unit that’s placed into the firebox of an existing fireplace and is vented through the chimney.

Fueled by either gas or wood, an insert can solve many of the problems associated with traditional masonry fireplaces.

• EPA-certified for clean burns and efficient performance 
• High heat production
• Closed-combustion system greatly reduces draftiness
• Wood fires start faster and burn more thoroughly

A troublesome masonry fireplace can literally be transformed by upgrading it with a gas or wood fireplace insert.

Fireplace and insert maintenance

Wood-burning appliances produce creosote, a flammable byproduct of smoke condensation that builds up in the flue. Creosote needs to be removed once a year by a professional chimney sweep technician.

Wood fireplaces and inserts should also receive annual inspections to check for problems that need to be repaired and components that need to be replaced.

Gas-fueled fireplaces and inserts don’t have issues with creosote, but they still need periodic attention. An inspection will make sure the gas lines are secure and that the pilot light, burner and other components are working as they should. 

Is it time for a new manufactured fireplace or fireplace insert?

Shopping for a new fireplace or insert is easy when you visit one of our convenient Florida showrooms. We’ll answer all your questions and help you decide on the model that will best meet your heating needs and decorative tastes.

Once you’ve made your selection, our field crew will install your new appliance safely and in compliance with state and local regulations.

Visit us:

• In Pensacola, FL, at 7555 Highway 98 West, Suite A
• In Destin, FL, at 36054 Emerald Coast Pkwy., #100

You can reach one of our fireplace experts by phone or get in touch through our handy contact form.