The harsh winters we have in the Connecticut and New Jersey regions cause a lot of people to search for solutions to lower their heating costs during the cold season. A fireplace is often one of those solutions, but it doesn’t always get good results. National Chimney Cleaners of Fairfield County, CT, and Morris County, NJ, would like to tell you about two ways to bring consistent supplemental heat into your home and at the same time add a striking touch of elegance.
The problem with open masonry fireplacesMasonry fireplaces, the kind that are built by hand in a permanent location within a home, are wonderful to look at but not particularly efficient when it comes to using the heat they produce as heat within the house or room. The reason for this is an open-system design, which allows 80%, 90% or more of their heat to be lost up the chimney. You can put a lot of wood into a masonry fireplace and get very little heat in return. This isn’t a good strategy if saving money on heating bills is your goal.
Fireplace inserts are built ready to be placed into the firebox of an existing masonry fireplace.
Installation is pretty straightforward: they go in the firebox and use their own vent system, so there’s no need to modify or construct anything. (Note that even though installation is relatively simple, it should always be done by an experienced fireplace technician.)
Wood-burning inserts work on a closed system, which retains the majority of the heat produced and sends it into the home. Modern inserts made by top manufacturers will give you the same dramatic, soothing look as your current masonry fireplace. You have a wide range of sizes, styles, colors and finishes to choose from, making it easy to upgrade your hearth area not only in terms of heat but also with an eye toward tasteful design.
The value of a powerful wood stoveThe wood stoves being built today are nothing like the old-fashioned stoves of yesteryear. In fact, they’re not even like the stoves made 10 years ago. Ever-changing EPA standards keep manufacturers on the cutting edge of emissions control and operational efficiency. Wood stoves, like inserts, run on a closed system and retain a large percentage of the heat they generate. A key difference between the two appliances is, you can set up a new wood stove just about anywhere in your home, as long as there’s a place in a wall or the ceiling to run the vent pipe. This makes stoves outstanding appliances for heating specific areas within a home. When it comes to appearance, modern wood stoves bring you plenty of beauty with their unique styles, shapes and finishes.
National Chimney Cleaners can help you select the perfect new fireplace insert or wood heating stove and then install it for you safely and correctly. Our installers make sure to meet all local fire-safety and building codes with every job. If you live in the Morris County, NJ, or Fairfield County, CT, areas, call us today at 800-631-6177. You can also get in touch with our handy contact form.
