Wood Burning Fireplaces

 When doing research for a new wood burning fireplace you may come across many different terms and it can be very confusing. Isn’t a fireplace just a fireplace? Sure, a freestanding wood stove and fireplace are very different but what the heck is an insert? What is the difference between a decorative fireplace and an EPA certified fireplace? Or what about the difference between catalytic stoves vs non-catalytic stoves?

    While other fueled fireplaces are becoming more popular, wood fireplaces still provide numerous advantages in a variety of different installations. Wood fireplaces are excellent at providing heat at a low cost, so they're great options to offset the cost of running a natural gas or propane furnace - especially in harsh winter climates. Some of the best fireplaces on the market are so efficient that your energy bill will decrease when they're used. Let's take a look at some of the best wood fireplaces we have to offer:

• Built-In Wood Fireplaces
• Wood Fireplace Inserts
• Wood-Burning Stoves
• Best Wood Fireplace for Mobile Homes
• Best Wood Fireplace for Cabins

1. Open Masonry Fireplaces – Open, inefficient wood fireplaces made of stone or brick typically found in older homes.
2. Wood Fireplace Inserts – Sealed fireboxes that are inserted inside existing masonry fireplaces to increase heating efficiency
3. Wood Stoves – High-capacity freestanding fireplaces that are perfect for heating large areas or homes in extra cold/remote areas
4. Wood Burning Fireplaces – Fireplaces for new builds and renovations that do not require existing masonry or chimney.

 Wood burning fireplaces are fireboxes that get framed into a wall (with the appropriate non-combustible material surroundings). They differ from open masonry fireplaces in the fact that they don’t require a chimney and instead use venting like wood stoves and fireplace inserts.

Wood fireplaces are perfect for new homes that want to add a fireplace without first needing to build a chimney or masonry fireplace. Today’s wood burning fireplaces are just as efficient and produce just as much heat as their wood stove counterparts, however their uses are more limited to new builds or large-scale renovations. 

 Wood fireplace inserts are sealed fireboxes that are inserted or placed inside an existing masonry fireplace. They use the existing masonry as framing and the chimney to run venting – keeping installation costs low and fully utilizing existing structures.
Wood fireplace inserts turn old inefficient open fireplaces into highly efficient heating systems. Wood inserts will typically be used with a blower to push the warm air even further into the home.

Wood inserts are perfect for quick and easy upgrades that can transform a room and homes heating capabilities with very minimal renovations required. 

 Open masonry fireplaces are probably what comes to mind when you think of a wood fireplace. These fireplaces are open and usually made with some sort of brick, stone, or masonry. If your home was built prior to the 1980’s chances are you have an open masonry fireplace. Open fireplaces are highly inefficient for heating, produce lots of smoke and particulate matter, and can vent noxious gasses or smells into your home.