Wood fireplace inserts are innovative heating solutions designed to transform traditional, open-hearth fireplaces into more efficient and eco-friendly heat sources. These units are skillfully engineered to fit into your existing fireplace cavity, offering an upgrade that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also economical.
In other words, fireplace inserts are fantastic if you’re wanting the look of a more traditional fireplace but as a slow-combustion fire. Or if you would prefer not to have a freestanding fireplace.
At first glance, they may seem quite similar – both provide warmth, use wood as fuel and add a cozy ambience to any room. However, the similarities end there. The key difference lies in their design, installation and efficiency.
Built-in fireplaces, as the name suggests, are integrated into the structure of your home. They are traditionally built during construction or added during the renovation, requiring more extensive work. These inbuilt fireplaces often come with a chimney for venting, adding to their classic appeal.
On the other hand, fireplace inserts are designed to fit right into an existing fireplace cavity (i.e. the inbuilt fireplace). They are popular for those looking to upgrade an inefficient inbuilt wood heater.
Fireplace inserts work by using your existing fireplace hearth and transforming it into a more efficient heat source.
Once installed into the inbuilt fireplace cavity, the fireplace insert operates like a wood-burning stove. It consists of a firebox enclosed within a steel or cast iron shell. This construction allows the insert to trap the heat and radiate it back into the room rather than letting it escape the chimney.
The front of the insert features insulated glass, which allows you to enjoy the view of the flames while also ensuring that the heat is directed out into your room, not up the chimney. This design greatly enhances the efficiency of your fireplace.
Then the insert is connected to a flue that runs up the chimney, ensuring that all the smoke and fumes produced by the burning wood are safely vented out of your home. Some models also include a blower that helps circulate the heated air throughout your living space for more even and efficient heating.
The fireplace hearth, often made from non-combustible materials like brick, stone, or tile, forms the base of your inbuilt fireplace. It acts as the supportive platform where the insert is placed.
The hearth is a requirement from the manufacturer, and specifications can vary from model to model, so always check with them as to what you require as a minimum for your fireplace. It needs to be non-combustible material, so natural stones such as marble and granite are perfect. You should avoid composite materials such as Caesarstone, as instead of being one solid piece of stone, they are layers glued together and over time the heat can affect the glue.
Wood is renewable and sustainable, and Quadra-Fire fireplaces have low emissions and great efficiency.
Quadra-Fire fireplaces incorporate a range of technological features, such as Four Point Burn and Automatic Combustion Control technology, to provide you with an efficient, powerful fire.
This is where the efficiency of your fire comes into play. But what is efficiency? A saving of 10% efficiency equals one tonne of firewood. The average fireplace efficiency in Australia is 65%, whereas Quadra-Fire’s average is 85%, helping you save up to two tonnes of firewood a year! That means you save money, save time chopping firewood, and you will still have a fire that achieves an overnight burn.
It’s no secret that a fireplace is the heart of any home – it brings people together whilst warming your home and providing a stunning focal point. Nothing else comes close to providing the ambience that a fireplace can!
The great thing about installing one of Quadra-Fire’s wood fireplace inserts is that they can be placed either into an existing brickwork chimney or a new build. Also, our wood fireplace inserts are especially unique because they are completely safe behind glass.
This means even if you have a chimney, you can insert one of our inserts snugly, giving you the modern look of a neat fireplace added to the existing infrastructure of an existing chimney. It’s a look not to be missed and one that will keep your guests sitting around for longer than necessary – but can you blame them when art is truly what they’re seeing?
So sit back and enjoy the warmth from within, giving you a longer-burning time due to Quadra-Fire’s modern system of longer-burning techniques for better heat output.
If you’re looking for a fireplace insert that suits your every need, style and taste, visit Quadra-Fire for its array of insert options to make your house a home, cosy and ready for winter. Or, if you’d like more information about our fireplace inserts, feel free to contact us anytime.
