About Fireplaces
Our experts can help you find the best heating and cooling solutions options, which is why this is one of the best places to buy fireplaces online. Installing the right unit can create the ultimate atmosphere of relaxation. We carry:
- Gas fireplaces - inserts, built-in, and stoves.
- Wood burning fireplaces - inserts, built-in, and stoves.
- Electric fireplaces
- Pellet stoves
- Fireplace accessories - cinders, andirons, etc.
There are many questions to answer before making a purchase. What type of fuel will the unit use? What kind of installation? What type of venting is required?
Types of Indoor Fireplaces
Based on where you live, certain types of fuel may not be available. When choosing a model, consider quality brands. PlumbersStock carries many different fireplace manufacturers like Majestic, Monessen, Vermont Castings, Blaze King, etc. There are quite a few different types of fireplaces on the market, including the following:
- Free Standing Stove
- Fireplace Insert
- Masonry Fireplace
- Frame in Zero Clearance Fireplace
Each fuel type has advantages and disadvantages to consider before making a purchase.
Electric Fireplace Inserts
One of the easiest solutions, electric fireplace inserts are easy to install and operate. All electrical items run at 100% efficiency. Electric fireplaces are also expensive to run, put out little heat, and rarely look authentic. These modern fireplaces are good editions in terms of upping the value of your home but are not ideal for usage.
Gas Fireplace Inserts
Gas fireplace inserts are somewhat more challenging to install but just as easy to operate. The efficiency of these indoor fireplaces can range from 20% to 99%. Gas fuels include liquid propane and natural gas.
- Vent-free gas fireplaces are high efficiency, usually around 99% but can create condensation in the house. These units also burn the oxygen in the room, so it is required to use an Oxygen Depletion Safety Sensor.
- Direct vent fireplaces are mid-efficiency, ranging from 50% to 80%, and these units combine the exhaust and fresh air pipe concentrically (one pipe inside another). This is the most common type of gas fireplace.
- Type B-vent fireplaces are usually nice to look at, but the units are gas hogs and not very efficient.
Wood-Burning Stoves & Fireplaces
Tried and true, wood-burning indoor fireplaces are the traditional standard but, until recently, were not very efficient. All wood-burning appliances require Class A venting. Freestanding stoves put out an incredible amount of heat. We recommend these for rooms that are centrally located and in basements (heat rises).
- The typical indoor fireplace insert is straight vented through the roof with a masonry enclosure and a chimney, with most heat going up the chimney. One way to remedy this is to put a wood-burning insert into the chimney.
- A few years ago, humankind discovered that by choking down a wood-burning fireplace, you could get a longer burn time, but this just created more smoke that caused the chimney to clog, not to mention all the unused fuel in the smoke escaping into the atmosphere. The remedy for this was provided by completely burning the smoke with the assistance of a catalytic or non-catalytic secondary burner. Vermont Castings has taken this concept to the next level. Instead of having either a catalytic or a non-catalytic stove, why not have both? Their Defiant and Encore FlexBurn models are equipped with both a non-catalytic secondary combustor and a Catalyst "third" combustor. With this combination, they can achieve unsurpassed efficiency and record-breaking clean emissions. This modern fireplace technology has transformed the industry. Catalytic Secondary Combustors use precious metals such as platinum and palladium mixed with fresh air to combust smoke at around 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Non-Catalytic secondary combustors use a series of fresh air tubes and smoke channels to combust smoke and achieve this at around 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Pellet Stoves use compressed wood pellets with a hopper and continuous feed auger system to create a prolonged, even heat. These units are vented with a Type "L" vent, similar to a Type "B" vent but with stainless lining and gaskets on the joints. They are high efficiency but do require routine maintenance as the system components are designed for a furnace, but the appliance burns a solid fuel product.
Freestanding Stoves vs. Fireplace Inserts
Most of the differences are pretty obvious, but stoves put off more heat for the entire home. Fireplace inserts (gas, electric, wood-burning) offer more localized heat, which is why it is somewhat common to see a unit in both the living room and the master bedroom. Freestanding stoves should be located in a central part of the home, either on the main floor or the basement (heat rises). If you have a big family, and the entire home is used throughout the winter, a freestanding wood stove provides an efficient solution. Still, if you compartmentalize the use of your home during the winter, then we recommend fireplace inserts.
Resources:
How to Install Wood Burning Stove
Advantages of a Wood Burning Stove
What Is a Direct Vent Fireplace?
Are Vent Free Gas Fireplace Solutions Safe?
