If you have a standard fireplace that vents up a brick and mortar masonry chimney, there's nothing quite like curling up beside a roaring fire on a cold winter night with a glass of wine, a good book, or someone you love. What you might not realize, though, is that your fireplace is likely an energy hog — and a significant source of air pollution.
A traditional wood-burning fireplace vents smoke and pollutants out through the chimney while simultaneously pulling cold outside air into your home to feed the fire. Most fireplaces lose more heat than they generate through this air-exchange process, and most don't burn wood efficiently enough to prevent dirty exhaust from escaping up the flue.
Reduce Pollution and Fuel Costs at the Same Time
Here's the good news: you can minimize your personal air pollution while simultaneously reducing your fuel costs by installing a wood burning insert inside your fireplace, paired with a properly sized stainless steel chimney liner.
A fireplace insert is essentially a woodstove that's designed to sit inside your existing fireplace instead of standing alone. Made from heavy sheet steel or cast iron and lined with refractory bricks, inserts retain heat as the wood burns and then radiate that warmth back into your room — instead of sending it up the chimney.
EPA-Certified for Cleaner Burning
Modern fireplace inserts are certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to burn cleanly enough to operate even on high-pollution days. They achieve this by operating at higher temperatures than open fireplaces, recirculating combustion gases through baffles and chambers for more complete burning, and (in some models) using catalytic converters to further clean the exhaust.
Cleaner Emissions, Stronger Draft
Once an efficient insert reaches its optimal operating temperature, the only compounds going up the chimney liner are essentially carbon dioxide and water. Inserts burn fuel far more completely than traditional fireplaces and radiate much more heat back into your home than they lose to the cold air being drawn in. Pairing an insert with a stainless steel chimney liner also makes cleaning easier and typically improves your chimney's overall draft.
A Long-Term Investment That Pays Off
A high-quality insert, chimney liner, and professional installation will run several thousand dollars — but it's an investment that pays off over time. You'll save on reduced fuel costs, enjoy a more comfortable heated space, and take pride in knowing your exhaust is clean enough to satisfy even the EPA.