The problem is that while the fire radiates a lot of heat into the room it s also using up heated interior air for combustion and even more heated air is getting sucked up the chimney all the time.
Wood burning fireplace conversion to electric.
They are desired not only as a heating source but also as a means of establishing a cozy zen like ambiance in the living room family room or bedroom.
While cozying up to a warm crackling fireplace sounds like a great way to heat up and save energy it is actually one of the least efficient ways to heat your home causing many people to convert their traditional fireplaces to electric fireplaces fireplaces are inefficient because they remove the warm air from inside the house and send it out through the chimney.
These include converting the unit to use gas logs using a gas fireplace insert which also makes the fireplace much more efficient or converting the fireplace to a vent free appliance.
Converting a fireplace of unknown condition to electric in many cases can be less expensive than hiring a professional chimney sweep and paying for whatever cleaning and repair work might be required on the existing appliance.
Going with an electric fireplace insert is ultra simple.
All you need is an electric fireplace insert which is a stove that fits into the fire box of your old wood burning fireplace.
Refacing if you are planning to reface your existing fireplace then you may be able to resize the opening to fit a new smaller firebox.
How to convert your wood burning fireplace.
A new gas wood burning electric or masonry fireplace firebox unit costs between 1 100 and 2 800 or about 1 800 on average.
Finally burning wood in a conventional fireplace is highly inefficient as a home heating source.
Professional installation and finishing adds 800 to 2 800 or about 2 100 on average bringing your overall cost to install a fireplace at 1 900 to 5 600 these prices are before any veneer hearth or mantel is added.
Sometimes it s simpler to make a paper template of your existing fireplace opening and bring that to the fireplace showroom.
As a result heating with a conventional fireplace is estimated to be about 10 to 30 percent.
The fireplace division of napoleon manufactures gas and electric fireplaces wood burning fireplaces gas wood stoves.
A wood burning prefabricated fireplace will need a conversion kit but masonry fireplaces have several options.