As the weather gets colder, it’s time to start thinking about energy efficient heating options. Fireplaces have long been a favorite among homeowners as they create a wonderfully cozy atmosphere in any room, but also circulate plenty of cool air when lit.

Some statistics say that up to 80% of hot air can be lost through the chimney. If that is added to the amount of cold air being drawn from the atmosphere, you could almost say that the old wood burning fireplace is primarily a visual experience.

A wonderful new scientific design now allows us to keep our old fireplaces in place and still use them for roaring fires, only now they won’t harm the environment and even give us more heat for less ash!

Plus, these newly designed fires are approved and qualified to the new standards (EPA in the United States and CSA in Canada), which means replacing your old fireplace with an approved one will get you a grant in some areas.

So what is the secret? Well, how technical do you want to be? The short version is this: a box has been invented that fits inside the fireplace so you can see the flames, but it works just as effectively as a wood stove.

Here is the long version. In the past, burning wood was commonplace, and nobody seemed to care that the smoke was circulating in the air. Now there are clean air laws to obey, and manufacturers of wood stoves, fireplaces and fireplaces had to do their homework on pollution.

They devised an internal design for a firebox that heats and houses the wood, smoke, and gases, but has a secondary combustion zone that is used after the primary combustion. Result: less ash, less air pollution, less heat loss and more heat in your room.

These ‘combustion chambers’ are chosen by measuring both the size of the inside of the fireplace and the size of the outside ‘frame’: length times height. All dimensions of your interior fireplace must be measured. There are often two measurements involved in the width, as this width is usually widest at the front of the fireplace and tapers towards the fireplace.

You should also consider the depth and height of your interior fireplace. Once you have selected the correct insert, you can ask your local fireplace dealer if they offer a verification service to make sure your measurements match the model you have chosen.

They will also check your existing chimney and liner and let you know that everything is in order before installing your new insert.

Using an insert will completely reverse its efficiency. Instead of losing 80% of the heat from the fireplace, it will now burn wood with about 70% efficiency (exact figures are in the manufacturer’s brochure), meaning your heating bills will be significantly reduced with time.