I've never used a wood burning stove or insert. Since following everyone's posts i've realized there are lots of differences in burning between them. I realize all my heat is going up the chimney but I love my fires anyway. I did add "the grate wall of fire" thanks to the recommendation from "lord of the flies". This helps a lot. Definitely can't load the fireplace with wood and wait 8 hours for another load. I'm constantly adding wood, especially when burning pine. Chunks and uglies are becoming a favorite because they allow nice air flow for the flames, unlike regular splits that sometimes wedge themselves together creating smoke. I'm also sure that since I don't have that secondary burn I see more creosote than you guys. Regardless I love to burn. Nothing like a nice fire on a frigid night here in the south.....when the temps drop in the 50s. I've been considering adding an insert but I'm still on the fence. Our next house I will insist we have a wood burning stove and possibly a fireplace as well. We plan to retire in the next 10 years and downsize. Any other open fireplace burners?
I had a manufactured fireplace in a house we had when living in Wyoming. The fires were enjoyable but I wanted to actually heat the house so I installed a catalytic insert and absolutely loved it. It would heat the main level of our home burning Ponderosa Pine. Sent from my SM-S536DL using Tapatalk
Of the many times I've heard of people going to an insert in an open fireplace, I can't recall of more than a time or two where they said they'd ever have an open FP again.
Wellllllllll, I might disagree with some of you. I love open fireplaces. Like booneatl, the sound, the smell, the feel, the look.... such amazing ambiance. Yes, there's ambiance with a stove or insert, but it's different. So my recommendation is to determine your heating needs. If you really need the heat, get an insert or stove. If you don't, keep it an open fireplace. I decided I needed the heat and got the stove in January. Absolutely no regrets and no-way would I go back, but I live in a pretty cold place.
Open fireplace can be very nice if the weather is just cool but when it is cold, then you need a stove.
I had a model by Vermont Castings, was able to be run with the doors open and a factory screen in place. It is still in use at my cousin's house. I see them from time to time on FB MarketPlace and I bought mine on CL from the original owner about 8 years ago. https://static1.squarespace.com/sta...bfbff/1531399137824/MODEL+1302+INTREPID+I.pdf This is neither a recommendation nor a cautionary tale.
We LOVE having a fireplace upstairs and the stove downstairs. I got a top sealing spring damper to actually seal the open hole in the house. Fireplace for autumn weather, Pacific Energy for heating.
First couple years in our new house we used the open fireplace.. Once the insert was installed it wasnt like an open fire but did it crank out the heat. Glass door so we could still fire watch and would leave the door open and/or turn up the draft for more flame. I know theres a couple here who only burn a fireplace.
6yrs ago when we bought this home, it had an open fireplace, I loved it and what brought me to FHC! Yes there is something to be said for the crackling sound adding to the ambiance. But if your ultimate goal is to pump heat into the house and use it as a primary or secondary source of heat, there is no question you need to consider an insert or stove, much more efficient, hands down. After learning more about heat loss with an open fireplace I quickly began researching installing an insert. Finally installed one about 4yrs ago with help from so many on this site and couldn't be happier. There is no comparison of an insert/wood stove compared to an open fireplace. I still get plenty of ambiance with a nice large glass door, dancing flames, and rolling secondaries often putting my wife and I to sleep on the couch on a cold winters night. I find myself watching the flames of the stove more than the TV. If your not intending to heat your home with it and don't get harsh winters down south, continue to burn with the open fireplace. If that will be your primary source of heat for winters it might be best to look at an affordable insert, save the open fireplace for out back.
I have had an open fireplace in the past and the one problem I never liked it that you cannot shut the flue or the air flow off without smoking up the whole house. So, if you leave it open and go to bed then it starts to suck all the heat out of the house allowing the heat to go up the open fireplace. With a woodstove that is not a problem.
My folks always had fireplaces as we grew up I loved them for the ambiance. One house had a fireplace in a smaller room and it kept it pretty toasty. Now, my Wife and I have always had stoves and we heat the entire house through the late fall,winter and early spring with firewood. It certainly helps to have a stove with a glass front and good air wash system as opposed to a black box stove! An insert is a great compromise and some can be used open with a screen for the full crackling fire effect. My Log Lodge in Montana (in my mind) has both stoves and fireplaces. They both have their appeal. I would far rather have a well designed fireplace in my home than no wood burner at all!
That's my dilemma, we don't need it for heating the house. Our electric bills aren't that bad in the winter, actually worse in the summer with a/c. We have separate units for upstairs and downstairs and usually if I get a good fire going downstairs it's good enough. We have an open floor plan with the living room and kitchen all open.
I grew up with a Ben Franklin in our living room and a wood/oil combo furnace in the basement (forced hot air). My parents always loved the open fire. FF probably about 8 years ago and they built a big addition and had a nice brick fireplace put in. Used it for a bunch of years. Dad is now 79 and after many years of me trying to talk them into an insert, they finally did it. I cut 95% of their wood and it was getting crazy trying to feed that sucker. Dad was seeing just how hard and got tired of moving so much wood. Plus.. they wanted more heat output because living on a fixed income isn’t easy these days. The open fireplace just couldn’t get the addition warm enough in the cold months. The insert does and they’ve significantly reduced wood usage. That old Ben Franklin now resides in dads one work shop so he can still enjoy the open fire.
