But if you want to heat a home or room that doesn t have a fireplace then a free standing wood stove is an excellent choice.
Fireplace insert vs wood stove efficiency.
A wood fireplace is very much a centerpiece.
Modern wood stoves on the other hand can be highly efficient.
As for efficiency the less smoke that is produced the more efficient your stove or insert will be.
Environmental protection agency limits wood stove and fireplace insert emissions to 7 5 grams of smoke per hour for non catalytic models and 4 1 grams per hour for catalytic models.
All of these features come together to make this one efficient insert.
Another innovation found on this insert is that it has a combustion air wash system that helps to keep combustion consistent and helps to keep the glass doors on it clean.
The internal design of wood stoves has changed entirely since the epa issued standards of performance for new wood stoves in 1988.
And a wood stove at 70 to 75 efficiency is almost as efficient as many steam boilers or older furnaces.
Epa s mandatory smoke emission limit for wood stoves is now 4 5 grams of smoke per hour g h under step 1 of the revised standards of performance for wood burning room heaters.
Step 2 will take effect on may 15 2020 when the standard will be lowered to 2 0 g h.
If you want to maximize the heating efficiency of an existing fireplace then an insert is the best option.
Why fireplace inserts work so well.
Not much can beat the look feel and smell of a wood fire but many homeowners can get hung up on deciding whether a wood burning fireplace or wood stove is a better more efficient choice while each type has its own advantages disadvantages a little research into the comparisons of both can help you make the right decision for your family your style and your heating needs.
Top pick for efficiency.
A wood fireplace insert on the other hand cranks that efficiency rating upwards past 70 with many models boasting ratings in the mid 80s.
With efficiency ratings of up to 85 or more wood stoves convert the fire into useful heat that should provide plenty of warmth for your home.
These units often operate at 10 or 15 efficiency which isn t enough to make them useful heating sources.
Wood stoves are often big freestanding metal units that simply look awkward when not in use and do little to add beauty to a room.
A nice compromise is to opt for a wood stove insert which would occupy the fireplace area but you might still want to have a standard wood fireplace for added beauty.