Expert: James Ball - 10/7/2008

Question
I have a older home with a fireplace after a sweep, cap and damper it really didn't heat the room much less the house. I was told a wood burning insert would help. Is this true? Is it expensive?

Answer
Hello Randy, yes an insert (properly installed) can heat a home very well. An insert is a wood stove that slides into the fireplace and only a little sticks out into the room and most have a built in fan. contact your local wood stove store (they will be busy this time of the year) and bring them the measurements of you fire place (height, with, in front and back and depth)
proper installation includes proper size, insulated liner to the top (by code to the first flue tile) and then run correctly.
my brother heats a great deal of his home with one and he loves it.
hope this helped
James Ball