Almost daily, customers visit our showroom and say, “I want a new gas insert.” As much as we’d love to say “Okay, let’s look at what we have,” in many cases what the customer really needs is a gas fireplace.
We want to apologize on behalf of the industry for the misunderstanding because while you can ‘insert’ a fireplace into a wall, you can’t ‘insert’ an insert into a wall.
Let’s clear up the confusion.
Inserts MUST be installed into an existing masonry fireplace. They cannot be ‘inserted’ into a wall made of 2x4s. Why? Because inserts are not insulated. Insulation is not necessary when an insert is installed in a masonry fireplace but it is absolutely essential when installing into a wall framed with highly combustible 2x4s and drywall.
Fireplaces can be installed almost anywhere because they have an external box that insulates the surrounding structures from intense heat. They can also be vented directly through an exterior wall, which means a chimney is not required. This opens up design possibilities that don’t apply to inserts.
Here’s an example of a situation where we installed a fireplace rather than an insert. Our customer came to us wanting an ‘insert’ to update her early 1990s home that came with a gas fireplace. The fireplace was ugly, the fan was loud, and it was a terrible heater. The fireplace was surrounded by stone veneer, so it looked like a big, chunky, masonry fireplace.
She immediately fell in love with one of our gas inserts but we had to steer her toward a gas fireplace instead. Can you guess why? Well, there was no masonry fireplace! The stone surround made her fireplace look like a traditional fireplace; but underneath that stone veneer was normal 2x4 framing and drywall and not a fireproof masonry structure!
How did we know? Because we pulled the unit out during our in-home inspection and looked at what was behind it! This is why our In-Home Consultations are so vitally important. We have the expertise to do an assessment and say, “We know this looks like an insert, but it’s actually a fireplace and here’s why we can only replace it with a fireplace.” We showed our customer a fireplace from the same manufacturer, and she was very happy with the outcome!
Do you need an insert or fireplace? The first question to ask yourself is, “Where am I putting this?”
Do you want to revitalize an open wood-burning fireplace? Then you need an insert!
Do you want a fun shape such as a linear? You need a fireplace.
Do you want a see-through? You need a fireplace.
Do you want it ‘inserted’ into a wall as opposed to a masonry structure, such as any wall in your bedroom or kitchen? You need a fireplace.
Do you want to replace an existing gas fireplace? You need a fireplace.
Are you doing a remodel or new construction but don’t want to install a traditional masonry fireplace? You need a fireplace.
Do you want heat in addition to ambience? See question #1, “Where am I putting this?” because both inserts and fireplaces are amazing heaters!
Remember, only fireplaces are insulated and safe to install virtually anywhere, and come in many different sizes, shapes, and of course aesthetics. Inserts come in different sizes and styles too, but they are shaped to fit inside traditional fireplaces and that’s the only place they can be installed.
These rules apply to gas inserts and fireplaces. There are additional considerations for wood inserts vs. wood fireplaces - but that’s a topic for another post!
