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Types of Fireplaces
Home » Outdoor Furniture » Fireplaces » Types of Fireplaces• Masonry Fireplaces. Masonry fireplaces are the most traditional fireplaces found in homes. They made from stone and brick. They usually have a working chimney. They are the most expensive to build new. If constructed properly they are the most durable and potentially the most beautiful. They are also the most inefficient, because the flue of the chimney sucks most of the heat out the chimney. If a flue is not closed when not in use, it can be huge drain on your energy bill sucking heated air out of your house in the winter and letting hot air in during the summer.
• Insert Fireplaces. A second type are fireplaces manufactured as a self–contained metal unit that is built into the wall and connected to an appropriate outside vent, be it a chimney or flue pipe. Inserts are cheaper as the do not require the expensive of masonry. They tend to be more efficient, especially if they come with a fan to capture the heat and blow in out into the room. They must be properly installed to make sure the firebox has proper clearance space from all surrounding wooden structure. Because they are usually made of sheet metal, they can be subject to degradation by heat over time and to rust from condensation or rain if they are not vented and capped correctly.
• Freestanding Woodstoves. The easiest way to add the ambiance of a fireplace to an existing room is with a woodstove. Ventless gas woodstoves only need to be connected to a gas line to be ready to operate. Wood burning stoves require the installation of a stove pipe to carry smoke outside.
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