Fireplace inserts

[SC Fisherman 22]

I am thinking of upgrading my 20yr old fisher brand for a newer and more efficient insert. Anyone have any suggestion on a new fireplace insert??? Heating area 1500 to 2000 sq.ft. Primary source of heat.

Thanks for any info...

[GLF]

Fireplaces are not efficient for heat. I think they are only about 30% efficient. When I built our house, I put in a wood burning insert in the living room. It has a blower that blows the hot air into the room. I wired a switch on the wall next to it for turning the blower on and off. The tubes above the flames that the air goes through were not sealed very well and we had smoke issues in the beginning. I resealed the tubes and fixed the issue.

I also put a wood burning stove in the basement. We get a lot more heat out of this than we do with the fireplace insert.