Browse Forums Heating, Cooling & Insulation 1 Oct 22, 2013 4:09 pm Are there any wood-burning metal firebox inserts that don't produce more heat than the traditional old-style brick open fireplaces? We are planning to get a wood burning fireplace built here and the builder suggested I look into fireplace inserts or as he put it 'metal boxes' as they are much cheaper to install. From my very limited understanding of these they seem to be designed, through the use of firebacks and convection chambers, to produce much more heat than a regular old fashioned brick open fireplace. Is this correct? I'm asking because we are wanting the fireplace more for the ambiance and as a decorative feature rather than a heater (though we still want a wood-burning one not one that burns gas or ethanol). Are there any fireplace insert designs that don't produce any more heat than a regular fireplace, or even produce less? I know it's not the green thing to do but I'm after a fireplace where you can sit by a big bright fire without getting too hot. I know the ethanol ones are great and can do this but I also need to be able to burn things in the fire. I read that the traditional open fireplaces have a very low efficiency rating and that most of the heat goes straight up the chimney (which is actually what I'm after). I just wanted to check that there aren't any fireboxes that are also like this, because it sounds like this would be a far less expensive option. Cheers. Re: Firebox inserts vs traditional open brick fireplace (woo 2Oct 24, 2013 9:19 am I would suggest going a gas heater over a wood heater if you are only after ambience as you would be using a limited resource that would otherwise benefit someone else who uses wood for heating. You would also have to buy or cut your own wood, store it and clean the fire during the winter months. In saying that if you do have your own personal supply of wood and looking at a grand stone fire place i would say yeah go for it otherwise gas is the much easier option. Re: Firebox inserts vs traditional open brick fireplace (woo 3Oct 24, 2013 9:32 am We are on 5 acres have out own supply if seemingly unlimited wood and a grand fire place. As you realise fireplaces are a poor heat source - some times it feels that most of the heat goes up the chimney ! We rely on reverse cycle ducted heating for real warmth and really only light the fire for ambience. I think we've lit it about 7 times this year, I would definitely go for gas for ambience. Cheers <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=62083">viewtopic.php?t=62083</a><!-- l --> Re: Firebox inserts vs traditional open brick fireplace (woo 5Oct 24, 2013 4:46 pm Fleb I would suggest going a gas heater over a wood heater if you are only after ambience AKB I would definitely go for gas for ambience. Scott2233 if only for ambience, whether a Electrical one is a better (cheaper) option? I need to actually be able to burn things in the fire (similar to what fires used to be like in history), and as I understand you can't do this with gas, ethanol or electrical ones? I asked a few people in the US about this and all of them said that what I'm looking for is a 'zero clearance fireplace'. That these are much simpler to install as they don't require the brick chimney. Apparently over there you can get these not only as fireboxes (with the increased heat) but also as the traditional open brick style (though I must admit I don't quite understand how). Is anyone here familiar with zero clearance fireplaces? Re: Firebox inserts vs traditional open brick fireplace (woo 6Oct 24, 2013 9:27 pm Yep you are after a fireplace with a zero clearance add on, this is basically a box that goes around the heater to allow it to be installed in a normal timber framed house. We went with a Lopi Flushwood heater but it is not a open fire and is designed for heating around 300sqm of living space. http://www.lopi.com.au/wood/flush-hybrid.html I would suggest giving a few places a call and see what they can recommend, always best to go with advise from people who sell / install them. Re: Firebox inserts vs traditional open brick fireplace (woo 7Oct 25, 2013 7:22 pm Fleb Yep you are after a fireplace with a zero clearance add on, this is basically a box that goes around the heater to allow it to be installed in a normal timber framed house. We went with a Lopi Flushwood heater but it is not a open fire and is designed for heating around 300sqm of living space. http://www.lopi.com.au/wood/flush-hybrid.html I would suggest giving a few places a call and see what they can recommend, always best to go with advise from people who sell / install them. Thanks for your reply Fleb. I've emailed a bunch of dealers and most of them want to sell me the jetmaster universal one: http://www.jetmaster.com.au/component/v ... gory_id=10 but to me it looks like it has a fireback and convection chambers designed for maximum heat output which isn't what I'm after. One thing I haven't been able to understand is with the zero clearance fireplaces how does the chimney work? 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