Wood Fireplace & Fireplace Insert Installation: Trust Our Experts in Hummelstown & More
If you close your eyes and envision an ideal fireplace, we’re guessing you’re picturing a classic hearth with a real wood fire crackling away. There’s nothing quite like the rustic charm of a traditional wood fireplace. Sound like something your home needs? We specialize in expert wood fireplace and insert installation near you in Hummelstown and its surrounding areas, ensuring every detail is handled with care, precision, and respect for your home. For all of your fireplace products, trust us – we’re here to help.
Vermont Casting Wood Fireplace Insert
Jotul Rockland Wood Fireplace Insert
FireplaceX Medium Flush Wood Insert
Wood Fireplaces vs. Wood Fireplace Inserts: What’s the Difference?
While both wood fireplaces and wood fireplace inserts provide that classic crackling ambiance and real-wood aroma, they differ in design and efficiency.
- A traditional wood-burning fireplace is a built-in masonry structure, often original to the home. The fire burns in an open firebox and vents through a chimney.
- A wood fireplace insert fits directly into your existing masonry fireplace. It’s a sealed combustion system, meaning the fire burns behind a closed glass door.
Which is best for your space?
Well, there’s no denying that traditional open wood fireplaces are beautiful and timeless, adding charm and a nostalgic vibe that’s hard to beat. But traditional wood fireplaces are notoriously inefficient. Most of the heat they produce goes right up the chimney, rather than into your home.
If you’re going for classic aesthetics over function, an open wood fireplace can be a great fit. That said, if you want to boost efficiency, without changing fuel types or doing a major overall, adding a fireplace insert to your existing hearth setup is a great choice. The closed-cumbustion design increases efficiency dramatically, allowing the unit to burn hotter and longer while using less wood.
Inserts are also typically equipped with blowers or fans to push heat out into the room, and most are EPA-certified for cleaner burning and better air quality.
Whether you’re dreaming of a traditional wood-burning fireplace or looking to upgrade with a high-efficiency wood fireplace insert, our team is here to help you bring that vision to life.
What Are the Advantages of Burning With Wood?
Gas fireplaces are known for their efficiency and electric options are known for their convenience…what does burning with wood have to offer?
With wood fireplaces, it’s not just about heat – it’s about ambiance, independence, and even sustainability. Here are some solid pros of burning with wood:
- The ambiance is hard to beat. Let’s face it: the sounds, smells, and sights involved with a real wood fire are unmatched. No matter the occasion, a wood fire creates a cozy, inviting atmosphere you can’t replicate with gas logs or LED flame effects.
- You gain independence from the grid. One of the biggest advantages of burning wood is that it doesn’t rely on electricity or gas. If the power goes out during a winter storm, your wood-burning fireplace or stove can keep you warm and offer light.
- It’s a renewable and sustainable fuel. When sourced responsibly, wood is a renewable energy source. Unlike fossil fuels, trees can be regrown in relatively short timeframes, and using local wood sources reduces the carbon footprint associated with transport.
- Wood is an affordable fuel type. Depending on where you live, firewood can be cheaper than natural gas, oil, or electricity – especially if you have access to your own wood supply.
- Heating with wood is an experience. For some, part of the appeal is the process… Cutting, splitting, stacking, and lighting a fire connects you to nature and gives a sense of accomplishment. It can even be a form of exercise if you chop your own supply!
Some things to keep in mind…
- Wood burning does require more maintenance – like ash removal, regular chimney cleaning, and firewood storage.
- You’ll need a reliable source of properly seasoned firewood to get the best results.
How Do I Season & Store My Firewood?
You should only be burning seasoned wood if you have a wood fireplace. Properly seasoned wood burns hotter, cleaner, and more efficiently – and it’s safer, too.
What does “seasoned firewood” mean? Seasoned firewood has been cut, split, and allowed to dry until its moisture content drops to around 15-20%. Freshly cut, or “green,” wood can contain up to 50% moisture – that’s a lot of water to burn through! Burning wet wood leads to smokier fires, poor heat output, and more creosote buildup in your chimney.
How do you season firewood?
- Cut and split the logs. The smaller the pieces, the faster they dry. Split wood also exposes more surface area to the air.
- Stack the logs just right. Stack wood in a way that allows good airflow, while keeping the pile sturdy. Use a crisscross pattern or stack in rows with space between them.
- Store the logs off the ground. Use pallets or a firewood rack to keep wood elevated to prevent moisture absorption. In addition, store firewood in a sunny, breezy area, and avoid stacking wood directly against your home, which can invite pests.
- Cover the top of the wood pile (but leave the sides open). Protect the wood from rain and snow with a tarp or shed roof…but leave the sides open for air circulation!
- Let it sit. Most wood needs at least 6 months to season, but some hardwoods can take 12-24 months. Make sure your wood has adequate time to dry out.
- Rotate your stock. Always burn the oldest, driest wood first.
What are the qualities of well-seasoned wood? Whether you’re storing your own or purchasing your fireplace’s wood fuel, it’s good to know how well-seasoned logs should appear.
- Well-seasoned wood looks grayish and has cracks at the ends.
- Well-seasoned wood sounds hollow when knocked together.
- Well-seasoned wood feels lighter than green wood.
- Well-seasoned wood reads between 15-20% on a moisture meter.
- Well-seasoned wood smells mild or slightly musty, not sappy or fresh.
- Well-seasoned wood has bark that’s loose or peeling, and may fall off easily.
- Well-seasoned wood has ends that are darker in color.
- Well-seasoned wood has little to no visible sap or resin.
What’s the Best Firewood To Burn?
Not all firewood is created equal. Some types burn hotter, longer, and cleaner than others. And choosing the best firewood can make a big difference in how much heat you get, how often you need to reload, and how much creosote builds up in your chimney.
Well-seasoned hardwoods are the best fuel for wood-burning fireplaces.
Never burn green or wet wood, as it will produce more smoke, less heat, and encourage more creosote buildup. Also, avoid burning softwoods, like pine or spruce, as they burn quickly and create more creosote. When well-seasoned, they can be okay for kindling, but they aren’t ideal for long fires.
It’s also not recommended to throw wood from furniture or old projects into your fires. Treated or painted wood is dangerous to burn due to the toxic fumes it generates, greatly affecting your indoor air quality.
For Your New Wood Fireplace, Turn To Us
When it comes to enjoying your wood fireplace or insert as safely as possible, expert installation makes all the difference. We prioritize performance, safety, and long-term satisfaction when we install new fireplaces across Hummelstown and beyond. Whether you’re starting fresh or retrofitting an existing hearth, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Reach out today and let’s start building your perfect fire.
Think a gas fireplace or insert is more suitable for your home and lifestyle? No problem, we have a wide range of fireplace products for you to check out.