As summer is ending and you begin to prepare your home for cooler temperatures, you may be thinking about improving your energy efficiency while 
lowering your heating costs. If your old masonry fireplace has been disappointing you over the past few winters, Ace Chimney Sweeps can help by converting your old fireplace with a new wood-burning or pellet stove insert. We can install one of these stove inserts into the opening of your traditional fireplace to give you warm, cozy, and economical heat this winter. We would like to tell you more about these options.
Wood-Burning Stoves & Inserts
When you think of a wood-burning stove, you may picture an old cast-iron stove that burns a lot of wood and produces a lot of smoke. Fortunately, we have seen some major developments in wood-burning technology over the past couple of decades. According to HouseLogic, modern wood-burning stoves can have efficiency ratings up to 80 percent. Even better, you can find many models of wood-burning stove inserts that have been certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as clean-burning heating appliances. This choice is perfect if you loved your traditional open masonry fireplace but want something that provides more heat for less money. Most models of these inserts are equipped with fans underneath the firebox to create convection heat. For fans of wood fires, a wood-burning stove insert is a great option for updating your old fireplace.
Pellet Stove Inserts
If you love wood fires but are not fond of storing and bringing in firewood and sweeping up ashes after every fire, you may want to consider a new pellet stove insert. This heating appliance is the best choice for those who are concerned about the environment. Not only do pellet stove inserts burn cleanly, but the pellet fuel is made from recycled wood waste. This option is also very convenient as all you have to do to operate the pellet stove insert is to load the hopper with pellets and turn the switch. Some models allow you to set the temperature so you can be comfortable without having to add more wood. Pellets come in 40-pound bags and are easy to store. If you are looking for an environmentally friendly way to heat your home, you will want to consider a pellet stove insert.