Glass fireplace doors can help to reduce the opening and improve fireplace efficiency. If you want positive heat and no cold draft at all, a fireplace insert is the best solution for your home. If you are okay with still having some drafty cold air in the fall and winter, custom glass fireplace doors could be for you. It all depends on your goals. If heat is your goal, there are better options than glass fireplace doors for your old masonry fireplace.
Learn more: What is a Fireplace Insert and When Do You Need One?
Do fireplace doors help with cold chimney draft?
Less than you’d think. Even custom glass fireplace doors worth over $2,00 installed will not fully stop your fireplace from leaking air. Every masonry fireplace is different. The facing, size and overall size will impact the efficiency of custom glass fireplace doors.
What are custom glass fireplace doors?
Glass fireplace doors open and close to reveal an open masonry fireplace. Custom is because they are made to the specific size of your masonry fireplace. Glass fireplace doors will often accompany wood fireplaces or gas log sets inside of prefab wood fireplaces. Fireplace doors are perceived as an affordable option instead of a fireplace insert.
How do I stop cold drafty air from coming down my chimney?
Glass fireplace doors do not seal the opening in your living room. In our experience, fireplace doors are a great aesthetic option. Even custom glass fireplace doors do little to improve efficiency. Higher end glass fireplace doors are beautiful. They are also more costly than most folks expect and accomplish very little to improve the heating efficiency of your home.
Yes, fireplace doors can close. No, fireplace doors are not airtight. Glass fireplace doors will not keep your home any warmer, but they do make your fireplace look pretty! If you do not want heat and only want to improve your fireplace’s design, glass fireplace doors will meet your needs.
Should I close my glass doors while burning a wood fire in my masonry fireplace?
Glass fireplace doors can be dangerous if closed while your fireplace is in operation! In our experience, folks in Pennsylvania often value bone warming heat in the dead of winter. Glass fireplace doors can not be closed while the fireplace is in operation. Never close your glass fireplace doors when operating a wood fireplace! Misguided consumers have been injured because they incorrectly assumed that glass fireplace doors can be closed during operation of a wood fire.
The glass used for fireplace doors is not UL tested or approved. If you want to, “close a door” while burning wood, then purchase a wood fireplace insert or pellet fireplace insert. Depending on your goals, you can also make use of propane, natural gas, or electric fireplace inserts to fill your fireplace and stop the cold draft.
The glass does not open on gas fireplace inserts. The door on a wood fireplace insert does open, but is sealed compared to an open masonry fireplace. If you need help with your gas fireplace insert, please contact an NFI certified service professional to get your fireplace serviced.
What are some simple ways to cut down on my drafty cold fireplace?
1) Conduct a Level 2 Chimney Inspection with a CSIA certified chimney sweep to make sure your chimney is safe.
2) If you plan to NEVER use the fireplace again, stop the cold chimney draft with a damper or insulation.
3) Create more heat by installing a fireplace insert.
What fireplace fuel type is the best for my home?
Here is a quick guide to help you decide which fuel type is best for your fireplace insert. If you need more detail check our our Fireplace Expert Fuel Cost Guide!
Pellet Fireplace Insert
Pellet fireplace inserts serve homeowners that enjoy having consistent deep without having to frequently refill the hopper. Pellet heating appliances are wonderful for anyone who needs a warm home while they are away for most of the day. Pellet works great in a basement to provide tons of heat.
If you don’t mind a more furnace-like flame, pellet is a great option. If you can’t be home to maintain a wood fire, but want the heat and savings provided by wood fuel, pellet heats unlike anything else on the showroom floor. The added convenience of pressing a button and the pellet fire automatically starting is hard to ignore for busy parents, professionals and homeowners.
Learn more about pellet fireplace inserts:
Wood Fireplace Insert
Wood fireplace inserts are a great option for folks who are home often enough to refill the firebox every 2-5 hours depending on burn rate. If you have wood available on your property and can easily split and store it, wood fireplace insert is the best option for your home. Wood is all about commitment and preparation. If you want to spend time during the summer and fall preparing for the winter, buy a wood fireplace insert.
Check out Our Favorite Wood Fireplace Inserts and What Does a Wood Fireplace Install Cost?
Gas Fireplace Insert
Gas fireplace inserts provide heat with extreme convenience making them an excellent option if you just want to “turn it on” and “turn it off” with the touch of a button. The cost is a bit higher than glass fireplace doors, but the overall impact and added value is substantial long term.
What does it cost to install a gas fireplace insert?
Gas is the most convenient fuel type and is the best option for most homeowners. If you have natural gas access, choosing gas is a no brainer option. Propane tends to be a bit more expensive and is typically utilized for people who do not have access to natural gas.
Natural Gas (NG) Fireplace Insert
Natural gas fireplace inserts are the most cost efficient fuel type, but have limited availability depending on natural gas availability in your area.
Propane Gas (LP) Fireplace Insert
Propane gas fireplace inserts are a great option if you can’t get natural gas, but still want the convenience of a gas fireplace insert. Both natural gas and propane gas fireplace inserts come in many of the same varieties. The only difference is the fuel type and fuel cost between propane and natural gas.
>> Learn more about fireplace fuel cost!
How much does it cost to convert my gas fireplace to propane?
Most gas fireplace inserts have a conversion kit available for less than $150 to easily convert from Natural Gas to Propane if needed.
Electric Fireplace Insert
Electric fireplace inserts seal off the fireplace and add some simulated ambiance with minimal heat output. Electric fireplace inserts are much better than glass doors in many cases for reducing a cold craft in your open fireplace.
Why should you buy an electric fireplace insert?
We see folks purchasing electric fireplace inserts who are unable to get the other fuel types, have a limitation through an HOA or want an affordable fireplace option without a need for serious heat.
How much heat do electric fireplace inserts create?
Electric fireplaces create about 5,000 BTUs of heat or about 400 sq feet of heating area (a very small space.) Compare this to gas fireplaces that create upwards of 35,000 BTUs of heat or about 2,800 sq feet of heating area.
What is required to install an electric fireplace insert?
All that is required to install an electric fireplace is a basic electric connection. The heat in an electric fireplace is created by a heating element simialr to a space heater and distributed with a blower. (Very little maintenance is required.)
Learn more about upgrading your fireplace:
- How to Get More Heat from Your Old Fireplace?
- How Do You Upgrade Your Fireplace?
- Can I Upgrade the Old Fireplace My Builder Put In?
- What is a Fireplace Insert and When Do You Need One?
- You Just Moved Into a Home with a Fireplace – What’s Next?
- Answering Your Most Frequently Asked Fireplace Questions
The goals you have for your fireplace project will determine the fuel type you choose. It is our hope that years from after you get your fireplace installation, you are still thrilled by your investment. We want you to feel confident and understand the type of person purchasing each type of fireplace insert. If you have any questions, please reach out to The Stove Shop. We are here to help!
