An old-fashioned fireplace may look nice in your living room but it may be burning up your money with as little as ten percent of the heat it produces actually heating the room. Luckily for homeowners a properly installed fireplace insert will make all the difference.

Fireplace inserts can improve the heating efficiency of a traditional fireplace significantly by ensuring the heat produced actually goes into the room, rather than escaping up the chimney.

Basically, fireplace inserts are appliances that fit into the fireplace opening and burn wood, pellets or gas as fuel. Most inserts are controlled-draft units with built in air circulation, and range in appearance from a basic box with glass or metal doors to more elaborate models with features such as decorative tile and brass trim.

Fireplace inserts come as either a double or single wall units. Double wall is widely regarded as the safer and more efficient of the two types as air circulates and heats in the space between the walls rather than between the wall of the unit and the surrounding masonry walls of the fireplace.

The key to heating efficiency with fireplace inserts is proper installation of the unit. Measurements and materials used need to ensure the unit is as airtight as possible.

As with all heating devices, regular inspection and maintenance is crucial. Depending on how often you use your fireplace, and what type of fuel you use, you should have your unit inspected by a professional at least once a year.