Twin City – Repair or Upgrade: Which Is Best

Is your fireplace starting to show its age? Are you having more trouble lighting the fireplace than in the past? Maybe your fireplace has stayed the same since the house was built decades ago and is out of place with your home’s decor. So, perhaps you are wondering about repair or upgrade: which is best? It depends on why you want to make the change. So, let’s explore repairing your existing fireplace or installing a modern insert.

Consult a Professional Chimney Sweep Service

Before you explore your options, it would be wise to consult a professional chimney sweep service so they can thoroughly inspect your fireplace. They can tell you what repairs will be needed to restore your fireplace to its original condition. Things like broken bricks, cracks in the chimney crown, missing chimney caps, and other issues will have to be resolved regardless of whether you are restoring your fireplace or upgrading to an insert.

Repair or Upgrade Your Fireplace

The look and feel of a traditional fireplace can’t be matched; it becomes the focal point of your home in the long, dark winter months, but is it worth the cost to repair it? If you are considering restoring your fireplace, consider the costs. If the expense of repairing your current fireplace approaches half the cost of installing an insert, then it would be wise to go with the latter. Inserts can simulate the feel of a traditional fireplace but with exceedingly higher efficiency. Installing an insert can lead to lower monthly power bills during the winter. You know what you have with your traditional fireplace, let’s delve into what types of fireplace inserts are available.

Types of Fireplace Inserts

Wood Burning Fireplace Inserts

Wood-burning fireplace inserts replicate the feel of a traditional fireplace but they burn cleaner and more efficiently than traditional fireplaces. Not surprisingly, wood fireplace inserts are a popular choice when homeowners choose inserts or refurbishments.

Pellet-Burning Fireplace Inserts

If you are looking for an environmentally friendly (or green) alternative to a traditional wood-burning fireplace, then a pellet-burning insert is the way to go. The pellets are made from recycled materials such as sawdust or wood shavings so fewer trees need to be felled to heat homes. They also produce less carbon than wood-burning fireplaces. Not only are pellet-burning inserts good for the environment, but they burn more efficiently than wood-burning fireplaces, heating your home better while reducing the power bill.

Gas Fireplace Inserts

Gas fireplace inserts are a clean and convenient option for your home. Like all inserts, they fit directly into your existing masonry fireplace. The gas-burning inserts are fueled by natural gas or propane and don’t require cleaning out ashes after use. It goes without saying that gas-burning fireplaces are highly efficient and cost-effective. As for simplicity, all you need to do is push a button on a remote control or flip a switch to ignite them. What could be easier?

Electric Fireplace Inserts

To answer the above question, electric fireplace inserts are the easiest of all inserts. They are operated by remote control, require no fuel, and have highly realistic flames. It generates supplemental heat to your main heating system, and you can turn off the heat so you can enjoy your electric fireplace insert year-round.

To Sum Up

Which is best, a repair or an upgrade? It depends on your preferences and needs. If you want to maintain the cozy feel of a traditional fireplace, then repairing your existing fireplace is best. If you want to have greater efficiency, convenience, or be environmentally friendly, then an insert is the better choice.

Call Twin City Can Help You Decide Between Fireplace Repair or Inserts

If you live in the Edina or Woodbury areas and are trying to decide between repairing or upgrading your fireplace, contact us now. We will gladly discuss the options available to you and what would work best. work best.