Fireplace Heater Systems – Product Reviews

At this point, you’ve gone through all of your options and decided that a fireplace heater system is going to benefit your home but you’re probably not sure of which one to go with. The truth is, there are many options and quite a few of them will probably work for you, so you have to take some time to do some research and decide which one would be best for you. Lucky for you, we’ve put together a quick review of each of the most popular heater systems so that you can get all the information you need in one place.

Cozy Grate Fireplace Heater
Specifically designed for easy installation inside the firebox, this high quality fireplace heater system is a great choice for wood burning fireplaces, and has a blower that fits inside the firebox so that you can still close your fireplace doors when you’ve finished burning. This heater system can replace your current standard steel grate and comes in three different depths, 17” deep, 20” deep, or 22” deep, at no additional charge. For convenient installation, you can also choose which side you want the blower on, making it easy to plug in to the nearest outlet. Continually controlled by a thermostat, this intuitive heater system collects air and heats it until 110° so it won’t blow out cool air. A dialable rheostat controls how much air is blowing through the tubes at any given time. Although the blower box is housed inside the firebox, there is no concern for it to combust because it is contained in an insulated, protected box and the unit is completely self cooling.

Fireplace Gas Log Heater
Another remarkable, high quality grate, the Fireplace Gas Log Heater is made to work with gas or wood burning fireplaces. Specifically designed to fit completely into the firebox including the blower, this heater system will replace your grate and comes in four size/electrical outlet location options. The variable speed blower is equipped with a thermostat control that turns on automatically at 110F and off at 90F.
Emberaire Wood and Gas Log Fireplace Heater
The Emberaire heater system is designed to work with both gas and wood burning fireplace units. The flexible tube can go underneath or on top of your existing grate, or you can use it as a grate if you’d prefer. It can be used it while burning wood by simply laying the titanium alloy exchanger tube on your fireplace grate, in the fire or when using with a gas fireplace, simply use the tube as a replacement for your back gas log. The titanium alloy tube is incredibly durable and is designed to withstand intense temperatures.

Spitfire Fireplace Heater
Unique in the possibility of customization, the Spitfire fireplace heater can be modified to fit just about any firebox or fuel type. Constructed of aluminized steel, the metal framing height can be adjusted to accommodate special heights and though designed to be wood burning, it can be modified to be used with gas burning fireplaces. You’d obviously want to talk to a professional about anything like this, as it can be complicated. The blower sits outside the firebox so you won’t be able to close your fireplace glass doors if you have them.

Zero-Clearance Fireplace Heater
Designed specifically for pre-fab and zero-clearance fireplaces, the Zero-Clearance Fireplace Heaters are usually smaller than traditional masonry fireplaces and require a special size. The heavy duty steel tubes serve as a fireplace grate so you can simply build your fire directly on the tubes.

Masonry Fireplace Heaters
These tube systems are one of the best performers available and can be purchased with or without a blower, the amount of heat pushed into the room is better than any other heater system. The framing can be adjusted a no charge or extensions added at an additional cost so the heater system can sit deeper inside the firebox. Additional light duty flex tubes are also available for extending the blower further out if you have a deep firebox.

Fireplace Radiator
Constructed of heavy duty cast iron, the Fireplace Radiator is built to  last. It has a built in cast iron fireback to assist at radiating heat and takes the place of a grate. The blower motor, left or right handed, sits outside the firebox and draws cool air from the room into the heat chamber. The heat chamber, which is constructed with heavy duty cast iron, superheats the air which is then pushed back into the home with the assistance of the blower. This blower moves the hot air back into the home at up to 180 cubic feet per minute, but because it pushes so much air it can get a bit noisy.

Updating and Upgrading Your Fireplace

No matter which of the four seasons you are enjoying, it just so happens that winter is always right around the corner. There is never a bad time for you to update or upgrade your fireplace.

What can you do to update your fireplace? Many older fireplaces were designed with good intentions, but are incredibly energy-inefficient. When many older homes were built, some important safety features that are standard on new fireplaces today were left out. The following is a short list of ‘updates’ that can be made to greatly improve the efficiency and safety of your fireplace.

1. If you have a wood burning fireplace, update it with a screen mesh curtain to protect your home from sparks and embers. A fireplace screen curtain can be purchased online and installed within a few short minutes.

2. If you have children, consider installing fireplace glass doors. These doors are solidly built and will protect your children and pets from the fire. In addition, simply adding fireplace doors will increase your home’s efficiency by creating a barrier between the conditioned air inside the home and the unconditioned air in the chimney. Many areas (especially California) are requiring homeowners to update their fireplaces with fireplace glass doors before a home can be sold.

3. If you’re still depending on your fireplace throat damper to keep the conditioned air inside your home, don’t wait to install a Top Sealing Chimney Cap Damper to the top of your chimney.
The fireplace throat damper is a metal plate located in the flue; it is designed to be opened during a fire and closed after the fire is completely out. Its purpose is to keep the outside air outside—however, this metal plate has no seal and is notoriously leaky. A simple solution is to install a Top Sealing Damper to your chimney. These dampers use updated technology to create an air-tight seal at the top of your chimney. The product can be purchased online and installed in about an hour by either a professional chimney sweep or the homeowner. A Top Sealing Damper in conjunction with fireplace glass doors will significantly increase your home’s efficiency.

What if your fireplace is already sufficiently updated and energy-efficient? How about an upgrade?

Many people incorrectly believe that the fireplace heats the home. In fact, the fireplace is probably making your home colder and making your furnace work harder, since a fire feeds off of the air in your living space. If you want to harness the power of your fireplace, consider upgrading your fireplace by installing a fireplace heater. These heaters use an electric blower to pull air into the unit, where it is heated and blown back into the room. These units can be purchased online and easily installed by the homeowner. They come in a variety of designs for different applications and typically range in price of about $400 to $600. You should consult an online expert to make sure you purchase the right heater for your fireplace.

A quick fireplace update and an upgrade will keep you ahead of surging energy costs this winter. No matter the season, it is always a good time to tackle the project..