Do fireplace inserts need electricity? You might think that a wood burning fireplace insert is a self-contained unit that might run without electricity. But it depends on what kind of wood burning fireplace insert you have installed.
Wood Burning Fireplace Inserts and Electricity
Certain wood burning fireplace inserts use a fan for dissipating heat quickly around the heated space for faster warming. The fan uses forced convection to distribute heat uniformly and quickly. If you have such a fireplace insert, then it will need electricity to operate effectively.
The simplest types of wood burning fireplace inserts will not require electricity since they use natural convection to dissipate heat to the surrounding space. Although these fireplace inserts do not use a fan and rely on natural convection, they can take more time to heat up your room or living space.
Wood burning fireplace inserts that do not need electricity will work just as well even during a power outage. So if there is a winter storm that has disrupted the electricity supply, then the simple wood burning fireplace insert will provide consistent performance since it does not rely on electricity in any way.
What Happens When There is No Electricity
Even if your wood burning fireplace insert uses a fan to dissipate heat, you may still be able to use it during a power outage. The fireplace insert will be able to radiate heat to the surroundings since it burns on wood and does not need electricity for generating heat. However, the fan may stop working and it could thus take a longer time for the heat to warm the entire space uniformly. But this is certainly much better than no heat at all. Electric fireplace inserts will cease to work in the event of a power outage. This is an important factor to consider when buying the right fireplace insert. Powerful storms are common during the winter month and it is not uncommon for gale force winds to bring down trees that break power lines. It can take your utility several hours to repair the ensuing damage before electricity is restored. But no matter how long repair work takes, you will never be without heat if you have a wood burning fireplace insert.
If your wood burning fireplace insert is powered by a fan, then you will need to connect its cord to a nearby power socket for electrical power. A fan may not add substantially to your electricity bill but it will allow your room to heat up quickly and evenly.
Gas fireplace inserts may require electricity if they have a blower (fan) for dissipating heat. Electric fireplace inserts will invariably need electrical energy for operation since they provide heat through electricity rather than combustion of wood or gas.
Looking for the best wood burning fireplace inserts? We ca
n show you models that burn wood the longest with minimum emissions. With our assistance, you can find fireplace inserts with the best heating performance, efficiency and emission characteristics. We can show you fireplace inserts that fulfill and surpass EPA standards for emissions. Thus, you can keep your family and your property safe from noxious fumes and emissions while still enjoying lower bills.
