Direct Vent Fireplace Inserts
Direct Vent Fireplace Inserts are by far the most popular and most efficient type of fireplace insert.
With direct vent inserts, the insert is sealed. The air that is used to generate the flame (combustion air) is drawn from outside. The fumes that are a byproduct of the combustion are also vented to the outside. In this way, air contaminated with combustion byproducts and unused fuel does not circulate in the home, and household air is not used to fuel the combustion process.
A sealed-combustion direct vent fireplace is by far the most efficient fireplace option. Since the entire operation is independent of the household air, with sealed combustion direct vent fireplaces there are no drafts and no heat loss. In fact, these fireplaces operate at a near 90 percent efficiency rate. AFUE-rated fireplaces can generate as much heat as a furnace—upwards of 40,000 BTU in some cases—and should be taken into account in any heating and cooling calculations for your home.
