What's not to love about the atmosphere created by a cozy fire on a cold winter night? Well, since 90% of the heat typically goes right up the chimney and out of your house, your question is great one. Here are some considerations to help you in your quest to capture more heat and energy savings from your fire. The first is obvious, but worth restating. That is, no matter what you decide to do, work with a professional to ensure that whatever option you choose, you do not compromise your draft and/or draw dangerous fumes and gases into your home.

Now, which option will give you the best "bang for your buck?" If cost is the bottom line for you, perhaps the least expensive option to capture more heat from your fire is to purchase a Heat Reflector. They work well, particularly once you have some red hot coals in your hearth and they only cost between one and two hundred dollars. Next, for a few hundred dollars, a blower can provide you with another option to capture even more heat that a reflector. And finally, an insert will set you back considerably more (and should also include the installation of a chimney liner all the way up to top of your chimney), but offers the most energy efficiency, lasts for many years AND prevents the constant flow of indoor air you have already heated from escaping up the chimney and out of your house.