Fireplace insert manufacturers: which are better?

In our imagination, a fireplace is warmth, comfort, the smell of wood, the play of flame. But for all this to be real, you need to build it correctly. Bricklaying is too long, expensive and no one gives a guarantee. Therefore, many decide to make a fireplace from a fireplace insert, overlaid and revetted it. Choosing by parameters is not easy in itself, but choosing a manufacturer is even more difficult. And although the best fireplace insert is different for everyone, there are certain brands for which reviews are more positive than negative.

Which fireplace inserts are better, how to choose

When choosing a fireplace insert, first of all, we take into account the operating conditions and accessibility. It's one thing if the fireplace is for beauty and joy. Quite different - if for heating. By the way, for heating the fireplace can work in different modes. Somewhere permanently and as the main source, somewhere only on the coldest days, as an additional and for comfort. The best fireplace insert in each case will be completely different.

Perfect picture!

The best fireplace insert: what we must look at

The difference in price for fireplace inserts is very, very impressive. The cheapest (non-Chinese, those are even cheaper) can be found for 100-300 €. Average price range - 500-1500 €. The price for expensive ones starts from 3000-4000 €. It is clear that this is not just that, and there is a difference. The best fireplace insert in each range is different. However, there is a certain set of characteristics that are required in any case:

• High quality metal, sufficient wall thickness. It is clear that expensive and cheap metal cannot be the same, but the quality of the metal itself, the thickness of the walls and the quality of the connection of parts should be monitored. The thickness of the metal on the roof of the furnace is very important - there is the greatest temperature load.
• Convenient ash pan. In expensive models, there is often no ash pan at all, but that's another story. For this point, the best fireplace insert is one in which the ash pan can be pulled out, cleaned, and then inserted back without problems. Among the inexpensive, believe me, it is not easy to find such.
  

  Moments that allow you to decide what is the best fireplace insert for you

• Hermetically made door. There are several positions and a better fireplace insert, in which all the conditions are met:
  • Sealing glass gap and frame. The best option is a heat-resistant cord. The cheaper one is the sealant. Both should be around the perimeter.
  • Pressing the glass to the frame. Not by several holders, but by a corner, which is fixed with screws.
  • The perimeter door should be laid with a heat-resistant cord. Not on two or three sides, but around the perimeter. And the cord should be voluminous, protrude beyond the groove. Then, when the door is closed, air will not be sucked in.
• Normally working air dampers. They should fit well enough to keep out air when closed. This is rare in cheap fireboxes, so pay attention.
• For cast-iron furnaces, the edges of the parts must be even. The joints are laid with a heat-resistant cord (better) or coated with silicone. If the silicone layer turns out to be thick, this means that the parts are poorly fitted and you should not buy the product.

To choose, you need to look and touch yourself

Why is tightness important? Because a fireplace insert with a door is needed in order to be able to select the combustion mode.If air enters only through adjustable dampers, you can extinguish the flame and put the unit into a long burning mode - when the wood is smoldering, not burning. This helps to conserve fuel and regulate the room temperature. And the best fireplace insert, by far the one that really allows you to regulate the air flow.

Additional options, but not superfluous

There are a few more factors that will be helpful. Double or mirrored glass and its self-cleaning system. Double (cheaper option) or mirror glass allows you to reflect most of the heat rays into the firebox. The benefits are twofold. First, the temperature in the furnace rises, which contributes to more efficient combustion of fuel. Second, it’s not so hot in front of the door.

Self-cleaning system - air supply to the glass, which carries the soot deep into the furnace. Due to this, glass is not smoked so quickly (although it smokes anyway), soot is burned, which is also a plus. This, by the way, is the secondary air supply to the furnace. The air is blown directly into the burning wood, and not from below, which also improves the degree of combustion. But these dampers also need to fit well.

Lining is needed to protect steel or to gain weight - to obtain an inertial fireplace

The presence of a gate (damper) at the outlet of the chimney. The gate also allows you to control the intensity of the combustion. This is convenient - I reduced the draft, closed the flaps and the firewood barely burns. But the absence of a gate in the fireplace insert is not critical - it can be placed on the chimney. We'll have to bring the knob out to adjust, but everything is possible and not too expensive.

Comfortable and / or cool handle. Opening / closing the door of a burning fireplace and not being afraid of getting burned is important. Since the metal can be heated to very high temperatures, not only nozzles have to be made, but also inserts from materials that do not conduct heat well. You can put up with a hot handle if it is comfortable and easy to open / close even with a mitten on. So the best fireplace insert is with a comfortable and reliable handle.

An interesting design option

Possibility of air intake for combustion from the street. With proper ventilation, there is enough oxygen in the room, even with many hours of burning. The situation with humidity is worse. In the presence of an open fire, it becomes very low. This is bad for well-being, but not only. Humidity is important for timber houses. They have a minimum acceptable level of 50%. Otherwise, the wood dries up, cracks, twists it. With a long-term operating fireplace, humidity can drop to 20-35%, and this is a problem. It is solved by installing humidifiers, but it is easier to maintain humidity if air is supplied to the fireplace from the street.

Determining the price category: cheap and expensive, what's the difference

As already mentioned, the difference in price for fireplace inserts is enormous. It is clear that higher quality cast iron is used (black instead of gray, for example). It is clear that the casting itself is of a higher quality, parts fit better, more expensive glass, etc. There are indeed differences. Let's omit the technical and technological details and features, and consider how expensive and cheap fireplace inserts differ in operation.

• Duration of burning firewood... In cheap ones, you need to throw up firewood every 2-3 hours (more likely once every 2 hours). That is, the consumption of firewood is high and someone needs to keep track of whether there is fuel or not. In expensive ones - under normal conditions - firewood is thrown up every 4 hours, in the smoldering mode every 6-8 hours.
• Flame adjustment possibilities... In cheap ones, it is very rare to achieve a response to the closing / opening of the dampers. You're very lucky if there is any difference. In an expensive firebox, you can easily switch to smoldering mode by restricting air access.
  

  The main thing is to evaluate the differences in operation

• Glass cleaning system... Everybody claims this option. Indeed, if not all, then most of them have a gap in the door. Some even have dampers. Glass is still smoked in both expensive and cheap ones.But in expensive ones, it must be cleaned after 10 furnaces or more, and in cheap ones, at least twice as often. But that's not all. In expensive ones, plaque appears in the smoldering mode, when the temperature in the firebox is low, which contributes to the appearance of soot. It is worth heating a little at full capacity, it clears itself. In cheap, plaque occurs constantly - due to the low temperature, a large amount of fuel burned per unit of time.
• The need to clean ash and coals... In most fireplace inserts, air is supplied to the chamber through the ash pan and grate. That is, from below. When burned, larger coals remain on the grate, smaller ones and ash fall into the ash pan. All this interferes with the air supply. And this means - it is necessary to often clean the ash pan and grate from coals and ash. In the cheapest - after 2-3 fireboxes, in more exhausted ones - after 5-10 tabs, in expensive ones - once every one and a half to two weeks. Some expensive ones do not have an ash pan, the air is supplied from above. As a result, the wood burns out completely, leaving a small pile of ash.

One of the Polish producers from the middle price segment is TRNAVA. Not presented in Russia yet, but looks great

This is what distinguishes expensive fireplace inserts from cheap ones during operation. Nobody says that cheap ones are not worth buying. They also give out warmth, create coziness, a special atmosphere, and also allow you to admire the flame. There are very good ones for little money. But they have disadvantages, and usually all at once. They are simply expressed to a greater or lesser extent. It is important that you understand what to expect and decide what the best fireplace insert means for you.

Fireplace insert manufacturers

Conventionally, all metal fireplace inserts can be divided into three price categories: cheap, middle segment and expensive. In the expensive segment, the differences between the units are minimal. The quality is usually high. The choice is influenced by aesthetics, the availability of technological innovations. But, in general, there is not much difference here. But if you are looking for in the middle price range or among the cheap ones, you can find units of different quality for the same price (or comparable).

What is more interesting to watch?

German, Austrian, Danish and Swedish

Fireplace inserts in the northern part of Europe, today market leaders. Yes, their products are not cheap, to put it mildly. Or rather, dear. But these furnaces also serve for a very long time, and do not cause any complaints. There is not much difference between manufacturers. Choose according to characteristics and appearance. Real indicators correspond to those stated. One tip: read the instruction manual (completely) before buying. They are usually found on the internet. There may be items on the features of operation. If everything suits you, you can safely buy.

• Brunner Bruner (Germany, Bavaria). There are furnaces made of steel and cast iron. There are wide ones - from a meter and more in width, there are narrow and high ones - 569 cm wide and 1530 cm high. In general, for every taste. Price - from 2500 € to 5500 €.
• Schmid Schmidt (Germany). Cast iron furnaces with different types of glass: straight, angular, round, prismatic. You can choose the color of the doors and their design options: anthracite, gilding or chrome. A narrow frame around the perimeter of the glass, the entire door frame, the entire visible part of the firebox can be finished.
  

  For example, a list of features of the German fireplace insert Schmid Pano 55 h

• Spartherm Sparterm (Germany). Produces not only wood-burning stoves. There are options for coal briquettes, gas, water circuit. There are options with indoor or outdoor air supply. The new line - GET - has a shallow installation depth. These are rare. If desired, you can order manufacturing according to your own parameters.
• Jotul Yotul (Norway). Cast iron fireplace inserts of various sizes and capacities. Thoughtful combustion, which allows you to completely burn wood even at low fire.
• Lotys Lotus (Denmark). Steel furnaces with an official 10-year warranty. The look is simple and elegant. Beautiful burning, guaranteed clean glass, easy cleaning.
• Keddy (Caddy) is a one-piece thick-walled cast iron fireplace. No seams or seals between parts. Small in size, wall-mounted and corner-mounted.

If we talk about this price category, then all fireplace inserts in this class burn wood to ashes. This is due not only to fuel efficiency, but also to the need to adhere to environmental standards. All of these countries have tight controls on carbon emissions. And its level will be low if it burns out in the furnace.

Polish and Czech

If your best fireplace insert is in the middle price range, pay attention to Czech or Polish factories. They produce good heating equipment with good characteristics. They have models that look like expensive German or Swiss ones. There are certainly differences, but prices differ more. There are many manufacturers, and the reviews are normal. It is important to accurately represent the features that await you. In addition to those listed below, these are Czech ABX, Romotop, Supra, Liseo; Slovenian LK and others.

The Czech company Romotop (Romotop) produces good fireplace inserts

Nordflam

The Polish company Ekkom produces cast iron and steel fireplace inserts under the Nordflam trademark. The price segment is cheap. There are very simple models for 290-350 € (Capri, Corno - can be fired with coal, Kaldo). This is a firebox with a door without any bells and whistles. The most expensive ones at Nordflam cost 1000-1300 € (La Braise with almost bottom combustion, Modesto). Between these poles there are about 20 models at a price of 500-750 €, differing in size, shape and power. What's nice is that the design is very different - from the classics with curved shapes (Arona) to the ultra-modern ones with frameless glass (Elbrus). And the prices are quite affordable.

The prefix "eco" means complete combustion of wood. In practice, this means complete combustion of firewood and low consumption.

In assortment:

• corner;
• with two and three-sided glazing;
• glass in a frame and without;
• the possibility of air intake from the street (in almost all models);
• with water heat exchanger;
• lining with cast iron removable plates or heat-resistant material (for more expensive models).

Efficiency 60-75% depending on the model (60% for the cheapest). Built-in slide, handles of normal size, which are easy to grip in gloves. Sealing glass and doors - with a cord. All in all, Nordflam fireboxes are very good for the low price segment. Proof - 7 years warranty.

Kratki (Briefs)

Another Polish manufacturer produces Kratki fireplace inserts. Some people think that the best fireplace insert in the mid-price category is the Polish Kratki. The basic price range is 450-600 €. Good metal is used in production (both cast iron and steel are normal). There are wood, gas and water circuits. Capacities - from 8 kW to 24 kW. The main advantage is the adjustment of the degree of pressure of the doors, which is rarely realized. Well thought out shape, good traction. In terms of appearance, it is rather modest, but not bad.

Popular today fireplaces with corner glass

When burning, the glass smokes, so you have to wash it often. But when using dry wood, properly installed (not too large and massive portal), everything is much better. The most popular model from this manufacturer, Kratki Nadia, is a small fireplace, which is often purchased for summer cottages. Its cost is about 350 €, which makes it the leader in this segment. The Zuzia series has a good price / performance ratio like many other models.

Different models of the Kratki company, different prices, different characteristics and appearance (Basia, Maja 12 Deco, Amalia Lux)

If we talk about the main lines, they are good for their price. Thought out to the smallest detail and tested. New ones often need revision. If you want to get something more modern in design, look from other manufacturers. But if the classic design is the best fireplace insert for you, Kratki is really a worthy choice.

Kaw-Met

If you need a good budget fireplace insert, look at Kaw-Met products (KavMet or Kav Met). Of the budget options, these are some of the most worthy. With a low price tag - 500-900 €, they have all the signs of good fireboxes. Unfortunately, you won't get perfectly clean glass, but a good fireplace for little money - yes.

One of the Kaw-Met corner fireplace inserts with double-sided glass

Their advantages are:

• greater wall thickness than analogs of the same price category;
• good sealing (door, glass);
• convenient locking mechanism;
• built-in gate (with adjustment on the body in front);
• smooth cast iron (better seen because it is different from the usual);
• it is possible to supply air from the street.

Several models of Kaw-Met fireplace inserts

But not everything is so good. There is air flow along the glass (not on all models), but these are just adjustable slots. That is, the glass will be smoked. On average, it needs to be cleaned after 4-6 furnaces, the firewood burns for 2-3 hours. So if for constant heating - you will look at the fire through the raid. The problem can be partially solved by using dry wood. On the other hand, this is always the case in budget models. They cannot have complete combustion, the temperature is insufficient, so that the glass is always smoked. Many consider the best inexpensive fireplace insert - this is KavMet.

French

The countries of central and southern Europe have long been heated not by stoves, but by hearths and fireplaces. Their winters are not so severe, so there was enough heat. It is not surprising that they have a lot of developments on fireplace inserts, as well as the companies that produce them. Not all are represented on our market, but the choice is sufficient. French and Italian fireboxes (Italian ones are less common in Russia) occupy the middle part of the price range. Their equipment has a price of 1.5-4 thousand euros. It is clear that there are both more expensive and a little cheaper. In terms of quality, they also occupy an average position. Better than the budget ones, but they fall short of excellent quality (deliberately, I must say, they fall short).

Invicta (Invicta)

The French factory Invicta specializes in the manufacture of cast iron stoves and fireplace inserts. Cast iron is poured by ourselves, which gives certain guarantees of quality. Average price range - 1000-1500 €. In cheaper models, air is supplied through the grates, in more expensive ones - from above. Designed for many hours of operation, since the French are heated with them all autumn and winter. The warranty period is 5 years, but the company claims it will last one generation. But this is in France - they do not fill the fireplace with firewood to the eyeballs. Invicta is often considered the best fireplace insert in its range.

Some models come with a firewood limiter

Design feature - no top damper. The door is lined in a circle with a heat-resistant ceramic cord. The locking handle is designed in such a way that it additionally presses the door against the body. The design of all models is thought out, the parts are fitted, the joints are sealed with a sealant. There is a smoke tooth in the upper part of the firebox - to improve draft and protect the chimney from fire.

There are removable cast iron lining plates, the walls have stiffening ribs, which also increase heat transfer. The underfloor is made with a slope towards the grate, so that the coals roll off, which improves the air supply, and the wood burns to ash. The air supply is metered, the combustion is regulated. The option is really worthy.

An example of one ruler in a different design - narrow and high, classic and wide

If we talk about appearance, then the design is more classic. Interestingly, each line includes models with almost square glass (700 and 800), tall (600) and wide (1000) models. Here they, with the appropriate design, can look very modern. There can be two options for opening the doors - classic hinges for opening to the right or left, as well as lifting the door up (guillotine fireplaces). The lifting mechanism is made on the basis of a chain.

Seguin

French fireplace inserts Seguin (Seguin) belong to the middle price range with prices ranging from 1000 to 4000 €. Wide power range (from 7 kW), various designs, good performance, stable quality. This is what sets this brand apart. The enterprise has its own foundry, which allows you to control the quality of products throughout the entire technological process.

Seguin cast iron fireplace inserts are designed for continuous operation. 24/7 operation is not a problem. Furnace walls - from 9 to 18 mm - depending on the model. Efficiency - 70-85% (usually 70-75%). Sealing - ceramic cord, adjustable (really adjustable) air supply, afterburning, but not in all models.

The best fireplace insert: look for Seguen inserts

The pluses include a modern and varied design. There are models with three-sided and even circular glazing, with a vertical door lift.

Other advantages:

• tightness (exactly tight);
• working glass self-cleaning system (not in all models);
• door blocking (to protect from children and to prevent combustion products from entering the room);
• fireclay lining;
• wide ribs on the outside of the case - to improve heat transfer.

The company prides itself on its patented door closing system. But this is the most inconvenient thing in these fireplace inserts. Open the door by pulling the very small handle. It must be crocheted, which is far from as convenient as they say.

Russian

The best fireplace insert is not always made abroad. There are quite good domestic options for modest money. Longest on the Meta market. Some have been working for 5-7 years already and without any complaints. But don't expect miracles. Definitely not ideal. You should definitely watch it "live". If the overall impression is positive, you can take.

• Meta. Normal furnaces, with a working afterburner and regulation of the intensity of combustion. Glass is not smoked if heated with dry hardwood firewood. Resinous and raw ones smoke heavily. There are different opening systems - vertical and conventional. The enterprise also assembles fireboxes from parts produced in France. The name of the model contains the word Ardenfire - after the name of the company producing them.
• Eco fireplace. Low-cost furnaces, reliable, without any special frills, but they work fine.
• ASTOV - ASTOV. Some models are not quite budgetary, but there are also up to 100 thousand rubles. The company entered the market recently, so there is no experience of long-term operation of its products. Those who use are happy. Glows normally, adjustable. There are models with a guillotine door, a choice of the type of lining (dark and light ceramics or fireclay).
• Thermophore. A large Russian company that produces sauna stoves. They have a couple of fireplace inserts. Normal quality, reasonable price from 400 €.

There are fireplace inserts from many manufacturers of sauna stoves. It is difficult to say how much they have been finalized - there is too little information from the owners.