Fireplace inserts - pellet / gas

The Coffee Shop
1

I have a home built in the early 60s with a fire place the previous owner installed natural gas pipe to. I don’t use it because it is so inefficient and I am sure does little to warm anything other than space directly in front. I want to install a high efficiency insert, probably pellet due to price of NG but I am guessing that means having NG line capped.

So, any advice on inserts? Brands? Ball Park costs? I read some will heat my entire house and ideally would like to tie into my thermostat etc. It has to meet clean air standards too so it can burned on any day since we have days you can’t burn traditional fireplace.

thanks

2

Pellets? What are pellets? Why would they be better than NG, given an efficient enough NG-based fireplace?

I guess I don’t know enough about the tech to know how much the fuel source has to do with the efficiency vs. other factors such as the burn method, venting, air recirculation, etc…

Or is the NG bit just about the clean air bit?

Honestly clueless…

3

Pellets are highly compressed waste wood and saw dust in the shape of pellets that look a bit like rabbit food.

4

I don’t know about heating, but the wood pellets make good cheap pet litter. All natural and leaves a pine scent!

5

We have a high efficiency NG insert located in the center of our home. We rarely run our heater but the out rooms of our 3,100 SF house can get a little cool. However, the middle of the house where we spend time is toasty warm.