Open or sealed: choosing a wood burning fireplace

An open fireplace puts nothing between you and the flames. Choose it for the view, sound and radiant warmth. Sealed heater fireplaces have glass doors and are EPA certified for clean burning. They heat 1,000 to 3,000 square feet, with a burn time of 7 to 11 hours; many include a blower.

Framed units range from 36 to 60 inches wide. Depending on the unit, you can choose brick patterns, fronts, doors or screens, and outside air kits. Several have cast iron doors. Valcourt's ambiance designs have doors that slide away and take logs up to 30 inches long.

Stoves and inserts for different spaces

A freestanding wood stove stands on a hearth pad without a wall opening and heats 250 to 2,800 square feet. Browse the wood insert range if you have an existing masonry fireplace in brick or stone. Inserts do not fit factory-built fireplaces and usually need a steel chimney liner.

Choose your fireplace shape

For a traditional layout, more than 25 units here allow corner placement. Compare see-through designs for a wall between rooms, or linear styles for a low, wide view in a great room. Those last two collections also include gas and electric options.

Compare the brands

Osburn's range covers framed heaters, stoves and inserts. Valcourt's line offers long-burning heaters and ambiance fireplaces built for one room. Superior's wood units include open designs with real kiln-fired brick and sealed heaters.

Majestic's wood range includes open radiant, see-through and overnight heater options. Empire Comfort Systems fireboxes offer optional brick liners and glass doors. Two can be ordered for gas instead, before installation.

Plan the chimney and finishing

Every framed-in wood fireplace here is a zero clearance fireplace: an insulated steel firebox your builder frames into a wall. No masonry fireplace is needed. Every unit needs a chimney, with stove pipe and chimney pipe sold separately. We carry DuraVent chimney components; ask us to quote the chimney run. Finish the wall with mantels and shelves, following the required clearances.

Planning a patio fire? Browse outdoor wood options. For alternatives indoors, gas fireplaces light with a button without firewood, while electric fireplaces plug in without a chimney.

Why buy from My Cozy Outdoors?

We are an authorized dealer for every brand here, so the full manufacturer warranty applies. Call us to talk through size, chimney and fit questions. Still comparing? Explore all indoor fireplaces or our complete fireplace collection for indoor and outdoor choices.

Frequently asked questions

Can I add a wood burning fireplace to a house that does not have one?

Yes. Each framed-in fireplace here is a zero clearance unit your builder fits into a wall, with chimney pipe running upward. You do not need an existing masonry fireplace. A freestanding stove on a hearth pad is another route.

Which wood burning fireplace is the most efficient?

Choose a sealed heater with a glass door and EPA certification. These burn wood cleanly and completely, heat 1,000 to 3,000 square feet and hold a fire for 7 to 11 hours. Open fireplaces are mainly for atmosphere.

Can I leave a wood burning fireplace burning overnight?

Sealed heaters can provide overnight burns of 7 to 11 hours; stoves here burn for 5 to 10 hours, depending on the unit. Follow the manual for loading, closing the door and adjusting air. Never leave an open fire burning unattended.

Can I put a TV above a wood burning fireplace?

Often, but the fireplace manual sets the required clearance above the opening. A mantel or shelf usually needs to separate the fire from anything above it. Call us and we will talk through the clearances.

Can I convert a gas fireplace to wood burning?

No. A gas fireplace cannot hold a wood fire or vent its smoke. Choose a new framed-in wood unit, a freestanding stove, or an insert if you have an existing masonry fireplace instead.