Turning an open fireplace into a heater
The 4 highest scores among the 4 fireplace inserts we cover that have a checked Amazon.com listing. Scores are out of ten and only compare models inside this category.
| # | Model | Our score | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buck Stove Model 21 Non-Catalytic InsertBest for: Small to medium rooms with an existing masonry fireplace | 8.1/10 | ≈ $2,723 | Check price on Amazon: Buck Stove Model 21 Non-Catalytic Insert |
| 2 | Ashley Hearth AW1820E Wood Stove InsertBest for: A homeowner turning an open masonry fireplace into a real heat source. | 7.8/10 | ≈ $1377 | Check price on Amazon: Ashley Hearth AW1820E Wood Stove Insert |
| 3 | Comfortbilt HP22i Pellet Fireplace InsertBest for: A household that wants thermostat heat from an existing fireplace. | 7.8/10 | ≈ $2499 | Check price on Amazon: Comfortbilt HP22i Pellet Fireplace Insert |
| 4 | Comfort Glow CGWI1800 Wood Fireplace InsertBest for: A buyer who cannot find the Ashley AW1820E or prefers this look. | 6.9/10 | ≈ $1299 | Check price on Amazon: Comfort Glow CGWI1800 Wood Fireplace Insert |
Prices are indicative and were read on Amazon.com; the button shows the current one. If we earn a commission, it does not change the order.
An insert turns an open fireplace, which loses much of its heat up the flue, into a closed heater. The inserts here are wood inserts with blowers and a pellet insert. All need a chimney that suits them, and most inserts call for a full stainless liner, which adds several hundred dollars.
up to 1,200 sq ft · 18 in logs · 3/16 in plate steel · firebrick lined · 100 CFM blower included
A wood insert with a 100 CFM blower and 3/16 inch plate steel, with no Amazon ratings so far.
Best for: A buyer who cannot find the Ashley AW1820E or prefers this look.
≈ $1299
69,000 BTU · up to 1,200 sq ft · 1.2 cu ft firebox · 18 in logs · 150 CFM blower · 31 x 44 in surround
A wood insert for a masonry fireplace with a 150 CFM blower and a large surround, with 193 ratings at 4.3 out of 5.
Best for: A homeowner turning an open masonry fireplace into a real heat source.
≈ $1377
Wood insert · non-catalytic · up to 28,901 BTU · trim kits · US maker
A small US-made insert to turn an open fireplace into a heater.
Best for: Small to medium rooms with an existing masonry fireplace
≈ $2,723
up to 41,000 BTU per hour · up to 2,800 sq ft · 47 lb hopper · up to 18 hours · shroud, ash vacuum and remote included
The insert version of the HP22 pellet stove, with a finishing shroud, an ash vacuum and a remote included.
Best for: A household that wants thermostat heat from an existing fireplace.
≈ $2499
193 ratings at 4.3 out of 5, and a 150 CFM blower.
Pellet convenience, with a shroud and ash vacuum included.
A similar stated size and a 100 CFM blower.
Most inserts should have one. Ask a CSIA-certified sweep to inspect the chimney and read the manual.
Only if the manuals of both the insert and the fireplace allow it.
A wood insert burns, but gives less heat to the room without the blower. A pellet insert stops.
An insert is a chimney project as much as an appliance. Measure the opening, have the flue inspected, and budget for the liner before you compare stoves.
There is no table here, and the reason is in the listings. The figure published most often across these 4 products is stated heating area, given by 3 of them — short of the four in five a column needs to compare rather than to display gaps. Each product page says what its own maker published.
Specifications: manufacturer sheets for wood heating equipment and the matching Amazon product pages. Prices and availability: read on Amazon.com from a New York address.
Most recent revision in this category: November 14, 2026.
The price beside each product is fetched as this page opens, and it is the only figure here that is current. Any amount written into the prose was read once, on the day that sentence was written, and nothing has refreshed it since.
