Idyllic as it may seem, an open fireplace is really just an exposed cavity that takes heat (and money) straight up the chimney. Instead of heating the room, an open fire consumes heat from the rest of the house.
A fireplace insert allows you to convert that wasteful masonry or metal fireplace into a super-efficient hearth system that can heat your entire home for a fraction of what you'd pay for electricity or oil. Inserts distribute heat evenly using a five-sided convection chamber.