By installing a wood-burning insert in your fireplace, you are choosing performance, style and sustainability. Details, key benefits and advice: the experts at the Seguin Group explain everything you need to know about this appliance, which is appealing to more and more households across France.
You’ve heard about them, you’ve seen them, and thought they looked appealing. But what exactly is a wood-burning insert? How does it work? Can it be installed anywhere? And above all: how do you choose the right one? The professionals from the Seguin network have the answers.
Wood-burning insert: what exactly is it?
A wood-burning insert is the perfect blend of tradition and technology. It combines the elegance of a traditional fireplace with the efficiency of a modern heating appliance.
In practical terms, it is a closed wood-burning firebox installed within an existing fireplace. It transforms an open (and inefficient) fireplace into a highly efficient heating system. The insert can also be built into a custom-made surround to suit your interior perfectly.
Unlike a traditional fireplace, an insert is fitted with a glass door and a closed firebox. The result: heat is better retained, more evenly distributed, and overall performance is significantly improved. Take, for example, the INSERT 650 offered by Seguin: a stylish, elegant appliance that is easy to install and highly efficient. Perfect? It certainly seems so!
Seguin INSERT 650 fireplace insert
Why choose a wood-burning insert?
Performance, style, safety… a wood-burning insert offers many advantages. First of all, it delivers excellent efficiency: up to 75%, compared with just 10 to 15% for an open fireplace. This significantly reduces your wood consumption while maintaining a steady and comfortable heat. The result: noticeable savings on your energy bills.
The insert is also a decorative asset. Thanks to its large glass panel, it allows you to enjoy the beauty of the flames while creating a warm atmosphere. Some models, such as the OGAR by Seguin, feature a vertical opening that enhances the spectacle of the fire even further. Here, the insert becomes a design feature in its own right.
Finally, it is an environmentally responsible choice. Thanks to optimised combustion, the insert emits very few fine particles and polluting gases. Most current models comply with the European EcoDesign 2022 standard, ensuring high efficiency, low emissions and sustainable design. Wood-burning then becomes a responsible pleasure.
How to choose the right wood-burning insert?
Are you convinced? All that’s left is to choose the right model. Here are the Seguin experts’ tips for making an informed choice. Start by defining the area you want to heat. This will help you match the power of your insert to your actual needs. An undersized appliance will not provide sufficient heat, while an overly powerful model will consume too much wood and create uncomfortable heat, without delivering the expected savings.
If you are installing the insert in an existing fireplace, carefully determine the dimensions (height, width, depth) to ensure a seamless fit. A proper fit is essential, both for aesthetics and performance.
When it comes to style, let your preferences guide you! Discreet, modern, industrial or classic… an insert can suit any interior. It can also become a central feature of your décor, as with a double-sided insert, such as the INSERT 1000, which allows you to enjoy the fire from two rooms at once. It is ideal, for example, for separating a living room from a dining area.
Finally, pay attention to labels and certifications. A Flamme Verte–certified insert guarantees a clean and high-performing wood-burning appliance. To receive this label, the appliance must meet strict criteria, such as high energy efficiency (above 70%), low emissions of fine particles, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, and compliance with European environmental standards. It is also worth noting that a Flamme Verte–certified appliance may be eligible for financial support, such as the Eco-PTZ or reduced VAT at 5.5%. The EcoDesign 2022 certification, meanwhile, is now mandatory for all new appliances: it requires a minimum efficiency of 75% and strict standards in terms of emissions and sustainable design.
Last but not least: to ensure a safe installation that complies with regulations, call on an RGE (Recognised Guarantor of the Environment) professional. This guarantees a properly installed, high-performing appliance that is eligible for financial support. The experts from the Seguin network are on hand to support you throughout your wood-burning insert installation project in your home.