HVAC For Beginners

Wood Fireplace Ratings

A Repairman Reviews The Brands

With our wood fireplace ratings, you can compare wood fireplace models side by side using our Head To Head tool. You can compare 39 different models from 18 brands in ten categories such as warranty, heating capacity, cost, availability, & where they are made. You can also read the individual reviews of each brand below. Our simple rating system gives each brand a color code and a star rating. If the card is green, then, that is one of the top picks from HvacRepairGuy. If the card is yellow, then, that would be a budget pick from HvacRepairgGuy. If the card is red, then, the brand is not recommended by HvacRepairGuy. With our wood fireplace reviews, you can cut through the sales hype and find value. It truly is like you were taking a repairman shopping with you! These reviews are for wood burning heating appliances that are designed to be installed in a wood framed opening and they are commonly called zero clearance wood fireplaces.

HvacRepairGuy's 2023 Top Pick

ACUCRAFT

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

This brand is made in the USA and offers custom made zero clearance fireplaces that are backed by a very good warranty. They use outdoor air for combustion which saves energy and they are clean burning with an air wash system to keep the glass clean for unobstructed views of the fire. They have dual fixed speed blowers to distribute the heat into the room and the fireplaces are available in single sided, double sided, and indoor/outdoor models. They are rather expensive but, with their customization, you can get the perfect fireplace for any room.

ASTRIA

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

This brand is made in the USA by Innovative Hearth Products and they are backed by a very good warranty but the fireplaces are only available through a very limited dealer network. The Citadel model is an open hearth fireplace and has classic masonry fireplace styling while the Craftsman model has a more modern look and feel to it. They both offer optional outside combustion air kits to save energy as well as optional fan kits to distribute the heat but their guarantee is not as good as the other models. The Montecito Estate model is a high efficiency fireplace with traditional styling and a variable speed blower. It has an 80,000 BTU heating capacity with a 70% burn efficiency and can accept logs up to 30 inches in length. The Bainbridge model has more modern styling with a 55,000 BTU heating capacity, a 72% burn efficiency, and it accepts logs up to 19 inches in length.

DON-BAR

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

These units are custom made in Canada and are available worldwide but they have a very limited dealer network. ZC Series models are available with heating capacities of up to 82,000 BTU and they can be connected to heating ducts to distribute the heat throughout the home. The door has a large window for viewing the fire with an air wash system to keep the glass clean. The door is easily removed and the fireplace can be used with a fire screen for greater ambiance but the guarantee on the fireplaces is not as good as some of the other brands.

ENERZONE

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

This brand is made in Canada by Stove Builder International and the brand is backed by a very good warranty but the fireplaces are only available through a limited dealer network in North America. The SOLUTION 2.5 ZC II model is an EPA certified unit that has self cleaning glass and heat activated twin blowers for distributing the heat throughout the room. They have an 80,000 BTU heating capacity with a 70% burn efficiency and the units are non-catalytic so they require less maintenance.

FIREPLACE XTRORIDINAIR

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

These units are made in the USA by Travis Industries but the fireplaces are only available through their limited dealer network and their warranty is not very good when compared to other brands. The Elite models are available in either 36 or 44 inch sizes and they use standard catalytic technology which provides for higher efficiencies but they also require more maintenance. They use outside air for combustion which provides energy savings and they have a 72% burn efficiency. The Apex Nexgen-Hybrid model uses hybrid catalytic technology and they offer an optional ignition system so that a fire can be built at just the push of a button. They have a 40,275 BTU heating capacity with a 77.2% burn efficiency while accepting logs up to 24 inches in length.

FLAME

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

This brand is made in Canada by Stove Builder International and the fireplaces are sold through dealers in North America. The Monaco model has a 75,000 BTU heat output with a 77% burn efficiency while the Monaco XL model has a 95,000 BTU capacity with a 69.7% efficiency. They feature large windows for viewing the fire with self cleaning glass and a standard fixed speed blower to distribute the heat into the room as well as a very good warranty.

FOCUS

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

These fireplaces are made in France by ALELIER DOMINIQUE IMBERT and are available internationally through a very limited dealer network including European Home in the USA. The Bathyscafocus models are available for indoor and outdoor installations and feature a hanging rotating design where the fireplace can be rotated 360 degrees to ensure great views of the fire. The Emifocus models are wall hung and are available in either indoor or outdoor while the Filiofocus model is a floor standing fireplace for indoor installation. The brand is rather expensive and their warranty is not very good when compared to other brands but they have very unique styling.

HEATILATOR

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

These fireplaces are made in the USA by Hearth & Home Technologies. The Pioneer III model is available with either arched or rectangular doors and they feature smart burn technology which automatically adjusts the combustion air for maximum efficiency. They have a fixed speed fan and offer an optional heat zone kit for ducting the fireplace output to other rooms but they are relatively expensive. The Icon series offers three sizes of fireplaces with traditional styling featuring a herringbone firebox interior and they are about one third the cost of the Pioneer III model.

KOZY HEAT

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is made in China by Hussong Manufacturing. They are available in North America but only through a very limited dealer network and the warranty is not as good as many brands. The units feature variable speed fans for distributing the heat in the room as well as large windows for viewing the fire with an air wash system to keep them clean. The Albany model has a more traditional look and feel to it while the Z42 model has more modern styling.

NAPOLEON

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

This brand is made in Canada by Wolf Steel Limited and is sold through dealers in North America. The High Country Series 5000 and 8000 models offer large unobstructed windows for viewing the fire with an air wash system to keep the glass clean while the 6000 model has traditional styling with arched doors. All of the units offer optional two speed blowers for distributing the heat and they are backed by a very good warranty.

OSBURN

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

These fireplaces are made in Canada by Stove Builders International and are backed by a very good warranty but they are only sold through a limited dealer network in the USA & Canada. The non-catalytic fireplaces feature large windows for viewing the fire with an air wash system to keep the glass clean. The units do not include a blower as standard equipment but they are offered as an option. The Stratford II model has an 80,000 BTU heat output with a 64% combustion efficiency while the Everest II has an 85,000 BTU heating capacity with a 72% efficiency, and the Horizon model has a 95,000 BTU capacity at a 70% burn efficiency.

PACIFIC

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is made in Canada and features non-catalytic clean burning fireplaces but they are only available through a limited dealer network. They have a variable speed blower and offer an optional duct system. The floating firebox design reduces stress on the metal while their extended burn technology (EBT) automatically adjusts secondary air to allow for more efficient burning. The Contemporary Series offers three sizes of fireplaces with modern styling and large windows for viewing the fire while the Traditional Series offers three sizes with arched doors. The guarantee on the firebox is not very good when compared to other brands.

REGENCY

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

These units are made in Canada by Fireplace Products International and they are backed by a very good warranty but they are only sold through a limited dealer network. The Alterra CF780 fireplace features a clean edge finish for larger views of the fire and they have an integrated safety screen and a guillotine style door which conveniently slides up out of the way for enhanced ambiance. The units use outside air for combustion when the door is closed which is more efficient but they do not have a blower for distributing the heat into the room.

RENAISSANCE

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is made in Canada by ICC Chimney and sold through authorized dealers throughout North America. The fireplaces feature large windows for viewing the fire as well as a guillotine door for operation with the door open. The units use outdoor air for combustion which saves on energy but the warranty on the firebox is not as good as many other brands. The Uptown 600 model features modern styling with a duct system to distribute the heat while the award winning Rumsford 1000 has more traditional styling.

RSF

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

These fireplaces are made in Canada by ICC Chimney and is sold through authorized dealers throughout North America. The fireplaces feature large windows for viewing the fire and use outdoor air for combustion which saves on energy but the warranty on the firebox is not as good as many other brands. The Focus 3600 model features modern styling, a 50,000 BTU heating capacity and a 74% efficiency while the Opel 2 Plus model has traditional styling, a 70,000 BTU heating capacity, and a 70% burn efficiency. The Opel 2 Plus model is a catalytic unit which requires more maintenance than non-catalytic fireplaces.

SUPERIOR

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

These units are made in Canada by Innovative Hearth Products and they are sold through a limited dealer network in North America but their warranty is not very good when compared to other brands. The fireplaces use variable combustion air control and outside air for combustion for more efficient burning. They have large windows for viewing the fire with an air wash system to keep the glass clean. The WRT3920 model has a modern look and feel to it as well as a fixed speed blower to distribute the heat into the room while the WCT4920 model has a variable speed blower motor. The WCT 6920 model has more traditional styling with arched doors and the units have a 55,000 BTU heating capacity.

SUPREME

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

These fireplaces are made in Canada and are sold throughout North America but only through their limited dealer network. The Astra models are available in three sizes as well as with either modern or traditional styling. The units feature automatic combustion air control which varies the amount of air for the fire to burn based on the burn rate that is set. They have large windows for viewing the fire as well as dual variable speed blowers to distribute the heat into the room. The units have a durable stainless steel firebox that is lined with stamped decorative cast iron panels but the guarantee on the units is not very good when compared to other brands.

VALCOURT

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

This brand is made in Canada by Stove Builder International and the fireplaces are backed by a very good warranty but they are only sold through a very limited dealer network in North America. They offer customization and the units are available with large rectangular windows for viewing the fire as well as arched doors. They do not include a blower to distribute the heat as standard equipment but they are offered as an add-on option. The Lafayette models have an 80,000 BTU heating capacity with a 70% overall efficiency while the Waterloo models have a 95,000 BTU capacity.

WILKENING

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This brand is made in the USA and is sold through a very limited dealer network but their guarantee is not very good when compared to other brands. The GranView Zero Clearance model uses outdoor air for combustion and has a refractory lined firebox which captures heat that would normally be lost up the chimney and radiates it back into the room which allows it to achieve a 72% overall burn efficiency. They offer either arched or rectangular door styles to match the home's decor but the fireplaces do not include a blower as standard equipment although they are offered as an option.

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