Gas Fireplace Tips

Expert Advice, Articles and Tips About Purchasing a Gas Fireplace

Installing a gas fireplace is a great way to increase your heating efficiency and enhance your home without having to remodel a room. A new fireplace used to mean a masonry chimney rising feet above the nearest roof. But not today. Many fireplaces install with a simple cut in the exterior wall for venting.

Modern gas fireplaces are easy additions to most remodeling projects. Using only a fraction of the floor space need by a traditional fireplace, their efficiency and heat output can rival a traditional furnace.

Types of Gas Fireplaces

You have three options to consider when installing a gas fireplace. Which option your choose depends on your space and existing home. Many, if not most, gas fireplace models can be converted to use propane, and many wood burning models have gas jets added for heat-boosting potential on extra chilly days.

Gas Fireplace Inserts

Inserts are intended to fit in an existing wood burning fireplace and be vented through an existing chimney via a special vent pipe that carries the fumes to the outside. Inserts are made up of of a metal firebox that contains the decorative logs and gas jets. Outside air vents may need to be installed.

Vent-Free Gas Fireplaces

Vent-free gas fireplaces are designed to operate without venting to the outside. They are usually installed against a wall with access to a gas line, or may even be fitted into a recess. These types of fireplaces draw room air for combustion and convert it to warm air that is delivered to the room. Since there are no drafts, these models are considered highly efficient, burning at an efficiency rate of more than 90 percent.

Direct Vent Gas Fireplaces

Direct vent fireplaces do not require masonry chimney on the home's exterior. They are vented through an exterior wall.

Charm and Comfort

Most gas fireplaces are paired with automatic controls that make enjoying a dancing flame as easy as a flick of the switch. Remotes allow homeowners to control the heat. Some even offer automatic shutoffs. One key feature is the electricity-free ignition offered by some manufacturers. With this you need never worry about heat in times of power outages. More than a selling feature, electricity-free ignition ensures heat throughout the winter season, no matter what storms or winds may blow.

Armed with this knowledge, homeowners can shop for the right gas fireplace in terms of capacity and aesthetics.