Types of Gas Fireplaces

Tired of going out into the cold to chop firewood for your fire? Would you like a new fireplace for a home that doesn't have one? Consider buying a gas fireplace--an easy, less expensive alternative to a regular fireplace. These days, gas fireplaces come in many forms.

Gas fireplaces look much like traditional wood-burning fireplaces.

Fuel Choices

Gas stoves burn either propane or natural gas. Both of these clean-burning fuels emit less pollution than wood-burning fireplaces. Gas fireplaces are also cleaner to use in your home. There is no wood to haul in from outdoors or ashes and embers to keep away from your furniture or carpet.

Free-Standing Stoves

If you are considering adding a new fireplace to your home, a freestanding gas one is an easy choice. Sometimes called gas stoves, they can be placed wherever you like--as long as you can run a gas pipe to the stove. Options include center-of-the room stoves, against-the-wall stoves, old-fashioned stove facades and sleek, modern designs.

Vented Fireplaces

Vented gas logs require a chimney or flue to keep carbon monoxide from building up in your home. If you are converting a wood-burning fireplace to a vented gas fireplace, a chimney or flue should already be in place. Always have a professional inspect your chimney and ventilation system before burning gas logs.

Ventless Fireplaces

Thanks to technology, fireplaces without vents are now available. They are a convenient add-on to a home without an existing chimney or other ventilation system. Ventless logs use a burner that produces very little carbon monoxide. Oxygen depletion sensors in the logs monitor oxygen levels in the room and turn off the fireplace if the oxygen level gets too low. While many builders and homeowners feel ventless gas fireplaces are perfectly safe, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency "does not support their use," and Alaska, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New York, Utah and Colorado prohibit their use.

Decorative Logs

Some gas fireplaces are not meant to be a significant source of heat in a home, yet they add a certain ambiance to a room. Decorative logs can be incredibly lifelike and resemble the wood in wood-burning fireplaces. Ideal for warmer areas, decorative logs create a homey feel without adding a lot of heat and making the room uncomfortable.

References

• Envirofire
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Ask the Builder

Resources

• Heat & Glo
• Magic Sweep