Real flames and easy set up are not the only benefits of a gel flame fireplace. It also scores high environmentally. Heat efficiency is another hallmark of the gel flame fireplace. To top it all off, a gel flame fireplace compares favorably in cost to electric fireplaces and generally costs much less than gas and wood burning fireplaces. Prices start as low as $400 and move upward to $1,500 or so. When coupled with the fact that a gel flame fireplace requires no professional installation or structure modification, these costs make for an appealing package.

The basis for a gel flame fireplace is a ceramic log placed in a steel support. This log assembly is then placed inside a flameproof firebox which in turn can be housed in a wide variety of beautiful fireplace designs. The fire in a gel flame fireplace is fueled by an alcohol based gel delivered in canisters. When the canisters are placed behind the ceramic log and lit, a clean, bright, popping flame appears.

Gel flame fireplaces do not have vents or chimneys. The heat of the flames is therefore entirely directed toward the room in which the gel flame fireplace sits. As a result, a gel flame fireplace achieves maximum heat efficiency unlike standard fireplaces in which much of the warmth flees up through the flue. Gel canisters burn for two and a half to three hours at an average cost of less than five dollars per container. For a truly hot fire up to three canisters at a time can be burned.

The housings in which the gel flame fireplace fireboxes are placed come in a wide variety of models. Corner units and gel flame fireplaces which duplicate traditional fireplace mantles are the most popular. Gel flame fireplaces which incorporate bookcases are another distinctive style as are brands emulating wood burning stoves. Accessories such as screens and curtains, hearth tools and candle stands are also available.

All in all, a gel flame fireplace represents an inviting middle ground between the synthetic fire of an electric fireplace and the costly, high maintenance fire of a gas or wood burning fireplace. While this novel take on the fireplace will never replace the more conventional hearth, it certainly can be an interesting alternative for some homeowners.

People have fireplaces for two primary purposes: Heat and enjoyment. However, a fireplace is actually a poor and expensive source of warmth. Fireplace inserts heat a room, even a house, much more effectively and much more economically. Some families, though, hold onto their fireplaces even in the face of low efficiency and high cost because of the atmosphere which a fireplace provides to a home. Fireplace inserts can supply the same ambiance as a fireplace with the added benefits of controllable heat and lower cost.

Fireplace inserts slide into the existing fireplace. The amount of modification required to the current structure depends upon the type of insert selected. Most fireplace inserts use gas, wood or wood pellets as their fuel. They may be vented or non-vented. In recent years, however, laws have mandated that all fireplace inserts which make actual use of the fireplace chimney are connected to the bottom of the flue. Once inserted, the unit will fill the entire opening of the original fireplace. Some fireplace inserts are designed to extend out onto the hearth. Glass doors on the fireplace insert allow for continued enjoyment of the flickering flames. Blowers in some models further enhance the heating capacity of fireplace inserts.

For those who have altogether tired of the work and expense of an open hearth, electric fireplace inserts are available. These self contained models provide thermostat controlled heat as well as realistic logs and flames. Because electric fireplace inserts require no vent and plug into standard electrical outlets they are oftentimes much less expensive to install than gas or wood fireplace inserts. Many are also equipped to provide a flame effect without heat for those nights when a fire is desired but the weather really doesn’t call for one.

Fireplace inserts can be excellent investments for those who wish to upgrade their current chimneys. They are cleaner, more easily maintained and cost less over the life of the home. Prudent people who own homes with fireplaces might consider making the smart jump to fireplace inserts.

Before the start of another cold season it might be wise to consider replacing that drafty, dirty, money sucking fireplace with an efficient, less polluting, cost effective fireplace insert. Most families use their fireplaces for warmth and a homey environment. A fireplace insert provides more heat at less cost as well as the appeal of a bustling fire.

A fireplace insert fits into the mouth of the current fireplace. It will be constructed of cast iron or steel. If the fireplace insert sits flush in the fireplace opening then the open space will be sealed off with a face plate. A fireplace insert can also hang out over the fireplace itself onto the actual hearth. This type of insert resembles a wood burning stove. Most varieties have glass doors which allow the homeowner to see the fire just as it would be in a fireplace.

Gas, wood or wood pellets supply the fireplace insert with fuel. Modifications to the current fireplace chimney will have to be made to comply with fire codes. Initially the exhaust from a fireplace insert was just dumped into the pre-existing chimney; since the nineties though safety standards have required that there be a connection between the fireplace insert and the chimney flue. The extent of the chimney alterations will depend upon the type of fireplace insert selected. Some fireplace inserts are vented, some are not. There are also units that operate with the flue closed and those which require that the flue be open.

Buying and installing a fireplace insert will run in the range of $1,200 to $3,000. The savings to a home’s utility bills will allow this sum to be easily recouped over the life of the insert. Those who want similar benefits at a lower price might consider an electric fireplace insert. Choosing either the more costly fireplace insert or a more economical electric fireplace insert will generate more heat and lower cost while still creating a welcoming ambiance.

Electric units are the perfect fake fireplaces for those who want the pleasure and benefits of a fire with very few of the burdens. Fake fireplaces fueled by electricity are portable and require no venting of any kind. Just buy it and take it home. Once an electric fake fireplace has been taken out of the box it plugs into the nearest wall outlet. Many options are available on this type of fake fireplace. Some have remote controls and thermostats. There are even fake fireplaces that allow for heat without flame and flame without heat. This feature works nicely for those warm summer nights when you want a fire but the temperature is eighty degrees.

Gel flame fake fireplaces are geared more toward those who want a fireplace but whose homes don’t allow for one. A gel flame fake fireplace uses ceramic logs placed inside a steel firebox. Alcohol in gel form stored in canisters serves as the fuel. This fake fireplace is self contained and requires no chimney or vent. It functions very much like an oven or stove. Clean up and maintenance consist mainly of throwing away the used gel canisters and wiping down the firebox.

Neither of these fake fireplaces produces much heat. The electric fake fireplace puts out warmth roughly equivalent to a strong space heater. A gel flame fake fireplace throws off more energy, from 3,000 to 5,000 BTU. However, the length of the fire is limited by fuel capacity and safety factors to about two and a half or three hours. Still, both fake fireplaces provide a pleasant “fire” complete with flames, embers, crackles and pops. They also cost significantly less than constructing a conventional fireplace. The least expensive models of both styles of fake fireplaces start around $400. Upscale fake fireplaces top out at about $1,200.

Ownership is another way in which fake fireplaces differ from fireplaces which are built into a house. A fake fireplace belongs to the person; it is not a part of the home. When the person moves, the fake fireplace can move right along with him/her.

So, for those who hunger for the warmth and flames of a fireplace but for some reason can’t have one, a fake fireplace may be the answer. It provides heat and fire with little of the burden associated with a traditional fireplace. In addition a fake fireplace is portable, relatively inexpensive and can travel with its owner.