A variety of possible installation methods and ease of use are two factors leading to the increased popularity of gas fireplaces. Improvement in the appearance of the logs and flames has also played a part in the trend toward gas fireplaces. They also burn cleanly and allow for controlled heating of specific rooms.

Unlike masonry fireplaces, gas fireplaces can be installed in a number of different configurations. The standard gas fireplace is vented just like a bricks and mortar wood burning fireplace. However, gas fireplaces can also be installed with a direct vent system. A direct vent gas fireplace makes it possible to have a fireplace in a home without the need for a chimney. Gas fireplaces designed for direct venting are constructed with a metal firebox which allows them to release their exhaust through a wall vent rather than a chimney. Such units make it possible to have gas fireplaces in homes which previously were not suitable for any kind of fireplace.

Gas fireplaces have always had the advantage of not having to haul and store firewood. Options available on newly improved models have also made the starting mechanisms on gas fireplaces more dependable and easier to ignite. Many styles now come with thermostats as well which allow a homeowner to control individual room temperatures. By using a gas fireplace to heat a specific area and turning down the overall furnace, a homeowner may be able to significantly reduce his/her home heating bill.

All gas fireplaces are kinder to the environment than their wood burning counterparts. They produce less air pollution of all sorts and their exhaust is not as dense as the smoke produced by wood. A well vented, well maintained and well operated gas fireplace is also more energy efficient than a similar model that consumes wood.

In the past some thought that gas fireplaces did not have the same visual appeal and ambience as a wood burning fireplace. In recent years there have been significant improvements in these areas. The logs and flames in gas fireplaces have taken on a truly realistic cast even to the point of having embers. For those who crave the various scents emanating from a wood fire there are a wide variety of sprinkle on powders which produce appealing fragrances.

All in all, when considering fireplace options, many homeowners will find that gas fireplaces make the most sense. They can be integrated into a wider variety of home construction than fireplaces requiring chimneys. Gas fireplaces are also easier to operate and maintain. In addition, they produce fewer pollutants and in many cases are generate more heat. Finally, manufacturers of gas furnaces have answered previous complaints about the appearance of their products with a new generation of aesthetically pleasing products.

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.

It is more convenient than a wood burning fireplace and provides fuel and cost efficiencies far beyond those of a traditional unit. The variety of ways in which a propane fireplace can be vented also make it suitable for homes which cannot accommodate a chimney.

Wood burning fireplaces require buying, hauling and carting massive quantities of wood over the course of a fire burning season. The fuel for propane fireplaces is delivered to the site by professionals. In addition, conventional fireplaces require kindling and other fire starters; even with these materials, starting a wood fire can be a time consuming and dirty process. A propane fireplace can be started with the flick of a switch.

While burning a standard fireplace produces smoke and ash. A propane fireplace burns cleaner both in the home and for the environment. Fires burned in wood burning fireplaces are difficult to extinguish and may not be fully out when a person is ready to leave the room. They also require clean up which can be both messy and unsafe. The fire in a propane fireplace goes out as soon as the fuel supply is turned off. The gas logs require no post fire cleaning. Long term maintenance of a propane fireplace is also less burdensome than that of a wood burning fireplace.

A wood burning fireplace necessitates a chimney. Propane fireplaces can use chimneys for their exhausts but they can also be direct vented. Direct venting allows a propane fireplace to be installed in virtually any type of construction. Use of a gas insert propane fireplace even allows for vent free set up.

Much of the heat from a wood burning fireplace is dissipated up the chimney. In fact, a conventional fireplace is a notoriously ineffective method of warming a home. Propane fireplaces are can be up to 99% heat efficient. A large top of the line propane fireplace generates up to 40,000 BTU. Properly operated and maintained a propane fireplace of this side can heat an entire home. In addition, the cost of propane versus wood as a fuel is considerably less.

Thus, any homeowner would be wise to consider installing a propane fireplace in his/her home over one which consumes wood. Propane fireplaces consume less fuel and burn more cleanly than their wood counterparts. The initial installation of a propane fireplace is easier as are ongoing cleaning and maintenance. Finally, a home can be more efficiently and more cheaply heated by a propane fireplace when compared to a wood burning fireplace.

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.

A conventional wood burning fireplace is one of the least effective and costliest ways to warm a room. More heat escapes up the chimney than is released into the house. Purchasing a gas insert can increase fireplace effectiveness by as much as ninety percent.

Many people will not consider a gas insert because they fear losing the ambience provided by a wood burning fireplace. They may remember the fake look gas logs had in years gone past. The old fashioned cheap look of gas inserts has long since been replaced by logs that closely emulate the look and even sound of a true wood fire. The flames flicker, the logs crackle and the embers glow. Some gas inserts even provide a fire’s scent. In addition, many gas inserts provide the convenience of remote control and the savings of thermostat control. A well installed and maintained gas insert can comfortably heat a room for cents per hour. A homeowner may be able to further reduce his/her heating bill by turning down the home’s main furnace while the gas insert is in use.

Gas inserts come in a wide variety of styles which can be adapted for use with the vast majority of traditional fireplaces. Utilizing steel firebox design a gas insert effectively closes off the fireplace opening. Most gas inserts also have glass doors which act to seal off possible heat loss. The heat thus circulates back into the room rather than being lost up the flue. Many gas inserts also make use of blowers which further enhance their heating efficiency. Some gas insert models fit flush with the fireplace face; others jut out onto the hearth giving a stove like appearance. Protruding gas inserts provide yet another increase in actual room temperature.

Gas inserts can be vented in a variety of ways which adds to their adaptability. However, all inserts must have a connection between the unit and the chimney flue. Direct vent gas inserts with glass doors provide optimum warmth and savings. Natural vent models with and without glass doors offer less energy efficiency although both are a significant improvement in all ways over standard fireplaces. The initial price of a gas insert with installation will run from $1,200 to $2,000 and above. Over the life of the unit this cost should easily be recouped.

A homeowner currently augmenting his/her home heating with a wood burning fireplace might be well advised to consider a gas insert. The realistic appearance, increased room heat and decreased cost generated by a gas insert will quickly defray the cost of its purchase and installation.