You may be looking to add a more relaxed ambiance to your home or improve its heat efficiency. If so, a gas fireplace may be an excellent choice for you. When you’re in the market for these, there are various things to consider, such as the vent type, installation, efficiency, design, style, fuel type, maintenance, permits, and local codes required by your state.
The gas fireplace will have the appearance of a wood-burning inside it without the need to do all the work involved in a bonfire. There’s no need to stack up on firewood, cut, split, and haul fuel outdoors. You won’t also need to clean the ash when you no longer need the fire. Another advantage of these additions is that you won’t need a lot of places before you can install them. They can fit smaller homes and tight apartments at a fraction of the cost.
You can have various types to choose from. Each of them has specific requirements and installation needs. Before you decide which one is best for you, you may need to find out the approved applications and local building permits required in your area. Not all types that you can find on gas fireplaces online can be installed in your area. This is when you may want to consult a local plumbing or HVAC specialist to recommend which ones are the best for your needs.
The direct vent types use a direct chimney consisting of a larger pipe and a smaller one. The combustion air is often drawn to the outer ones while the smaller acts as an exhaust. This is an appliance that has a completely sealed glass so the leaks can be prevented. The air inside the home is not allowed to get into the hearth and is used for combustion. Direct venting can be vented out vertically through the roof and the ceiling or through the wall in a horizontal way.
The outdoor combustion air is drawn into a firebox with the help of a pipe, and another line serves as an exhaust of the combustion products located outside of the house. Since many are well-sealed, you wouldn’t need to worry about the cold air finding its way inside your home or the hot air leaking outside.
There’s also the power venting that may utilize an electric fan to help with the overall process. This is an option for you if the ideal room location where you’re going to install the fireplace is not available for conventional flues. Read more about flues on this page. They can be vertical or horizontal power-vented units.
About the Efficiency Rating
If you want to know the efficiency rating of a gas fireplace, it’s best to test it with specific methods or ask an expert. There are standards of measurements used for various fireplaces so that one can know more about their efficiencies. Most of these tests may result in about 30% efficiency, while others discover that their flues are about 70% efficient compared to others.
You can check the ratings of the energy guide on each product and see what they really mean online. This is often expressed as a percentage where the higher the number of the energy efficiency rating, the more savings you’ll get every month.
Visit the local experts if you want to know more about the best types for your climate or region. Professional installations may also be required so you can keep the warranty. Before you know it, you don’t mind a wintry night, and you may find yourself sitting back and relaxing inside and sipping coffee as well.
Advantages to Consider
The gas flues are more effective than their counterparts. They have distinct advantages, and many homeowners now realize them. This is why they are so popular and appealing in many homes. Some of the benefits to consider are the following:
You just need proper vents, and there’s no need to add a chimney in your living room. Most of these fireplaces are constructed in wood frames that are designed with your utmost safety in mind. You can also burn cleaner flames, and there’s no need to worry about combustion gases. Get more reading about these gases in this link here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/combustion-gas.
They are pretty convenient because you just need to push buttons or pull a switch if you’re going to sleep. You don’t need to tend to the fire, clean the ashes, or chop some wood, and no cleaning is involved when it comes to bark, wood chips, and soot.
There’s no need to lose heat through the chimney because you don’t need to install one in the first place. In fact, you can still use about 70 to 98% of the energy as a heat source. This way, you can save more on electricity and have a more comfortable home. There are also various designs to choose from where companies may feature ceramic stones, glass, and coal to suit any home décor you may have.
