Gas fireplaces are in demand thanks to their affordability and convenience. According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbeque Association (HPBA), more than 2 million gas hearth products were sold last year, a glowing testament to their benefits.
Gas Fireplace Efficiency The name of the game in gas fireplaces is efficiency, and that’s one reason gas fireplaces are so popular. “The high cost of energy is making consumers rethink how they heat their home,” says Carter Keithley, president and CEO of HPBA. “Using supplemental hearth appliances … allows families to turn down the central furnace thermostat.”
To get the most heat from a gas fireplace, do your homework. Each gas fireplace’s heat output is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units), which measure how much heat it takes to warm your space—the general equation being 10,000 BTUs to every 350 sq. ft. A gas fireplace should have a BTU output rating listed as well as an Annual Flue Utilization Efficiency rating. Look for a BTU output rating that fits your room, a higher AFUE rating to fit your energy bill, a great surround that fits your style, and Brick-Anew’s fireplace screens, fireplace mantels and fireplace tools to help fit your new gas fireplace into your room’s décor.
Although there are features inherent to most gas fireplaces like a variety of decorative surrounds in free-standing, zero-clearance or corner models, there are other features exclusive to each of the three primary types of gas fireplaces on the market today.
Direct-Vent Gas Fireplaces Sealed, direct-vent gas fireplaces are popular because of their consistent heat levels and their safety—they don’t release toxic combustion by-products into your home’s interior air. Direct-vent gas fireplaces instead pull combustible air from outside and then through a vent in the top or back of the unit. The exhaust fumes are pulled back outside via a vent in an outside wall or via the chimney. These gas fireplaces boast another advantage—you can heat other rooms by installing a duct kit to vent the warmed air to other areas of your house, and no existing fireplace is required.
Ventless or Vent-free Gas Fireplaces Vent-free or ventless gas fireplaces are the most economic choice. They cost less than direct-vent fireplaces, are easier to install and you also don’t need an existing fireplace. Because they use the home’s interior air for combustion, and then pump that air back into the room, they’re more efficient. But vent-free gas fireplaces also don’t pull fumes away from the interior air. It’s important to note that for that reason, ventless gas fireplaces are illegal in some states. Most vent-free gas fireplaces come equipped with sensors to detect carbon monoxide and oxygen levels, however, and some experts say the newer ventless gas fireplaces are safe.
Gas Fireplace Inserts If you already have a wood-burning fireplace but want energy-saving warmth, a gas fireplace insert can be installed into your existing fireplace’s firebox. A gas fireplace insert is usually a set of ceramic gas logs with a burner underneath and a glass outer screen. It’s fueled by access to the home’s natural gas line or via a hook-up to an outside tank and can be ventless, direct-vent or the older, less-efficient B-vent, which means combustible air is drawn from the home’s interior and vented through the chimney.
After installing your insert, complete your updated look by using Brick-Anew’s patent-pending fireplace brick paint on your existing masonry. Then, pull it all together with a new fireplace mantel, fireplace screen or a gleaming set of fireplace tools to create finish off your room’s heartwarming new focal point.
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Article Added on Saturday, October 28, 2006
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