A modern gas fireplace offers many conveniences and benefits that have made it a favorite amenity in recent decades. The following are five of the top reasons you may want to have one or more gas fireplaces installed in your home.
No Chimney Required
Whether you have a chimney or not, a gas-fueled fireplace can be installed in your home. Gas fireplaces have direct-vent technology, which involves a single pipe unit being run outdoors through the side of your home. Ventless gas fireplaces are also available, and they don’t require external venting of any kind. These kind of fireplaces are sold in the United States, but not approved in Canada. Furthermore, know that a masonry wood-burning fireplace can be easily converted to a gas fireplace insert, with a professional installation.
Reduce Fuel Consumption
A central heating unit heats your entire home, including rooms that are unoccupied throughout the day or night. With gas fireplaces, you can use zone heating, which means you can heat rooms only when occupied. With zone heating, you cut down on overall fuel consumption. Studies show that you could have an energy savings of 20% to 40% by turning off the central heating system and heating in rooms with gas fireplaces only as needed. If you are environmentally conscious, you can especially appreciate the efficiency of gas fireplaces.
Impressive Styles
Gas fireplaces are available in styles that literally amaze, from rustic to elegant. Just as traditional fireplaces have always been a centerpiece of the home, gas fireplaces add a lot to a home’s character and décor. Many styles are considered to be as much a piece of art as a practical appliance. You can choose realistic gas logs or more modern versions of a gas fireplace that use, for instance, fireglass bases; and the appliances can be installed virtually anywhere within a wall.
Convenient
Many of the people who have chosen gas fireplaces over the years are happy to avoid the hassles involved with chopping, storing, and hauling firewood. Without sacrificing the pleasure of a cozy fire, you can forego burning natural logs. Gas appliances provide warm, glowing fires and can be started in a variety of convenient ways, including via thermostat settings and remote controls.
Consistent Heat
Wood-fueled traditional masonry fireplaces can be undeniably beautiful, but that doesn’t change the fact that they are highly inefficient, especially as compared with modern appliances such as gas fireplaces. Instead of perhaps struggling to get your fireplace started or adding logs only to find that the hot flames don’t do enough to provide needed warmth in your home, you can use convenient, thermostatically controlled gas fireplaces. These appliances make it possible to set the intensity of the embers and the height of the flames. With the touch of a button, you can control the ambiance and warmth provided by your gas fireplace.
