FireplaceGuide.com How to choose a gas fireplace, wood stove, or pellet stove
Home Contact Us Interesting Links Disclaimer		FireplaceGuide.com » Gas Fireplaces Gas Fireplaces vs. Wood Stoves When they want to use the fireplace as a source of heat, many homeowners opt to use gas fireplaces over those that burn wood or use electricity. The reason for this is that the gas fireplaces are cleaner, safer and easier to use than the other kinds. If you already have a fireplace, you don't have to do extensive renovations by tearing out the fireplace and installing a new one. All you need to do is purchase a gas fireplace insert. The insert you buy can transform your wood burning fireplace to one that burns gas. When you have a gas fireplace you only have to flick the switch to get it started and you can easily control the temperature with the controls that are included. The gas is connected through a line to the tank outside and the fumes vent through a special chimney. There are many models of gas fireplaces for you to choose from. The look of the exterior can be an accent to any room of your home and provide the much needed heat. You can have the fireplaces done with brick or tile in any color you want to provide the look and feel of an old fashioned fireplace. You can also have wooden exteriors with gorgeously routed mantels where you can proudly display your collectibles or the pictures of your family. Some of the types of wood used for these fireplaces include cherry, oak and pine. Beyond that there are many stain variations which can be specified which will give your mantel an even more distinctive look. With gas fireplaces you do not lose any of the heat. This is a common problem with wood-burning fireplaces because the heat escapes up the chimney. The gas fireplace is extremely fuel efficient and are not expensive to purchase. If, on the other hand, you want a gas fireplace that is purely for decoration, then you can also buy inserts in which the grille is hidden or decorated in some way. There are corner gas fireplaces that sit unobtrusively in the corner of the room. These fireplaces give you more room along the walls for other furniture and like other models they come in natural vent, direct vent or vent free models. The vent free models can be installed anywhere you want in a room because they do not need to be connected to a chimney. However, you do have to careful when you purchase this kind of fireplace because the fire codes of some cities do not allow then to be used. If a fire does occur as a result of the ventless fireplace, your homeowners insurance might not cover the damages if it is not permitted by local building or fire codes. Back to top
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