Gas fires are becoming more common among homeowners, business owners, and even within the hospitality industry in hotels and inns. Because of their compact size and newest technologies gas fireplaces can even be installed in apartments and condos. If you’re looking to add a gas fire appliance to your home, you’re in luck. There are so many types and models that there is one to match your needs exactly—nevermind the wide variety of styles to match your wants.
Gas Fire Appliances
Gas fire appliances are more popular than ever for a variety of reasons. Gas is the cleanest burning fuel type which makes it eco-friendly due to the minimal emissions created by its burn. Gas appliances are also easy to install because they are factory-made and need only a gas connection. The best praises for gas fires, however, have to do with convenience. No wood to cut, split, store, and carry. You don’t have to build a fire or light a match because most gas fireplaces, stoves, and log sets have a pilot light and an instant ignition. Gas fires are exceptionally convenient and user-friendly with precise temperature control and even remote control and smart features. When it comes to low-maintenance and cost-versus-benefits, the gas fire wins every time. The decision to go with gas is a no-brainer. The only problem with a gas fire appliance is figuring out where to install it! They can literally go anywhere. Speak with a professional at Mr. Smokestack Chimney Service, and we can help you determine where is best to install yours.
Popular Installations for the Gas Fireplace
You might have already made the choice for gas, but you also have to decide what type of fireplace to install in your home. It’s not a decision to take lightly because the type of appliance you choose will determine where it can be placed and how difficult. Once you decide on the type of appliance you want, you have to find a place to put it. With professional installation and care, your appliance can be placed virtually anywhere, but choosing wisely will add value to your home, enhance your home’s aesthetics, and make the best use of the fire as a supplementary heat source.
Free-Standing Stoves
A free-standing stove will look great anywhere, but they are most often used in corners. In a large room, a corner stove can help heat an open space and break up the monotony of large unicolor schemes. A professional can install a gas stove with a flue or help you find a model with a hidden flue that vents through walls or floors. The newest gas stoves are more realistic than ever with removable and rearrangeable ceramic logs and up to 360-degree fire-viewing windows.
Gas Log Sets
Sometimes the most popular place to put a gas fireplace is where one already existed. Many homeowners choose to convert a traditional wood-burning fireplace to a gas fireplace with the installation of gas logs. Depending on the model there may be vented or vent-free, allowing for the existing chimney to be bypassed altogether. It’s important to keep in mind that gas logs should be purchased from a licensed retailer and installed according to manufacturer guidelines. A vented gas log set should be well-ventilated by a flue and used with the damper open only.
Gas Fireplace Inserts
Like gas logs, an insert is factory-built and retro-fitted directly into an existing fireplace. Unlike gas logs, however, an insert is a closed unit, much like a stove. Compared to an open fireplace of wood or gas, a gas insert is a heat machine. They draw air from the house and then vent the fire up the chimney. During a professional installation, the flue is piped up the existing chimney which cuts costs and resizes the flue for the new unit.
Direct-Vent Inserts
Unlike a standard fireplace insert, a direct-vent insert is a closed unit that can be installed anywhere in the home where there is an exterior wall. Direct-vent inserts come in a variety of sizes and styles so they are popular for bathrooms, bedrooms, living rooms, and even kitchens. They require no flue pipe and don’t even disturb the air in the home because they draw air in and vent air out an opening in the wall.
There are many benefits to choosing a gas fireplace, but like any major purchase, the value is only as good as the installation. Your new unit will cost you in the long run if it’s not from a top brand and made of quality materials if it’s installed improperly, and it’s not used properly or serviced regularly. A lot can go wrong with gas appliances if they aren’t properly installed or cared for.
Ensure your home is safe while it’s also warm this winter. Put your trust in the professionals at Mr. Smokestack Chimney Service. Call us 919-747-1859 or request an appointment online today.
