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Natural Gas Fireplaces

There is nothing more romantic…or so homey… as a blazing fire in the fireplace. Instantly a natural gas fireplace gives you coziness, warmth, comfort and convenience.

Comfort …and Style

Natural gas fireplaces used to look like…well, gas fireplaces! Today they look just like their wood-burning counterparts-realistic and beautiful. All without the hassle of wood! No danger of sparks, no creosote buildup, no ashes or annoying wood smoke. Natural gas fireplaces are so clean they can even be used during regional burn bans and can also operate during power outages.

Consider the following fireplace styles:

• FIREPLACE INSERTS are installed in an existing fireplace displaying realistic and robust flames with some having operable bi-fold doors. They come in a wide array of styles and sizes. Fireplace inserts use the existing chimney to vent and need a flue liner kit installed in the chimney.
• NATURAL GAS FIREPLACES do not require an existing fireplace. They are complete units that include their own venting systems. Styles include through-the-wall and 3-sided room divider fireplace models. Fireplaces add a special touch to living and sleeping areas. Their tremendous installation flexibility makes them ideal for homeowners who are remodeling. They may be the perfect choice for a room addition or a cool area of your home.
• FREE-STANDING GAS STOVES are the preferred alternative for homeowners looking to replace a wood-burning stove. They’re attractive, convenient and can provide beautiful aesthetic value as well as an excellent source of heat.
• NATURAL GAS LOGS offer the beauty of an open wood fire with the convenience and cleanliness of natural gas. Log sets range in styles and sizes to fit almost any fireplace. Gas logs are installed in an existing wood-burning fireplace and use the chimney to vent the by-products of combustion. As with wood fires, most of the heat is lost up the flue. A glass fireplace door is a must to eliminate a constant draft up the chimney.

Adjustable Heating Output

Most fireplace styles (inserts, fireplaces and stoves) offer an adjustable low-tohigh heating output with a variable valve to alter the height and size of the flame and the amount of heat produced.

Do You Want Aesthetic Beauty or Efficient Heat Too?

Fireplaces are classified as “heater rated” space heaters or decorative appliances and you need to decide what you want. Decorative fireplaces can provide some supplemental heat but not as efficiently as units rated as space heaters. The best way to compare is to look at their Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating. AFUE’s for hearth products can range from 70-80%.

What About Options?

Most fireplace models have a wide array of accessories, such as thermostats, remote controls (with thermostats built in), decorative surrounds, mantels and blowers to circulate heat into the room. Ask your contractor for ideas and options.

PROPER VENTING IS CRITICAL

Hearth products should be vented to the outdoors. Fireplaces have two types of venting options.

• A conventional vent system exhausts vertically to the outside through a metal vent pipe and air for combustion is drawn from within the living space.
• Direct vent fireplaces have a sealed combustion chamber where combustion air is drawn completely from the outside, and all combustion by-products are exhausted outside, maintaining indoor air quality. Direct venting systems can be horizontal through an outside wall or vertically. Direct venting allows for easy installation options in almost any room.

Proper Intallation

A natural gas fireplace installation should always be performed by a qualified contractor in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications and local codes. Be sure your contractor obtains all the necessary permits and posts them. The job is not complete until a local building official approves the fireplace installation and associated gas piping.

Environmental Considerations

Natural gas fireplaces are the “clean air” choice. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency reports that conventional woodburning stoves emit 19,500 times more particulate than natural gas fireplaces or stoves. Burning wood contributes to air pollution and has been linked to lung diseases.

A Word of Caution

As you are shopping, you may come across ventless gas logs and fireplaces. They look attractive, but they produce large amounts of indoor moisture that may damage the structure of your home, and some municipalities and counties do not permit them. Check with your local building department before you purchase one. In addition, safety officials strongly recommend approved carbon monoxide and smoke detectors for all dwellings with combustion appliances.

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