Reasons to Add a Gas Fireplace to Your Home

Wood-burning fireplaces, long considered the traditional fireplace for centuries, are the centerpiece of many homes where families gather for warmth during the chilly winter months. However, that is beginning to change. With its cleaner-burning fuel, a strikingly authentic flame experience, and other convenient features, gas fireplaces are growing in popularity.

Simpler to Operate

Operating a gas fireplace is as easy as flipping a switch for instant flames. A gas fireplace also supplies continuous heat until you shut it off. Gone are the days of stacking wood logs, lighting the kindle, and stoking the fire to keep it going. A built-in thermostat maintains the desired temperature for as long as you want. Some gas fireplaces can even be operated with a remote, so you don’t have to leave the sofa to enjoy the warmth.

Cleaner-Burning Fuel

Both propane and natural gas emit a fraction of pollutants with less soot and creosote than a traditional wood-burning fireplace. A direct-vent gas fireplace directs fumes through a chimney or external vent to increase indoor air quality, minimizing exposure to harmful substances.

Energy-Efficiency

While a typical wood-burning fireplace loses up to 85% of the heat through the chimney, a gas fireplace converts up to 85% of the energy it consumes into usable heat. Gas heating is also much less expensive to run than a central heating system saving money on your heating bill. Homeowners can increase a gas fireplace’s efficiency even further with zone heating, eliminating the energy waste of heating unoccupied spaces.

Easy to Install

A gas fireplace is generally easier to install than a traditional masonry fireplace.  It can be installed in homes without a chimney and in spaces that would be considered too small for a traditional fireplace. It is also easy to convert an existing wood fireplace into a gas fireplace. However, gas fireplace installations are not a DIY project, so you’ll need help from an experienced hearth professional to ensure a safe and efficient installation.

Less Costly to Maintain

Gas fireplaces produce much less creosote eliminating the heavy-duty task of frequent chimney sweeping. However, “low maintenance” doesn’t mean “no maintenance.” A gas fireplace still needs cleaning periodically. It’s a good idea to have an annual safety inspection to check the fittings and connections for leaks and the ceramic logs for cracks.

Whether you want to enhance the ambiance of your living space, reduce energy costs, or like the convenience of gas heating, our hearth experts will help you select and install the right energy-efficient gas fireplace for your home. With so many styles and choices available, we have an affordable gas heating solution for every home.