Friday, April 15, 2011

Gas Fireplace Essentials

By Jacob Hill


Imagine the feeling of cuddling up beside a warm fire on a cold winter day. It is a heavenly feeling, isn't it? All you need to do is simply get the right gas logs for your fireplace and turn your imagination into reality. A gas log is a substitute for a wooden log. They are truly environment-friendly as their manufacturing process does not entail deforestation. Moreover, the level of pollution caused by their usage is much lesser than that caused by burning wood.

Available on the market are gas logs meant for two different types of burning appliances. There are gas logs that must be vented to the outside in either a regular wood-burning fireplace or a specialized gas fireplace with a vent. The other type of gas log doesn't vent at all. In fact, it is designed to consume its gas before any dangerous gasses release in a home. These logs create an extremely hot flame that just about completely consumes the gasses, which lowers the level of carbon monoxide and debris that other logs create.

As far as appearance is concerned, the vented gas logs with glowing embers give the look and feel of a real fireplace. For better heating, ventless logs may be preferred as heat is not lost through the chimney. Superior vented gas logs may carry the special features such as automatic activation with a flick of a switch, enclosures made of glass, a ventless design to prevent the heat from escaping outside, or maybe blowers to circulate the warmth all around.

Although ventless products may be considered to be 99.9% efficient, they have some disadvantages as well. They release excessive amounts of moisture into the air which may lead to the growth of mold and mildew throughout your house. Oxygen levels may get depleted unless there is provision for the circulation of fresh air throughout the room. Besides, on burning they generate an odor similar to that of burning kerosene. Sometimes vented products are preferred in comparison to their ventless counterparts due to their cleanliness. Whether you choose to buy vented or ventless gas logs, in addition to the efficiency factor, you must take the aesthetic factor into consideration as well. The product you choose must compliment the ambiance of your room.

What about those of us who are more sq. ft.-challenged? Well, apartment-dwelling city folk will have memories, too, by getting vent-free ceramic gas logs. These fireplaces may be portable and they give off a small but pleasant blue flame. An amazing advantage of vent-free logs is they produce more heat than a wood burning fireplace with the same capacity. This is because the logs are made of a ceramic that causes heat to radiate out after it reaches a certain temperature. The dense, refractory ceramic used to make these logs so they are realistic in appearance and effective in heat output, also allows you to enjoy your fireplace without the cleanup of ashes, wood dust and messy debris. Since they are self-contained (that is, no vent), all of the heat produced stays within the room. The drawbacks to vent-free logs are the rise in humidity, needing oxygen and carbon monoxide detectors (which sometimes are included with the unit), and the requirement for fresh airflow (open a window) if the fireplace has been burning for a long time.

You may not be able to buy a gas fireplace. In some states, they may be illegal. It is also important to adhere to all fire safety rules. Open a window part ways when burning. Do not let them burn all night. This is especially important if there is no vent. No matter what type of gas logs you choose, be careful with fire. Follow all fire safety rules. You may choose the vented type. You may like the unvented. It is always better to have them professionally installed.




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