Buying a Gas Fireplace: Things to Know
Understanding the basics of how gas fireplaces operate will help you ensure you select the right one.
Technology
Understanding the basics of how gas fireplaces operate will help you ensure you select the right one.
Direct Vent / Ventfree / B-Vent
Gas fireplaces can be vented one of three—technically two—ways:
- Direct vent technology: A sealed combustion system protects indoor air quality by drawing outside air for the fire and expelling 100 percent of combustion exhaust and byproducts outside the home.
- B-vent or “natural” venting technology: This system is not sealed; it draws air from a room into the combustion chamber and exhaust must be routed through the roof via a pipe.
- Vent-free or ventless technology: This method actually relies on a higher burn temperature—rather than physical venting like in the cases of direct vent or B-vent—to rid the air of combustion byproducts.
Natural Gas (NG) vs. Liquid Propane (LP)
Before you buy a gas fireplace, ensure you either have natural gas or propane lines running into your house.
Gas fireplaces normally come in two fuel types: Natural Gas and Liquid Propane, but ethanol fireplaces are also available.
Gas fireplaces normally come in two fuel types: Natural Gas and Liquid Propane, but ethanol fireplaces are also available.
Fireplace vs. Firebox
The difference between a fireplace and a firebox is important to understand when it comes time to select a protective safety screen or (secondary) glass barrier.
A gas fireplace consists of 2 boxes, one inside the other. The firebox is where fuel is actually burned, producing flames. The outer box surrounds the firebox and takes in air to provide oxygen to the firebox.
Most direct-vent fireplaces are sealed, meaning there is a glass panel in front of the flames. This glass can get extremely hot and radiates heat.
Therefore, you can oftentimes choose between a mesh screen or a secondary glass barrier to provide safety.
A gas fireplace consists of 2 boxes, one inside the other. The firebox is where fuel is actually burned, producing flames. The outer box surrounds the firebox and takes in air to provide oxygen to the firebox.
Most direct-vent fireplaces are sealed, meaning there is a glass panel in front of the flames. This glass can get extremely hot and radiates heat.
Therefore, you can oftentimes choose between a mesh screen or a secondary glass barrier to provide safety.
Heat Management Systems
Once the firebox starts producing heat (inside the fireplace), there are several ways to direct the heat wherever you'd like it to go.
Blower / Fan
A blower is a motorized fan that literally "blows" the heat produced from the firebox throughout the room where the fireplace is installed.
Many fireplaces offer a blower as either a pre-installed or optional accessory.
Many fireplaces offer a blower as either a pre-installed or optional accessory.
Want a TV above your Fireplace?
Cool Wall Technology, Dynamic Heat Control, etc. are all similar technology: they keep your wall from getting incredibly hot.
This is critical to consider if you're hoping to place a TV, expensive artwork, or electronics above your fireplace. The firebox gets extremely hot, therefore heat will radiate up your wall. To redirect this heat, consider these optional accessories which redirect heat away from the wall, and send it either back into the room from the top /side of the wall or into another room.
This is critical to consider if you're hoping to place a TV, expensive artwork, or electronics above your fireplace. The firebox gets extremely hot, therefore heat will radiate up your wall. To redirect this heat, consider these optional accessories which redirect heat away from the wall, and send it either back into the room from the top /side of the wall or into another room.
Power Vent
Venting a gas fireplace can be tricky. Historically, direct-vent fireplaces could only go up and out the roof. However, today's technology allows for much more flexible options.
A power vent is a motorized fan that forces the exhaust where you'd like it to go. So while naturally, there may not be enough draft to keep the exhaust flowing, a power vent can provide a little extra "push" to get that exhaust outside and where it needs to go.
A power vent is a motorized fan that forces the exhaust where you'd like it to go. So while naturally, there may not be enough draft to keep the exhaust flowing, a power vent can provide a little extra "push" to get that exhaust outside and where it needs to go.
Design
There are dozens of options to design your fireplace. Let's cover the terminology so you know what to look for.
Traditional vs. Linear
There are two types of gas fireplace designs. Traditional and Linear.
- The traditional fireplace is a square, which offers a more classic design.
- The linear fireplace is a long rectangle, which offers a more modern design.
If you're selecting a linear fireplace and plan to put a TV above it, designers typically want the width of the fireplace to be as long as the TV, if not slightly longer.
- The traditional fireplace is a square, which offers a more classic design.
- The linear fireplace is a long rectangle, which offers a more modern design.
If you're selecting a linear fireplace and plan to put a TV above it, designers typically want the width of the fireplace to be as long as the TV, if not slightly longer.
Trim Kit, Surround, Fronts
So you've just cut out the hole that your fireplace is going to slide into. You insert the fireplace and realize there is still a small gap between the fireplace and the wall. That's where a trim kit, surround, or front comes in handy.
Trim kits, surrounds, and fronts are all decorative options to fill the empty space between your fireplace and the wall surrounding it.
Trim kits, surrounds, and fronts are all decorative options to fill the empty space between your fireplace and the wall surrounding it.
Finishing Material
Finishing material refers to what you use to “finish” the wall surrounding the fireplace e.g. stone, drywall, tiles, brick, etc. This is important to determine ahead of time, as some fireplaces look better with various types of fireplaces.