We are experts in fireplaces. There are many types of fireplaces including wood burning, gas, inserts, and ventless. Each type provides its own benefits and you should choose the type that best suits your needs. Do you need your fireplace for heat or will it be used primarily for aesthetics? How often should you have a gas fireplace serviced? These are just a few questions you should ask yourself before choosing a fireplace for your home.
Wood burning fireplaces
Wood burning fireplaces are traditionally structures with chimneys and fireboxes built from stone or brick. These fireplaces are primarily valued for their aesthetics and do require some maintenance. There is a newer type, a low-mass fireplace, that is prefabricated at the manufacturer’s facility and transported to the construction site. These fireplaces are generally less costly than traditional built-in options.
Gas fireplaces
A gas fireplace burns natural gas instead of wood. This process provides cleaner, more efficient heat. Some are built like traditional wood burning types, with a firebox that is vented through a chimney. Other gas fireplaces can be placed near walls or other structures. Some freestanding gas fireplaces can be located away from walls. B-vent or direct-vent fireplaces can be vented through an exterior wall without the need for a chimney. Gas fireplaces can provide more control over flame sizes and heat output. Some come with thermostats for greater control over output. However, these fireplaces don’t have the aesthetics and charm of wood burning fireplaces.
Fireplace inserts
Fireplace inserts are prefabricated options that are made to be installed within a firebox of an existing fireplace. Inserts can be used to increase the efficiency of an older fireplace without the installation of a new vent or chimney. An insert can be either gas burning or wood burning, but when it is installed, it must meet local building code requirements.
Ventless fireplaces
Gas fireplaces that are ventless do not vent combustion gases through a wall vent or chimney. These fireplaces take combustion air from the room they are installed in and then exhaust combustion gases back into the same room. These units are very efficient and offer flexibility when it comes to placement. However, the use of ventless gas fireplaces is restricted in some states, building jurisdictions, or counties.