Some people even like to use their fireplace to heat up the home in lieu of using heaters or the HVAC. Now when it comes to fireplaces , more and more homes and businesses that have fireplaces are switching to gas fireplaces.
A gas fireplace is actually a great, energy-efficient way to heat your home. You can turn down the thermostat, and turn up the heat! In the fireplace, that is. Traditional fireplaces, of course, need a chimney. Usually, the chimney becomes a costly and somewhat annoying part of home maintenance , needing to be cleaned regularly at least once a year and even posing some health and safety hazards if it gets clogged up.
It relies on vents to carry byproducts out of the home. Gas fireplaces give you way more control. Unlike a traditional wood-burning stove, gas fireplaces are often temperature controlled with a thermostat. Now, if you already have a hearth with a fireplace and chimney, you may not see the point in switching to a highfalutin, rootin-tootin newfangled gas fireplace. But in that case, you might want to consider that a gas fireplace insert can go right in your existing hearth, without having to do any structural modifications.
A traditional, wood-burning fireplace burns by cool air entering the firebox and fueling the flames through the process of combustion. The products of this romantic chemistry are released in the form of smoke that climbs upward through the chimney and then dances over the roof of your home. Unfortunately, some of the byproducts do get occasionally released into the living area, which poses serious health and safety concerns over time.
But in any case, heat is also generated by this process and fills the room that the fireplace is in. But to keep the fire burning, it has to be fed. Wood, kindling, and flammable materials can help keep the flames alive, but once you stop feeding it, the fire will start to die down and die out.
This is where gas fireplaces make their entry into the story, perhaps riding a motorcycle through a ring of fire, or getting lowered from the ceiling in a steel cage amid a celebration of lasers and fog. The bottom line, if the introduction can be simple, is that gas places are much more efficient than their traditional, wood-burning counterparts.
Instead, cover the pan with baking soda; this will cut off the oxygen supply which is necessary for combustion. There are three common kinds of fireplaces: closed, open, and corner. They're all fairly simple to operate but they work differently. The kind you choose will depend on your needs as well as where you plan on placing it. Corner fireplaces allow peopling more options for arranging furniture around them while some closed models include storage compartments that make great alternatives for entertainment centers or bookshelves when not being used as a fireplace.
As far as what type of woods can be burnt goes, most any hardwood should do just fine including ash, maple, and oak among others depending on preference and availability locally. Height can be very subjective. Some people prefer them to go from the floor all the way up to the ceiling while others only want the firebox portion of their unit showing above ground level in order to add architectural interest without taking over floor space.
In terms of how high you need your chimney, most localities have codes that they must be at least three feet higher than any roof within feet or so with some going as far as five feet higher even if no roofs are close by. If you're having a contractor install it and aren't sure what's needed, always err on side of caution and get one that's too tall rather than too short just in case there isn't enough room to work with later on.
A vent-free or ventless fireplaces operate differently than traditional units in that it doesn't need an outside ventilation system for proper operation. They're also known as sealed combustion units since they rely completely upon the oxygen inside their enclosures rather than drawing air from outside of them as conventional systems do.
Vent-free units are often used to heat smaller spaces such as bathrooms, bedrooms, and other areas where you don't want a chimney running up through your roof due to architectural limitations, etc The main downside though comes down to efficiency because without having an exhaust path built into them, they simply can't operate at anywhere near the same level as regular models which means they won't be able to heat up a large space very well at all.
This really comes down more on personal preference than anything else because there isn't one right answer that fits everyone's needs and wants equally which means you'll need to do some research in order to figure out what works best for your situation. Most modern fireplaces can also be used as either traditional or gas-powered units with varying degrees of effectiveness depending on how they're set up so it always pays off to check into these options if cost or availability prevent you from going with an electric model.
In terms of what's available, most any unit will typically come equipped with several different color schemes while some also include additional features like remote controls, etc If needed, get help from an expert who can guide you through every step of the way instead of taking unnecessary risks which could lead to accidents happening due to ignorance about how these processes exactly work even though they seem easy enough at first glance.
For many years now, I have been researching different types of fireplaces to help me decide which one would be the best for my home. After a while of research, I decided that pellet stoves were the best option for me because they are cleaner than other options on the market. That's why created this website — so others can learn about all sorts of fireplace options available to them so they can make an informed decision about what kind will work best in their home too!
Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content Ever wonder how a fireplace works? How do Fireplaces work? How many types of wood can be burned in a fireplace? What is a good height for my fireplace? What is a ventless fireplace? What is the best type of fireplace for my home?
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Refer to the graphic below to see exactly how a chimney works:. An appropriately-sized flue should be one inch wide for every 10 square inches of fireplace opening. This ratio enables air to travel at the perfect velocity through the flue. If the flue is too big for the fireplace, too much air will exit the chimney and you will lose heat. If the flue is too small, then air cannot exit the chimney fast enough and you may find yourself in a smoke-filled room.
According to Woodheat. Extending the height of your chimney serves two main purposes:. Finally, to create a sufficient draft, your chimney must be free from obstructions and damage. The tight, safe space of a chimney coupled with the added warmth from your home makes a great place for birds and squirrels to nest and store food.
Bats and chimney swifts favor the dark, vertical space that chimneys provide. Flotsam or fowl, these obstructions prevent air from flowing out of the chimney and can create a fire hazard.
Fortunately, the solution is affordable: a chimney cap is a great way to prevent foreign objects from jamming up your chimney. They also prevent water from entering and can contain hot sparks that might have otherwise landed on your roof. Annual chimney inspections are another great way to prevent damage and maintain the safety of your chimney. The CSIA categorizes chimney inspections into 3 different levels. Choose the level that best suits your needs based on the CSIA descriptions.
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