A Guide to Understanding Fireplaces
Fireplaces are a cozy, romantic option for
home heating. While gas fireplaces are more common than traditional and
wood-burning fireplaces, all are generally accepted by the population.
To add that touch of natural ambience to your home, for heat or
otherwise, read on to learn all about them.
Types of Fireplaces
Gas fireplaces are most common in modern homes, as
they require less maintenance and upkeep than traditional fireplaces.
Users also do not need to provide wood to operate the unit. There are
three basic kinds of gas fireplaces, each with different piping and
ventilation systems. For the best option in your home, consult a
professional.
Top-vented: Top-vented gas
fireplace inserts are used to convert a traditional masonry wood
fireplace to gas. They have a gas log set inside a steel or cast-iron
heat exchanger and are vented through the chimney using a two-pipe
system. Optional features include fans to move the heat, remote
controls, wall switches and wall-mounted thermostats.
Direct-vented: These fireplaces
don't require a chimney and are a way to add a fireplace when there
isn't one already there. Installation is done through an outside wall to
allow for ventilation, and a pipe-within-a-pipe feature lets air in and
exhaust out with just one vent.
Vent-free: Ventless gas units
don't need a chimney or a vent, and they are either right against a wall
or extremely close to it, unlike other models that need more clearance.
Some states do not allow ventless fireplaces to be used for safety
concerns, while others have very strict rules regarding use, such as
requiring users to keep a window open while using the fireplace.
However, with evolving technology, several ventless fireplaces are
coming out with low carbon monoxide output, some even at levels below
that of an average kitchen range.
"Traditional" wood-burning fireplaces require no
piping system, but they do require a chimney to release the smoke caused
from the burning wood and to prevent carbon monoxide buildup inside the
home. Wood-burning fireplaces are more common in old homes, where
chimneys are common, but are not as efficient at warming an area as a
gas fireplace is, because most of the heat in a wood-burning fireplace
escapes through the chimney.
Fireplace Safety
- Hire a professional. Installing a fireplace
correctly requires a moderate to high level of skill and knowledge,
something that the average homeowner does not have. With professionals,
you are guaranteed to get the job done right, or in the case that it is
done wrong, be reimbursed for the trouble and have it redone. Whenever
fire is involved, it's better to err on the side of caution.
- Observe guidelines. With every fireplace unit,
there are instructions for safety. Some are obvious, like don't leave a
blanket next to the flames, and others are not, like leave a window
cracked. Depending on the type of fireplace you have as well as the type
of home you have, these instructions will vary and often dictate how
safe your house is as a whole. Always read the instructions, and always
follow them.
- Invest in Fire Insurance. While wildfires seem like
a long shot (and often are), accidental fires in the home are not.
Whether from an escaped ember from your logs or a floating piece of
cotton that catches and spread, fires can turn all your hard-earned
belongings and memories into embers. The last thing you want after
something like that is to have nothing you can start building with
again. Fire insurance is not included in all homeowner insurance plans,
so speak to a representative about your options.
- Use a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm.
When using a gas or traditional fireplace, the risk of carbon monoxide
is always a danger. The smoke is odorless and colorless, so you may not
detect a problem until it's too late. Some fireplaces even come with
carbon monoxide alarms to keep consumers safe, but always have one on
hand, just in case.
Fireplace Cost
In a fireplace that is currently wood-burning but you would like to
convert to gas, is charged for per log. To have a gas fireplace, you
need vented or unvented gas logs, which look like real wood but are made
of non-flammable materials. Vented logs, which require a chimney, run
between $300 and $550. Unvented gas logs, which are for fireplaces
without a chimney or pipes, cost just a little more, at about $350 to
$600. Installation involving a licensed contractor usually costs between
$200 and $350.
Top-vented gas fireplace inserts are also used to convert traditional
fireplaces to gas. These inserts cost between $1,200 and $2,900, and
professional installation tacks on another $500 to $1,000. Direct-vent
gas fireplaces average between $1,200 and $3,200. Installation for a
direct-vent unit varies extensively depending on hearth design and
complexity, ranging cost anywhere from $600 to $5,000. Ventless
fireplaces cost between $400 and $1,500, in addition to installation
costs for the gas lines and any additional mantling and features.
