Ventless Gas Fireplaces -- Easy To Install, Easy To Use, And Easy To Maintain
Are you familiar with a gas fireplace? These are really useful for heating a room -- especially when you don't want to go through all the hassle of preparing wood to burn in a traditional fireplace. There are, however, some things to be aware of as you evaluate the different types of models -- Ventless Gas Fireplaces: Installation Issues At its simplest, a ventless gas fireplace consists of a gas burner, which is usually concealed by a decorative ceramic "log" that has been manufactured from a special material that can withstand high temperatures without igniting. Other features may be present, but this is the basic set up. If you're wondering whether your ventless gas fireplace can be installed in your home, the short answer to that question is yes, providing you have a safe area -- such as an existing fireplace -- where the unit can be installed. In general, as long as you have a functioning fireplace which has been properly maintained and kept clean, it can be used for your ventless gas fireplace. An important consideration when installing your ventless gas fireplace is that the size of the unit must fit properly within your existing fireplace firebox -- the ventless gas fireplace must be small enough to provide and least 6 inches of clearance from all surfaces. In some instances, your installation technician may need to attach a hood on top of your ventless gas fireplace, in order to reflect heat. Ventless Gas Fireplaces -- Daily Use Properly installed, your ventless gas fireplace should not give you any major problems as you use it day by day. Of course, venting issues are not a concern with these types of gas fireplaces, and they are actually designed to be operated with your furnace damper completely closed off. One of the nicest things about modern ventless gas entire places is they have easy to use ignition systems -- some of these can be started with a match, while other types use a pilot light (which is constantly lit) -- and some ventless gas fireplaces feature an electronic ignition system -- some even include a remote control! One thing you will need to think about as you plan your purchase of a ventless gas fireplace is the fuel source. While some homes may have an existing natural gas line near their furnace, others do not -- and it may be prohibitively expensive to have a brand-new gas line installed just for the sake of your fireplace. In these cases, you may be able to purchase a ventless gas fireplace that operates using propane instead of natural gas. Ventless Gas Fireplaces -- Necessary Periodic Maintenance While it is true that your ventless gas fireplace will normally provide trouble-free use most of the time, to keep it that way you'll need to arrange for periodic maintenance. It would be a good idea to have your ventless gas fireplace serviced by a trained professional to make sure that everything is working properly. I would also strongly recommend that you install a good-quality carbon monoxide detector near the location of your ventless gas fireplace, just to alert you in case there is an unhealthy buildup of carbon monoxide (which has no odor) in your room. In closing, we can say that a ventless gas fireplace, properly installed, properly used, and properly maintained, will prove to be one of the most reliable heating devices in your home. |
