Who doesn’t like the cozy ambiance of flickering flames and the focal point that a fireplace brings to your home?
Whether your home is already equipped with a fireplace, or you are looking to add one to your home as winter approaches, you should consider a propane gas fireplace unit. Propane fireplaces or stoves are a cost-effective alternative to traditional wood or electric fireplaces and they burn cleaner than wood, so there are fewer carbon emissions.
Before we discuss the benefits of installing a propane fireplace, you need to determine which type is the right fit for you.
Direct Vent Fireplaces
Direct vent gas inserts generally have a more realistic looking flame than a vent-free gas insert. Direct Vent units draw in outside air to keep the flame burning and exhaust all combustion gases and water vapor released by burning gas. Direct Vent fireplaces do not require a chimney – they can be vented directly through the roof or a wall. Direct Vent are the safest option, but do not heat as well as Vent-Free fireplace inserts.
Vent-Free Fireplace Inserts
Vent-Free fireplaces do not need to vent the air to the outside, which offers flexibility in terms of where you can install your insert in the home. These vent-free inserts can be installed in a lot of places that direct vented gas inserts cannot. Vent-free inserts have a higher efficiency rating because no heat escapes through an exhaust. Inserts are easy to maintain, and they quickly heat up a room. Check your building code to ensure there are no restrictions on vent-free heating appliances.
Propane Burns Efficiently
A propane fireplace is close to 80% efficient. This is about four to five times more efficient than a wood-burning fireplace. Gas and electric fireplaces come with an energy efficiency rating. There are two types of ratings.
Steady-state measures how efficient your fireplace converts fuel to heat. Once your fireplace is warmed up, it continually converts propane into heat.
An appliance’s annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) is measured when it cycles on and off continuously.
Ask about your propane fireplace’s energy efficiency rating before you have one installed. In general, propane fireplaces can burn forty times as long as a conventional wood-burning fireplace. They also produce five to six times the heating capacity.
Propane Fireplaces Require Less Maintenance
The difference between gas vs. wood fireplaces can be seen in maintenance. Propane fireplaces do not require constant attention. You will not have to work to get your fire started or adjust the placement and size of the logs to keep it burning.
You won’t have to haul dirty wood inside your house to have on hand in case the fire decides to die down. You won’t need to shovel out the ashes when they get too high.
With a propane fireplace, you can start a fire with little effort. There is no cleanup afterward and it will keep you warm and glow beautifully.
Propane fireplaces require a yearly maintenance check to inspect the gas lines for leaks and make sure it is working well. This is not the case with a traditional fireplace which needs to be cleaned and maintained constantly if you are using it on a regular basis.
Propane Is Clean
Another important factor to consider is the cleanliness of your fireplace. Propane fireplaces are the cleaner than traditional fireplaces. Reduce your cleaning and housekeeping with a propane fireplace.
Traditional wood burning fireplaces release smoke, soot, and ash into the air. Making the area directly surrounding your fireplace dirty. Your chimney may become clogged without proper cleaning and smoke could back up into your house.
You’ll have to clean your fireplace often when you use a conventional wood-burning fireplace.
Wood-burning fireplaces release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. Propane fireplaces keep the environment clean, and it helps to preserve our natural resources. Propane helps keep our planet and your home clean.
Electric fireplaces may not require much cleaning, but they use electricity that is produced through a coal or nuclear power plant. These methods of producing electricity are not as clean for the environment as propane.
Choose a Propane Fireplace for Your Home
A propane fireplace will warm your home and create an inviting place for your family to sit together. Propane fireplaces are safe for your family and the environment. Propane fireplaces are less expensive than conventional wood-burning fireplaces and require less maintenance.
Propane fireplaces burn fuel more efficiently and are cleaner than a conventional wood-burning fireplace. If you are considering getting a fireplace for your home, choose a propane fireplace.
Propane Is Safe
Propane fireplaces are safe. Unlike a traditional fireplace, propane fireplaces do not have an open flame. A direct vent fireplace has glass protection. This prevents your children from accidental burns.
Ashes do not fly out of your fireplace and start a fire in your home. And you don’t have to monitor a propane fireplace like you do a wood fireplace.
Wood fireplaces send particles into the air which could cause health issues for your family. If you have a child with allergies, asthma, or other breathing-related problems a wood-burning fireplace could aggravate their health issues.
This is not the case with a propane fireplace. Propane burns cleanly and does not emit particles into the air. The glass casing surrounding the fireplace makes sure no byproducts are released into your home.
Propane fireplaces are safe for the environment too. They release less pollution into the air than a conventional wood-burning fireplace.