Gas fireplaces are a great addition to a home. They provide heat and ambiance that can make your home look and feel cozy in the wintertime. However, many homeowners don’t know which kind of gas fireplace they have in their home or how it works. Chesterfield Service explains how gas fireplaces work and how you can tell which kind of gas fireplace you have.

Different Types of Gas Fireplaces

If your home doesn’t have a chimney, but you want a gas fireplace in your home, that is not a problem. Gas fireplaces can be added during or after you home’s construction, and some gas fireplaces don’t even require external venting.

Direct Vent Fireplaces

These types of fireplaces have a solid glass front and require a dual flue pipe system. One pipe draws in outdoor air for combustion, and the other flue pipe vents the combustion gas back outside. Direct vent fireplaces that aren’t gas inserts can be vented through an exterior side wall or out the roof. These units are 70-80% efficient.

Gas Inserts

Many people choose to add a gas fireplace insert to their current wood-burning fireplace. These inserts are also direct vent units with a dual flue pipe system. The insert must be vented out of an existing fireplace flue.

Vent Free Fireplaces

These fireplaces can be installed anywhere because they burn cleanly like a gas stove that you cook on. These can be hung on a wall like a television and can take a variety of shapes and sizes. Vent free fireplaces are 99.9% efficient because all of the heat stays in the room. They are a great way to heat your home during a power outage and they create their own power to operate on. These units are fine-tuned to be extra clean and contain an oxygen-depletion sensor that will shut off the fireplace if the room’s oxygen level dips too low, around 18%.

How A Gas Log Set Works

Many people use the term “gas fireplace” generically, but specifically, a gas fireplace is composed of a firebox, gas burner, and a log set that is built as a complete unit. Gas log sets however, are units that are installed in existing fireplaces. Gas log sets aren’t just for decoration, as they house the ignition and pilot light assembly. Some gas log sets come with features like remote controls or automatic ignitions.

There are two types of gas log sets, vented and vent-free. Vented gas log sets have a lot of flame and use a large amount of gas, which can cause soot to form on the logs. They are not very efficient, but can give you that ambient look for a roaring fire. If you run them for an extended period of time, you may notice your back rooms get colder. These are ideal for direct vent and gas inserts because they need to draft the gasses out of the flue.

Vent free logs are manufactured for efficiency as well as looks. Vent free gas log sets use half the fuel as vented log sets, while still being able to enjoy the ambiance of a fire in your fireplace. Soot should not accumulate on these logs if your fireplace is properly maintained.

If you’re unsure about which kind of gas logs you have, or when the last time your fireplace was serviced, talk to Chesterfield Service. We know how important maintenance is for your fireplace and if you haven’t had your fireplace inspected within the last year, now is the time. Schedule an appointment with our qualified fireplace technicians today.