Are gas fireplaces efficient?

Do you love the look and feel of a fireplace in the home but are not interested in all the work that it takes to have wood available and steadily feed a wood fireplace? A great alternative is a gas fireplace that looks virtually the same and provides a radiating warmth very similar to a wood fireplace without all the mess and fuss. But then you might be wondering if gas fireplaces are efficient. You certainly don’t want to go to the effort to put an elegant gas fireplace in your home only to spend an exorbitant amount on your gas bill every winter. This article will give you a basic idea about the efficiency of gas fireplaces but remember that if you have more questions you can always ask one of the friendly professionals here at Chimney Sweeps of America, and we will be happy to help you make this important decision about the best way to heat your home.

There are a couple of different options for the type of gas fireplace that you can get, and the option you choose will have an impact on how efficient it is. First up, direct vent fireplaces. These are wall units that expel somewhat cooled combustion gases directly out a vent in the wall. It is a flexible option as there are more potential places to install it in the home. They are relatively inexpensive to install and are generally considered quite efficient. About 70% of the heat generated stays inside the home and does not get vented directly outside. The other type of gas fireplace is not quite as efficient. Natural vent conventional gas fireplaces need to be vented through the ceiling and the combustion gases that are expelled are typically a bit hotter, so your most efficient and flexible option lies in a direct vent fireplace.

Now let’s take a look at another factor that comes into play when comparing a fireplace with traditional forced-air or central heating. Most people generally spend the majority of their time in a certain part of the house, and that typically is a living area. If you install a fireplace in this area, you can take advantage of what is called zone heating. The idea is simply that you turn down your forced air or central heating thermostat and use the fireplace to primarily heat the area of the house that you are using. Secondary heat will still creep over into other rooms, but you’ve got about 1000 square feet of space that is being heated sufficiently without paying a high electric bill every month. It’s a great way for people to be conscious about how much energy they are using–or essentially wasting–and focus on just heating the most important parts of their home.

At Chimney Sweeps of America, we have knowledgeable professionals that can help you with making your final decision about what kind of fireplace you would like to install in your home. But for now, the bottom line is that gas fireplaces are an energy efficient option that looks great and add a nice touch of home to your house.

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