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Even if it’s still the autumn season, homeowners are already looking for ways to prepare for winter. The temperature began to drop, and they wanted to know how to keep the entire family warm and comfortable when snow began to fall. Read more ways on how to be warm during winter in this webpage.
Home renovations are now emphasizing boilers, furnaces, and of course, a fireplace. A fireplace, specifically a ventless one, can be an excellent addition, especially if you’re looking to improve the ambiance of your home. When you don’t want to rely solely on your furnace, and you want to keep the electrical bills down, a fireplace can be an excellent addition that can work without the help of electricity.
This is where gas logs enter the picture since this is an excellent alternative to firewood. Before getting into the details about these logs, you should know the different types of fireplaces out there and know which one will be a great addition to your home.
Direct Vents, Ventless, and Vented Options
Gas logs may be used for ventless or vented fireplaces. Their uses will depend on the homeowners and whether this is a suitable addition to their home. The vented ones are best for home occupants that will require only a small amount of radiant heat, but they wanted to see something such as a roaring fire in their living room.
The flames produced by these logs are pretty realistic, but they can be inefficient compared to the ventless varieties. The reason for their inefficiency is that heat tends to escape because the damper should be opened when you use the fuel.
On the other hand, you have the option to add ventless gas logs that are more efficient in beating the cold out of the room and are relatively affordable. You can buy gas logs that will provide extra heat on a cold wintry morning and use the oxygen within your room for combustion. However, with these options, many people notice an odor that’s specific to the ventless varieties. This is also not ideal for the occupants who have asthma and allergies. Know that you should open the door or window slightly because you can’t use the fireplace simultaneously with a blower.
There are also direct vent inserts that will provide you with better selections than a standard gas log. The entire unit will turn your house into a source of heat that’s efficient and comfortable. They are completely sealed within the room so they get the air for combustion from the outside. All the by-products and fumes are dumped outside in another pipe engineered explicitly to the home’s exterior.
The inserts maintain higher efficiency ratings than the first option, and you can pair them with a large glass door so you can have an unobstructed view of the flames and logs. The units can be great for bathrooms, basements, and other airtight spaces, and they are used in homes as a primary source of heat. Now that you have an idea about the different types of fireplaces, it’s time to know why you should choose gas logs as a replacement for wood.
Why Choose Gas Logs?
They Produce a Cleaner Burn
Installation of these kinds will mean that you won’t have to spend more on chimneys and maintenance. There are no ashes and debris to gather every time you want to warm the room, and you also don’t need regular cleaning to the chimneys. Once a year can be more than enough for some homes.
Safer than Wood
These logs have an aesthetic appeal, and they are safer than real flames. This is important, especially if you have small children, pets, and a small apartment. Real logs tend to have flying sparks and lots of smoke, and there’s also the build-up of creosote if you’re not careful. Check out the definition of a creosote here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creosote. On the other hand, these logs tend to have tamer flames, and they don’t put a lot of matter in the air while they are burning.
Eco-Friendly Option
The natural-looking aesthetic gas log is more eco-friendly than firewood. This is because when you burn the wood, particulates and other by-products are released into the air. This includes carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide that creates pollution inside the house. They are not constructed to burn natural gas or propane, so you’ll get all the aesthetic benefits and the heating comfort they provide without any implications to the environment.
Save More Money and Time
When you’re considering the long winter months ahead, know that the gas logs will be a more affordable alternative to firewood. You won’t need to chop the wood or purchase them from other places. Also, you don’t need to clean your fireplace, and you can save money for a new HVAC appliance. Instead of rushing to clean the hearth, you can rather sit back, relax, and sip your favorite cup of coffee while waiting for the spring to arrive.
