Posted Tuesday, January 19th, 2016
Fireplaces are among the top amenities for homeowners when purchasing a new home. According to the National Association of Home Builders, they rank just behind outdoor patios and decks. In the past, the cost to add or replace a fireplace to an existing home used to be very expensive. Today, the addition of a fireplace is not only affordable, but a relatively easy home improvement.
As long as you have a natural gas connection or propane available, you can install a gas fireplace almost anywhere in your home. Since no actual combustion occurs in gas fireplaces, zero-clearance installation is possible. This means a fireplace can be installed in direct contact with a combustible wall or floor.
There are a wide variety of styles for gas fireplaces ranging from traditional to contemporary. The gas logs look and perform like real wood and come in multiple shapes and sizes. It’s easy to understand why so many homeowners are installing gas fireplaces, especially considering the benefit of improved energy efficiency.
Depending upon insulation, a 40,000 BTU fireplace would be sufficient to heat a large living room or family room. Many high efficiency fireplaces have a turndown ratio, allowing you to reduce the heat output and heat smaller rooms all the while keeping your energy bill even smaller.
Remember that routine maintenance, proper installation and use is essential to fireplace safety. To assure the best performance for your fireplace, have your gas fireplace serviced at least one time per year by a professional. He will assure the inspection of key gas fireplace parts including the burner, fan, venting, pilot light and thermostat. He will even clean the class.
The HPBA recommends all vents for vented gas fireplaces be inspected annually. We also recommend the installation of a carbon monoxide detector. Your families health and safety are number one priority.