This content was originally published on OldHouseOnline.com and has been republished here as part of a merger between our two businesses. All copy is presented here as it originally appeared there.
Gas fireplaces are artificial fireplace replacements with unique and interesting features. Instead of burning wood, gas fireplaces burn gas under realistic ceramics that look like wood. They offer the same heat and aesthetic benefits of owning an indoor unit, such as an electric fireplace or a wood burning fireplace, while ensuring you don’t deal with ash and minimize environmental damage. On paper, they seem like the perfect replacements for your current fireplace, and some of the best gas fireplaces might convince you to never start another in-house fire; however, the opposite could also happen.
But without a deep knowledge of how gas fireplaces work, what features matter the most, and other important factors, you could end up with the wrong products and waste valuable time and resources. In this guide, we’ll be helping you find the best fireplace the first time around. We’ve shortlisted a few of our favorite gas fireplaces, and we’ve attached a helpful guide so you can make an informed decision while choosing from our top picks.
Comparing the Leading Gas Fireplaces
Duluth Forge Dual Fuel Ventless Fireplace
– Best Overall
The Duluth Forge Dual Fuel Ventless fireplace is an excellent thermostat-controlled natural and propane-fueled gas fireplace for homeowners. It is stylish, feature-packed, and is completely safe to use.
The Duluth gas fireplace has a lot going for it. It has a BTU rating of over 26,000 and it runs on both natural gas and propane. It has near-infallible temperature control that can be easily operated through the on-device thermostat. This ventless gas fireplace also uses a simple battery-powered ignition system and features 5 realistic hand-painted ceramic logs to give it a true fireplace feel with a modern look. Its versatility and visual appeal, effectively creating excellent radiant heat, earn it the best overall spot on our list.
Pros
- It uses both natural gas and propane
- It uses a battery-powered ignition system
Cons
- Its heat coverage is somewhat limited
Duluth Forge Dual Fuel Ventless Fireplace
– Best Ventless Gas Fireplace
This Duluth gas fireplace is an elegant ventless fireplace with flexible temperature control and two unique fuel sources. It are compatible with most modern homes and establishments. The gas fireplace insert essenially contains an entire stove unit within a metal box that can easily be put into an existing fireplace space. Fireplace inserts are usually pretty convenient without the hassle of complicated installation.
The Duluth gas fireplace comes with a full site of interesting and flexible features. On purchase, you can opt to control your fireplace’s temperature using a thermostat, or remote control. In addition to that, you can choose to run it on natural gas or propane, whichever is most convenient for you. The gas fireplace ventless design conserves heat and saves fuel over time, and covers an area measuring 1,350 square feet with ease. In typical Duluth fashion, this fireplace comes with five expertly painted ceramic logs as well.
Pros
- The ventless design conserves heat and gas
- It has a clean and elegant overall aesthetic
Cons
- This product sometimes ships with a faulty lighting pilot
Pleasant Hearth 32-inch Vent Free Fire Stove
– Best Quality Gas Fireplace
The Pleasant Hearth gas stove is so much more and much better than a conventional gas fireplace. It is a mobile hearth that you can set up without a chimney or dedicated fireplace built-in. It uses dual-fuel technology just like most modern gas fireplaces.
This Pleasant Hearth intermediate gas fireplace is packed with all the features you’ve come to expect from high-quality gas fireplaces without quite sharing any of their restrictions. It has a built-in thermostat and an overall heat coverage of about 1,000 square feet and 30,000 BTU per hour, all the while remaining mobile.
Pros
- It is mobile
- It is very energy efficient
Cons
- It is not easy to use the igniter
Duluth Forge Dual Fuel Ventless Gas Fireplace
– Best Large Gas Fireplace
This amazing vent-free fireplace is a larger and more powerful version of the popular base Duluth forge dual ventless fireplace. It comes with more ceramic logs, produces a greater fire, and is overall more economical.
The Duluth Forge Dual Fuel Ventless Gas Fireplace uses the company’s proprietary dual-fuel technology and warms up an area measuring over 1500 square feet when it’s burning. It is battery ignited and remote-controlled, featuring 6 hand-painted ceramic fiber logs. This makes it very easy to operate and giving it an eye-catching aesthetic appeal and modern look. It is ventless, so heat doesn’t escape while it operates.
Pros
- It covers a wide area
- It has a remote-controlled temperature regulation system
Cons
- It’s a bit complicated to set up
Finding High-Quality Gas Fireplaces: A Buying Guide
Why Should You Invest in a Brand New Gas Fireplace?
Most traditional fireplaces are never used because of how inconvenient they are. Having to constantly tend to the flame and feed it firewood makes owning a traditional wood fireplace almost impractical. This means that you are missing out on a great opportunity to spend some quality time with your loved ones around a fireplace on a cold winter evening. Gas fireplaces solve this problem by providing you with the same cozy feeling without any hassles. Eliminating the need to burn wood, this type of fireplace runs completely on gas. The flame produced is free of toxins and fumes and provides steady warmth for a long time. Easy to install in your existing fireplace area and even easier to operate, this new type of fireplace can be a wonderful addition to your home environment.
What Should You Keep In Mind Before Buying a Gas Fireplace?
Perhaps you’re ready to upgrade from your wood fireplace or your electric fireplace. Well, there are a few things that can help you decide what kind of gas fireplace would be the best for your home. Understanding the three broad types of gas fireplaces and how they differ can give you more clarity and help you make an informed decision. Along with this, bear in mind that fireplaces are not reserved only for homes in places that have very cold winters. B-vent gas fireplaces are specially designed to mimic a real flame and add aesthetics to your house without providing too much heat. Now, families all over the world can have a fireplace in their homes even if they live in a warmer climate. Venting is also very important for most fireplaces. The size of your room and the type of venting pipes will decide what type of fireplace would be the best for you.
What Are the Different Types of Gas Fireplaces?
Gas fireplaces are broadly classified into three types: namely, the direct vent, ventless, and B-vent gas fireplaces. Each of them differs in the type of venting that they require, the installation process, and the safety that they provide. Here’s a little information on each type:
Direct vent gas fireplace
This type of fireplace is the most widely used in modern homes. It provides a comfortable, steady warmth while also being superior in terms of safety and ease of use. They use a sealed venting system that burns fuel outside the home, producing a clean flame inside the fireplace’s metal box. This is a safe and efficient way to stay warm as it does not compromise the air quality of your home. With this type of fireplace, you can ensure that your family stays healthy by avoiding the generation of harmful gases, like carbon monoxide that are otherwise produced by wood-burning fireplaces.
Ventless fireplace
The ventless gas fireplace does not require a venting system. As the name suggests, there is no need for your home to have a chimney if you are working with a ventless fireplace. It is the perfect addition to a modern home and is capable of providing excellent heat efficiency among all three types of fireplaces. This is because no heat is allowed to escape through any vent, keeping all the warmth inside your house while also consuming less fuel. The ventless gas fireplace is best for people that are looking for warmth more than the aesthetic of having a fireplace. The flame produced from ventless fireplaces does not look as good as the one produced by the direct vent and B-vent types, but it is extremely efficient at heating up your space.
B-vent fireplace
B-vent fireplaces are hardly used today and are very tough to find. This is mainly because they are very inefficient and have very complex installation requirements. They work by pulling in air to the chamber to burn fuel. The fumes are then guided out by the venting system. Most of the heat produced is lost in the vents, leading to the inefficiency of B-vent fireplaces. They are used mostly for aesthetic purposes and look the best among all three types.
How To Pick Out the Right Fireplace for Your Home
The market has a variety of gas fireplaces to choose from. Each of these fireplaces has different dimensions and features. Browsing online should give you a fair idea of the type of fireplaces that are available. If you are looking to revamp the stylistic appeal of your home, a B-vent gas fireplace would be a good choice for you. If you live in a place where the climate is harsh, consider looking at ventless fireplaces to keep yourself warm and cozy. The placement of your electronic devices and the structure of the vent also play a part in deciding which fireplace would fit beautifully in your home.
If you want more information on how to light your gas fireplace, check out this video below.
Gas Fireplace Issues: How to Fix Them
Sometimes, you may run into problems with your gas fireplace. Issues with any home appliance, while frustrating, are inevitable. However, this video from Mike Klimek can help you fix a common issue with gas fireplaces:
People Also Asked
Q: How do gas fireplaces work?
A: Fireplaces in general work on a simple concept. Fuel is burned to produce heat, which is cherished on chilly days. The radiant heat created flows throughout your home, distributing warm air. A gas fireplace replaces traditional firewood with natural gas or propane. Depending on the type of fireplace, a venting system may or may not be needed. This is because there are hardly any fumes or debris produced inside your home even after prolonged use of a gas fireplace. Gas fireplaces also eradicate the need to gather dry and chopped wood to light a fire for a few hours. They also continue to work effectively in the face of a power outage, saving a bit of money on energy bills. Compared to the more involved nature of a wood burning fireplace, simply flipping a switch can produce a hearty fire that can be enjoyed for hours on end.
Q: What are the best features of a gas fireplace?
A: Gas fireplaces reign supreme over conventional fireplaces and central heating systems alike. They provide a steady source of heat and a constantly lit flame, all without compromising the quality of the indoor air within your home. The wall thermostat gives you the power to accurately control the temperature of your fireplace similar to an electric heater. Unlike central heating systems and thermostats, gas fireplaces are capable of heating only the room that is currently in use. This makes them a more economical option for everyday use. They also require minimal maintenance. Yes, a world where you can enjoy a fireplace experience without having to scoop up ashes the next morning finally exists!
