Image : http://www.flickr.com
A gas fireplace is usually a factory-built firebox with a glass face for viewing the fire. Designs are made specific to the customer's use. They may be designed to look good or to provide heat in a home. The fireplaces have ducts to help distribute the heat wherever required. This makes them efficient and avoids loss of heat and wastage of gas.
Both, gas and direct vent fireplaces have sealed combustion chamber so that emissions are expelled through the vent or chimney. The efficiency of a gas fireplace is largely based on the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency rating. The higher the rating the more fuel-efficient the fireplace is. However, not all the units available are rated. Gas systems offer zone heating, and since no electricity is required, they can provide heat during a power outage.
There are many advantages attributed to gas fireplaces. They are convenient and ignite at the press of a switch. They do not produce any noxious smoke, thereby making them cleaner and easier to maintain. The flames that gas fireplaces produce look like a realistic wood masonry fireplace. Gas fireplaces are easy to install, and can be setup at places where heating is required the most. They are available in a large variety of designs, and are efficient in their use. Efficient natural gas fireplaces can heat up to 1,000 square feet of living space at a low cost.
Natural gas fireplaces or freestanding fireplaces not only help keep the house clean, but also cause less pollution compared to wood-burning fires. There are various factors that determine the actual energy saved. Factors like geographic location, weather conditions, and equipment installed and contributes to the efficiency of a fireplace.
