It’s true that nothing is more comforting on a winter night than huddling up in front of a fireplace. In fact, fireplaces have long kept a special place in the hearts of many people. Fireplaces are tremendously well-liked that it’s become hard to sell new or existing homes without one. But with the changes in the way houses are made and revamped these days, most modern homes today have become contradictory with standard wood-burning fireplaces.

And if you might noticed today, the escalated insulation and enhanced air tightness of modern homes move along counter to the vast amounts of air needed by conventional wood-burning fireplaces.  Such fireplaces have become exceptionally ineffective and generate high levels of damaging emissions, which in turn pollute outdoor air and can have harmful effects on indoor air quality. But in spite of these harmful effects, everyone still wants a fireplace. Fortunately, there are already new fireplace designs available in the market today. They offer a safe, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional wood fireplaces. Aside from the advanced combustion wood-burning fireplace, a prominent option among many is a well-designed and energy-efficient gas place.

Benefits

For the past years, gas fireplaces have gained increased popularity among homeowners. It carries with it many benefits that made it all the rage over wood fireplaces. Here are some of its benefits:

No more hassles and mess in getting wood anymore.Wood pieces all over the hearth and floor as it is carried havebeen one of the biggest complaints for wood burning fireplaces. With a gas fireplace, you simply have to push a button and the fire ignites.

It’s the easiest way to get instant fire. During cold and rainy seasons, the convenience of simply pushing the button can immediately give you the warmth you need for your room. Gone are the days when you have to go out to get some wood because you run out of stock.

No chimney fires. If the chimney is neglected or not cared for properly, it can incept chimney fires caused by the residue from burning wood fires. With a gas fireplace, you only have clean gas to burn and you’ll save money on low maintenance on a gas fire.

You get instant heat. Although a wood fireplace is much effective in throwing off as much heat, a gas fireplace installed with a “heatilator” still heat a small room. And that’s done with just a push of a button.

You can turn off a gas fireplace. Unlike the conventional wood fireplace that needs wood fire to smolder during the night, you can easily push that button again to turn off the gas fireplace. This is actually more safe-effective.

No need to clean the chimney. Since the gas fireplace does not produce any wood residue, chimney cleaning is eliminated. This means less work for you.

It is safer. Because of the safety of sealed combustion units, it offers little chance for toxic combustion gases to spill into the room.

What to Look For

Although gas fireplaces have been around for years, a great deal of effort has gone into making excellent gas fireplaces. Some great units sold in the market offer an appealingly attractive flame which are very proficient and can save energy in your home. Here are some things you should know when shopping for a gas fireplace.

3 Types of Gas Fireplaces

There are three basic types of gas fireplaces available in the market: inserts, factory-built fireplaces (zero-clearance units) and freestanding designs.  The daunting part of the shopping will be sorting though the vast array of models available to choose a unit that is as proficient as possible and the one that can best match you needs.

Inserts are utilized to transform existing wood-burning masonry or factory-built metal fireplaces to gas. The gas burner and replicated logs are bounded in a distinctive metal housing that tailors into the existing fireplace cavity. The unit is composed of a glass front for viewing and a ornamental metal trim. Present chimneys must be relined with a permitted vent when a gas insert is attached.

Zero-clearance gas fireplaces are utilized in installations where there is no present fireplace like in new home construction or a renovation project. With this type of gas fireplace, the replicated logs and burner are contained inside their own firebox, around which is an inner and outer shell. This type of fireplace can be put in inside the house envelope, even against an outside wall.

Free-standing gas fireplaces on the other hand characteristically look a lot like some of the new wood-burning stoves. Such units are known to be more proficient in giving off heat to the house. It’s due to the exposure of the entire fireplace’s surface to the room. The glass fronts utilized on all of these gas fireplaces can be assembled from hardened or ceramic glass since such material is somewhat better at transferring infrared heat into the room.

Gas Fireplace Safety Tips

If you have a gas fireplace in your home, it is only right that you enjoy its benefits especially the warm and light it can give to a room. It may cause harm but you can always follow safety tips to enjoy your gas fireplace safely. Here are some handy tips that you can follow:

To avoid burns, let the gas fireplace cool for at least 45 minutes after turning it off. The appliance and glass panel may cause burns when not cooled so make sure to not let your children near the fireplace without supervision.

It is recommended to have a physical barrier such as a fireplace safety screen or safety gate especially if you have children roaming around near the gas fireplace. Although safety screens attached to the fireplace may still conduct heat, it can decrease the chance of burns in case it is accidentally touched.

Install a switch lock to avert children from turning on the gas fireplace and make sure to keep out of reach from children the gas fireplace remote control. Also, it’s important to never leave young children alone near an operating fireplace.

If you have visitors, make sure that they are notified of the burn hazard of the hot temperature of the glass panel of a gas fireplace. Discuss fireplace safety with all your guests and make certain that they should never be in contact with the glass panel of a gas fireplace.

Firefighters have responded to several cases of carbon monoxide alarm going off in the middle of the night. In order to get as much heat in, people crank up the furnace; but it involves the risk of excessive carbon monoxide. Using gas appliances for too long in a less ventilated area would increase the chances of poisoning from the odorless, tasteless, and colorless killer.

Majority of these cases occur during cold weather; people increase usage of different gas appliances including the heater. Without them noticing, they increase the emission of carbon monoxide indoors. Any gas appliance releases higher amount of emission if used more often, and during cold weather that people bring in space heater and even grills.

No one realizes the danger of excessive carbon monoxide because it cannot be determined through senses; dizziness, nausea, and shortness of breath are signs of excessive emission indoors. However, not many relate these symptoms to their gas appliances. Carbon monoxide detectors are good tools in being alerted if this happens.

Keep the entire household ventilated when using any gas appliance. Also, it is best to limit the usage for a few hours every day. Regularly checking up on gas appliances for signs of leaks and malfunctions would lessen the risk of excessive emission or noxious buildup inside the home.

If any instance that there could be too much carbon monoxide in the household, immediately open windows and head out as quickly as possible. Minimize inhaling the poisonous chemical and call for emergency. Let professionals inspect the gas appliances and guarantee that the emission has been normalized before heading back in.

Gas appliances are good alternative instead of household appliances that use electricity; in the long run, using gas instead of electricity can save a lot of money. Also, using gas would reduce the dependence to electricity so even when the lights are out you can cook or still have warm water. It is very important, however, to have your appliances regularly safety checked by a professional or manufacturer representative. This is to lessen the risk of accidents and to guarantee that each appliance is functioning well.

A gas safety check-up is a routine standard check and inspection of appliances which use gas in order to function. An authorized manufacturer’s representative or a professional contractor can conduct the procedures; it is not suggested to amateurishly inspect on gas appliances at home. It is better to entrust the safety check to someone who knows everything he is doing.

During a check-up, the inspector must be able to analyze and diagnose if:

• the appliances are used properly
• appliance settings and gas pressure are correct and stable
• ventilation within the area is provided for (to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning)
• gas appliances are working without any gas leakage or malfunctions

If there are any minor problems, the contractor can easily fix them. Safety check-ups should be done annually, but you must be able to identify anything unusual like a foul smell. Be alert on signs that would imply that you need to have your appliances serviced or checked up:

• gas appliance does not function properly
• crisp blue flame means it is working properly, weak yellow flame means it is not
• black marks or stains are visible on the gas appliances
• increased condensation inside the room

Gas fireplaces are good alternative to wood-burning fireplaces; gas would be more convenient and easier to manage at home. It is important, however, to hire a reputable contractor with years of experience in installing home fireplaces to make sure that you get the level of fireplace service and beauty that lasts. Consider it as a start to a good gas fireplace safety measures that you must keep to prevent accidents or malfunctioning.

1. Hire a professional contractor. Converting a wood-burning fireplace into a gas fireplace is not a DIY kind of chore. A thorough and expert work with the gas line or a propane tank must be guaranteed to avoid leaking, malfunctioning, and even fire accident.
2. Install necessary precautions. When using gas appliances, there is a risk of carbon monoxide poison as the gas continuously produces it. Aside from opening a window to replace lost oxygen and to let out excess carbon monoxide, installing an oxygen-depletion sensor can help protect families from accidents. Some call the sensor as “safety pilot” which automatically shuts off the gas line if the temperature of the fireplaces turns too cold or when there is excess carbon monoxide build-up.
3. Consult with city or county building codes regarding restrictions and standards for installing gas fireplaces. Contractors must also seek building permit to guarantee specific standards that must apply.
4. Regularly and inspect the chimney, gas fireplace, and gas lines. Routine maintenance is important to make sure that there are no hidden problems with the fireplace.
5. Installing carbon monoxide detectors on every floor in the household can give more security and avoid poisoning. Furnace, stove, and fireplaces emit too much carbon monoxide when used repeatedly. Usage of gas fireplaces should be limited to a few hours every day to minimize the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning.
6. Keep children away from gas fireplaces; the glass can heat up to 500 degrees and would cause third degree burns. Since cases of children getting burned have been increasing, companies are releasing safety net doors to be installed in front of the glass. This is to prevent children from touching the glass and burning their hands.

In case of any signs of fireplace problems, immediately seek professional assistance either from the nearest fire department or gas fireplace contractor. This is not a DIY job that anyone can do; only professionals must handle possible problems with gas line of the fireplace. Any unusual odor or irregularities with the flames, it is safe to contact a professional immediately.

Gas ovens are more efficient tools in cooking; you can have more control with the temperature which can hasten heating. The moisture that the flame creates also adds flavor to the foods. Also, electric stove can be more costly when used for longer-term. Gas ovens are more affordable for obvious reasons that gas is cheaper than electricity. Some people are too afraid to purchase gas ovens for safety reasons, but there are secured gas ovens available to lessen the risks of any accidents. Nevertheless, it is better to always be safe by following guidelines on how to maintain gas ovens.

Make sure that the gas oven is not in contact with anything flammable. This includes but not limited to: newspapers, magazines, books, paints, clothes, rags, solvents, chemicals, cleaning products and kitchen towels. Fire accidents begin with a tiny spark and by simply avoiding any circumstances that may produce flames could go a long way.

When installing a gas oven into your kitchen, it is ideal to hire someone who has expertise in gas appliances. Make sure that the oven has a safety valve for the gas line so you can turn it off when not in use. Routine check is also necessary if you have to preserve the gas oven and to also double check if there are problems that need repairs. Regularly clean residue like food stains, grease from oil, and other spillage; these may also cause accidental fire in the future.

Have a reliable fire extinguisher nearby also to be extra sure in case an event of a fire; put at least one in the kitchen so it will be easy to find. There are different kinds of fire extinguishers, so make sure to purchase one that kind best eliminate fire from gas ovens. If during fire and the household does not have an extinguisher, take a lid of a pan and smother the fire by putting it on top. Dump baking soda into the fire may also work.

Gas appliances emit carbon monoxide when in use; if someone in the household experiences unexplained nausea, dizziness shortness of breath, or headaches, make sure to move somewhere with proper ventilation and fresh air. Rule out carbon monoxide poisoning by double checking if the gas oven has been left on or gas leakage happened. Seek professional help regarding this matter; avoid using gas appliances for too long and always keep the area ventilated.

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