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Gas Fireplaces Go High-Tech
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Gas fireplaces are all the rage. As little as 15 years ago,
gas fireplaces in the home
were almost an oddity, but today, they are one of the
most sought-after home features. In fact, since the
mid-1990s, gas fireplace installations have been more popular than cord-wood fireplace installations, reports Don Johnson, director of market research for the
Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association. In 2004, 2.1 million gas-fueled hearth appliances were sold in the United States versus fewer than 500,000 cord-wood
units.
Today's gas fireplaces offer great options for contractors, builders and designers to showcase a room, while adding significant value to the home's resale value. Don says gas units have shown resiliency against price increases in natural gas that have occurred over the past few years. "Gas fireplaces look so realistic, and they are less expensive to put in from a builder's standpoint," Don says. "Gas units are highly desired by the consumer because people don't have to store and haul wood, mess with bugs or insects, and the fire is easy to start."
Additionally, many gas fireplaces also qualify as "heating appliances," offering not just beauty but functionality. Don says they also can be an excellent alternative heat source, such as to warm a basement area or extend the usability of a seasonal porch. "Few models, though, are likely to be used to fully heat rooms. Most will be used for atmosphere and to take the chill off a cold room," he adds. However, if the house is well-insulated, one of these fireplaces can allow the homeowner to turn down the heat several degrees.
Contractors can choose from two types of units to meet their clients' needs:
Direct-vent units represent the majority of gas fireplace sales. They pose no indoor environmental concerns, but they must be located relatively close to an outside wall, Don says.
Fireplace inserts act like stoves and are designed to fit snugly into an existing fireplace. "Whether burning wood, using gas, or burning pellets, inserts usually make the fireplace more efficient, easier to use and attractive," Don says. In 2004, manufacturers shipped about 100,000 fireplace inserts in 2004 for the U.S. market; about two-thirds of them were gas-fueled. They're often a much less expensive option, especially in cases where existing fireplaces and chimneys need significant work to be safe to use with wood.
Fireplaces are also available as vent-free units, which don't require venting to the outside. However, these units are controversial. While some in the industry say that they are safe as long as they are well-maintained and used properly, others insist that since they have no venting, these fireplaces pose a threat to indoor air quality.
Not just a pretty place
If fireplaces strike you as pretty darn low-tech, take a look at some of the recent innovations, which Don cites as positive features in both aesthetics and comfort:
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Realistic flames resembling natural cord-wood fires, complete with glowing embers at the base
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Durable, authentic-looking artificial logs and flame control
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Blowers, often located behind the mantle, that push warm air in the room
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Automatic control by thermostat, timer or wall-mounted or remote control.
"The trend is for unique designs and styles in fireplaces. Each manufacturer is trying to outdo the other," Don says. In the extreme, fireplaces are showing up resembling a picture frame on a wall or mounted over a television; in glass cylinders that look like an eternal flame in the living room, and even in elaborate displays that combine fire with water.
Marcia Jedd is a Minneapolis-based freelance writer who frequently writes about design and construction.
Content © 2008 Marcia Jedd | Another Creative Web Solution by
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