Unless you’re fortunate enough to live in an area with mild winters, chances are you spend a good amount of time thinking about how to stay warm during those chilly months. While there are plenty of methods for staying cozy—from fat sweaters to hot cocoa —a gas fireplace is one of the most effective ways to keep your home feeling warm and inviting all winter long. In addition to being a beautiful focal point in your home, a gas fireplace offers many practical benefits as well. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at why you should have a gas fireplace from the many wonderful reasons why you should have one in your home, and NorCal Fire and Grill is the best place to see a lot of variations to offer.
They’re Safer and More Convenient Than Wood Fireplaces
If you’re switching out a wood-burning fireplace for a gas-burning model, you’ll immediately reduce your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. You should know that a gas-burning fireplace emits very little CO, but an indoor wood-burning fireplace emits a significant amount of CO, which can lead to health problems like headaches, nausea, and even unconsciousness. The best way to avoid this is by installing a CO detector in your home, but you can also choose to install a gas fireplace instead. Gas fireplaces are much safer than wood-burning fireplaces because they don’t create CO or produce messy ashes. Gas fireplaces are also more convenient than wood-burning fireplaces because you won’t need to purchase wood or chop logs.
They Produce Very Little Amount of CO
As we mentioned above, gas fireplaces emit very little CO, which is great for your health and for the environment. In addition to emitting very little CO, a gas fireplace also produces very little smoke, which is another benefit that wood-burning fireplaces do not offer. Wood-burning fireplaces produce a lot of smoke, which has a strong odor, can cause irritation to the eyes and throat, and can even make your indoor air quality worse. A gas fireplace, on the other hand, produces very little smoke, making it a much better choice for indoor heating.
They Offer A Range of Temperature Settings
If you’re concerned about burning your home down, never fear: gas fireplaces offer a range of temperature settings so you can control the level of warmth. If you choose a model with a thermostat, you can also program it to turn on and off as desired so that you don’t have to worry about accidentally leaving it on all day or all night. If you prefer a manual model, you can simply choose a setting based on your desired level of warmth. For example, if you want your room to be around 68 degrees, you can set the flame to its lowest setting. If you want it a bit warmer, you can raise the flame until you achieve the desired temperature.
You Can Use Them Year-Round
Gas fireplaces are often used during the winter months when people are trying to stay warm, but they can also be used year-round. During the summer, you can use a gas fireplace to provide light and a cozy atmosphere, or you can use it as a source of cooling. If you have an electric model, you can turn the fan on to create an airflow, which can help you maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. If you have a gas model, you can use the thermostat or manual settings to increase or decrease the temperature, which can help you stay cool during the hot summer months. A wood-burning fireplace, on the other hand, can only be used during the winter months, which is a big reason why you may want to choose a gas fireplace instead.
They’re a Great Option for Condo Owners
If you live in a condo, you may be limited in terms of what you can do to improve or update your home. One thing you can do is switch to a gas fireplace, which is often allowed in condos and apartments. In fact, many condos have already switched over to gas-burning fireplaces to meet health code requirements, including those in New York City. If you live in an area that allows gas fireplaces, you can get many of the benefits of a traditional wood-burning fireplace without violating any codes. A wood-burning fireplace can create a lot of smoke, which can negatively affect the indoor air quality of your condo. On the other hand, a gas fireplace does not produce any smoke, so it does not pose the same problem.
The installation process is much easier than installing a wood fireplace.
If you’re worried about installing a gas fireplace, don’t be. The installation process is much easier than installing a wood-burning fireplace. The only thing you’ll have to do is make sure your gas line is properly installed and that your fireplace is connected to it. If you’re installing a wood-burning fireplace, you’ll also have to chop wood, stack it, and take care of the ashes. The installation process for a gas fireplace is much simpler, which is another reason why you may want to choose a gas over a wood fireplace.
2 Important Things to Remember Before Installing A Gas Fireplace
First, make sure you have enough space in your home for a gas fireplace. A gas fireplace is not very small, and you’ll need to make sure it fits in the right spot. If you don’t have the right amount of space in your home, you’ll have to find another place to put it, which might not be easy. Second, make sure you have the proper amount of clearance around your gas fireplace. You don’t want anything blocking your gas fireplace, like furniture, plants, or other items, so make sure to keep plenty of clearance around it. The clearance around your gas fireplace will depend on the model that you buy, so make sure to check the specifications before you install it.
3 Tips to Make Your Gas Fireplace Even Better!
- Go for a natural-looking gas fireplace. If you want your gas fireplace to look as close to a wood-burning fireplace as possible, you can paint it any color you want. Alternatively, you can choose a gas fireplace with a natural finish, which will look closer to a wood-burning fireplace than a painted gas fireplace would. - Get a glass door for your gas fireplace. A glass door can improve the look of your gas fireplace and help keep your home clean. It can also make the flame easier to see and create a warm, cozy atmosphere. - Consider adding soundproofing to your gas fireplace. If the sound of the gas fireplace is bothering you or your neighbors, you can add soundproofing to reduce the noise.
Conclusion
There are plenty of reasons to have a gas fireplace, including the fact that they produce a very little amount of CO and offer a range of temperature settings. They are also a great option for condo owners, and the installation process is much easier than installing a wood fireplace.
