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How do I Choose the Best Ventless Gas Fireplace?
If you are interested in buying a ventless gas fireplace for your home, you may be overwhelmed by the options. This type of fireplace does not require you to have a chimney, which means that you can typically place it nearly anywhere in your home. One of the main details to think about, though, is the size, as a small room often calls for a small fireplace. You should also consider the appearance, since it is usually best to choose a gas fireplace that matches your home's décor. Finally, think about the accessories that you might want, such as a remote control or a unique glass door to put in front of the fireplace.
You should take the room size into consideration before buying a ventless gas fireplace, as the larger ones tend to fit best in large, open rooms. If you are unsure whether the fireplace that you are considering is a good size for your home, you should find out the BTU output. In most cases, large rooms do best with fireplaces that feature 25,000 BTUs or more, while smaller rooms only need an output of about 5,000 BTUs. The product details may also be able to lead you in the right direction, as sometimes the manufacturer suggests the ideal room dimensions for the ventless gas fireplace in question.
Of course, you will probably want the fireplace to match your existing décor, as this will allow it to function as a decoration while also heating the house. For this reason, there are a few styles of ventless gas fireplace available. For example, you can choose wood or brick for a traditional look, while concrete usually provides a more contemporary appearance. You should also consider color when choosing, as the fireplace should match or contrast well with the rest of the room.
Most manufacturers of ventless gas fireplaces offer a few accessories to enhance your experience with this product. For instance, a remote control can allow you to turn the fireplace on or off from a comfortable chair, which can be particularly useful if the warm glow has lulled you nearly to sleep. Other accessories can add to the appearance of the ventless gas fireplace rather than your convenience. One example is a glass door that looks similar to a bay window, which is often a sought after look in a home. This accessory often comes with gold or silver accents, adding an elegant touch to any room.
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![A ventless gas fireplace.]()
A ventless gas fireplace. -
![A ventless gas fireplace should harmonize with the room's overall decor.]()
By: MNStudioA ventless gas fireplace should harmonize with the room's overall decor.
Discussion Comments
We have been thinking about installing a ventless gas fireplace in our home. We are pretty sure there used to be a fireplace here that was taken out, so we're looking to replace it for aesthetic purposes. I have found a few estimates of how many BTUs you need for different sized rooms, but I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with these types of fireplaces.
The room we will be putting the fireplace in is pretty big, about 650 square feet with a vaulted ceiling. A calculator I found online said I would need about 30,000 BTU. Does that sound right? Do these usually under or overestimate?
Are there any tips or advice you guys might give me about installing and using the fireplace. I'd especially like information on creating different effects and moods with my fireplace.
@kentuckycat - I am pretty sure they make fake gas fireplace logs. Obviously, they wouldn't have all of the sound and smell of real logs, but it would give the fireplace a more authentic look.
I think my favorite fireplace accessory is the set of old fashioned fire tending tools like the poker and ash shovel and those things. I usually see them as cast iron, but lately, I have seen more modern versions that are made out of different types of metal and other materials.
Since the article talks about considering how a fireplace would look with the rest of a house, I think it is nice that companies have realized that cast iron might not look good in every house. I think it just plays into the fact that people aren't using fireplaces for practical purposes as much any more.
@cardsfan27 - I assume you could pick whatever fuel was most efficient for you. I don't know anything about gas pipeline installation, but I doubt it would be too hard to get someone to put a line in your house wherever you needed it.
I would be more interested to know how much gas a fireplace would use. I'm not familiar with propane, but I know natural gas can be pretty pricey. It sounds like a ventless fireplace would be more of a cosmetic thing rather than something you would be using as a primary source of heat in the winter, so cost would be something to consider.
I think the thing I wouldn't like about having one of the ventless fireplaces is that you couldn't put logs in them. I think that is part of the allure of a fireplace is being able to see the logs burning and hear them popping. Without a chimney, though, your house would get full of smoke and ash.
I don't know if you could find a ventless fireplace at a normal home improvement store or if you would have to go to a specialty place. I did a quick search online and found a bunch of online companies selling them.
What kind of fuel would a ventless gas fireplace use? I have heard of fireplaces being able to use both propane and natural gas. Depending on where the lines were located in the house, I could see how that could potentially limit the fireplace's location.
If you buy a ventless fireplace like this, how much do they usually cost just for a normal sized house? Can most people install them on their own, or do you have to have a professional come and do it for you? Where would you even buy one of these, and what would the cost be? I don't think I have ever seen them being sold anywhere, but I've never been in the fireplace market, so maybe I just haven't noticed them before.
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