Types of Fireplaces
Do you have an older fireplace, or are you thinking about putting one in a new home? I’ve had friends & parents replace and old and I have personally added one outside, an electric one inside and now replaced a direct vent on in a new home.
So are you curious about types of fireplaces and what you can do in your home? I
’ll give you the run down from what I have learned over the years. Please note that I’m not a professional fireplace person. =)
Types of Fireplaces
Wood Burning Fireplace - This is common in older homes with or without a gas start. We don’t see them very much any more in new construction due to the cost of building it. While I love the smell of a campfire outside, it also isn’t my favorite to have a house smell the same.
Gas Log Fireplace - This is a common replacement for a wood burning gas fireplace. You can pick out a log set and have a professional install it. Then all you have to do is turn on the gas and you have a real flame fireplace then inside your home.
Direct Vent Gas Fireplace - This type of fireplace runs on gas through a chimney stack typically either out the side of the stack or all the way up through the roof. I’m currently replacing one in a new home we purchased and the costs can range from $3000 for decent to $7500+ for good brands. Something to consider when purchasing these is the maintenance that it may require. I asked a lot of questions about the different brands before deciding on one. I am using an awesome local company, THE STOVE SHOP, to install it. This type of fireplace does give off heat into your home when turned on, which is great on the colder days we experience in the Midwest. The amount of heat depends on the brand and specific unit of fireplace you choose. You can place a TV and mantle above, but you have to be conscious of combustible clearances on this one.
Electric Fireplace - This is great if you do not have a chimney in your home and want to build out a fireplace. It allows for you to have a small amount of heat and gives a great ambiance with the changing colors of the different options in the flames. We installed one in our current home and turn it on regularly. There are many linear and square options to choose from. Depending on where you order from, reach out, as I get a discount at a few places for these!
Ventless Gas Fireplace - These don’t need a chimney as well and they use a loop system to pull in air to then burn the fuel. They do give off heat and are another option to add a fireplace into a home. We added a ventless gas open fireplace in our outdoor screen porch. It gives off great heat and the kids love to use it to roast marshmellows.
Some of the websites that I have used and or purchased from:
Things to Consider
Your space - do you already have a chimney or fireplace box, or are you building a new one?
Combustibles - This means what can you put in front of the fireplace on the floor or hearth? How high up does. mantle have to go for safety? Can you put items in front of the. fireplace?
Clearances - This is for the surrounds of the fireplace. For example for a direct vent box, you need specific surrounding clearances around the box for air to move and for safety.
Outside Factors - If you are adding in a vent, what is on the outside of your home? How close is it to a deck or tree? If you have all brick, it is a bit harder to go through and for specific vents you cannot have it directly next to a deck.
There are so many things to consider when purchasing a new fireplace. Consulting a professional is your best best, but I hope this helped you gain some knowledge!
Have questions, reach out! I may or may not be able to answer them but can definitely direct you to the right people to get answers as well!
Cheers!
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