Natural Gas or Propane Fireplaces** If you, like many homeowners, want the beauty, the warmth and the ambiance of a fire in the fireplace but you don’t want the mess and bother of a wood fire, a natural gas or propane fireplace might be right for you.
Gas fireplaces can provide all of the warmth, all of the ambiance, and all of the cozy beauty of a blazing fire with a very handy on/off switch and none of the mess getting rid of ashes or hauling wood into the house.
The appearance of gas logs has come a long way in the past fifteen years. You can purchase a set of gas logs for any size fireplace that looks real both when there is a fire and when there is not. As is the case with most other things, the more you are willing to pay for the gas logs, the better they will look. The only things missing with gas logs are the smell of the burning wood and the sounds of the fire.
Natural gas or propane fireplaces offer a number of advantages for today’s busy lifestyles and for city living. Starting a gas fire doesn’t require bringing in wood, finding kindling and struggling to get the fire started. With gas, you just flip a switch. Gas fires burn cleaner than wood and don’t require any work to keep them going. When you want the  fire out, you just flip a switch again. Gas fireplaces also offer more consistent heat output and the amount of heat and flame is easily controlled with a dial. In many locations, the gas fireplaces can be used for extended periods of time in the event of an electrical outage.
Most of the newer models of gas logs and the gas fireplaces are vent-free, which means there is no need for a chimney and flue. These models are the most efficient because there is no heat escaping up the chimney and because you don’t have to depend on how tightly your flue closes. Some models are made with a blower attached to move the heat out into the room. Most models will put out enough warmth to heat several rooms. You might find electric blowers in doorways helpful in moving the warm air where you want it to go.
Depending on the materials you use for your fireplace surround and mantel, you might need to install a hood to prevent damage to the fireplace surround. This can be very important with some surround materials that could be damaged by exposure to extreme heat or to direct heat. Like a wood-burning fireplace, gas fireplaces can be surrounded with a large variety of materials, including faux stone or brick.
One consideration in times of high fuel costs is that a gas fireplace uses fossil fuels. You will be using either natural gas, connecting to a local gas line or bottled propane gas. When considering the exterior appearance of your home if you are using bottled gas is that there are a number of fireplace designs that create an attractive, yet accessible, covering for the gas bottles.
In any location where a natural gas line is readily accessible or where you want to use propane gas for your fireplace, this can be a very attractive and simple option. Natural gas fires look great, they heat efficiently, and they burn clean, with little or no work after the fire is out. If this is the direction you want to go, you should explore the options available to you to remodel your fireplace to a natural gas or propane fireplace.
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