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Fireplaces

Fireplaces are a fantastic addition to any home in the colder months of the year – bringing warmth, style, and a cosy ambience.  Almost any home can be fitted with a fireplace, and the large variety of fireplaces means that there is one to suit just about every home.  We’ve outlined the different types of fireplaces below.

Gas Fireplaces

These fireplaces can be installed just about anywhere, as they are housed inside their own metal casing.  Ceramic logs and a burner are inside the fireplace, and when these are lit, a realistic-looking flame appears.  There are actually three different types of gas fireplaces:  direct vent, top vent, or vent free.  Direct vent gas fireplaces have two pipes that lead to the outside of the home, with one pipe using combustion air from the outside and the other pipe venting the exhaust gases.

Top vent gas fireplaces can be installed directly into an existing fireplace and they use the chimney as the exhaust vent.  The air for combustion is drawn from inside the home itself. Vent free fireplaces, as the name suggests, does not have an exhaust vent.  Rather, it has a sensor that detects the levels of oxygen within the home, and the gas is turned off automatically if low levels of oxygen are sensed.

Gas fireplaces are a great choice as they are low in maintenance and also extremely clean as there is no solid fuel being burnt.  They are also better for the environment as there is no smoke or particulates entering the air.  And if the power should be shut off to your home for some reason, your gas fireplace will still keep operating, keeping the family warm.

Prefabricated Fireplaces

These fireplaces are prefabricated and installed in walls with wood frames.  They are typically made with a metal shell and a firebox that is lined with brick, and are also known as zero clearance fireplaces.  Because these fireplaces are so highly insulated, they can be installed as close as one inch to combustible materials.  They are lighter and more energy efficient than standard masonry fireplaces.  They are the most common fireplaces used by both builders and homeowners, and they come in radiant or heat-circulating options.

Masonry Fireplaces

There are many different types of masonry fireplaces and many of them are able to reach efficiency levels of up to 85 percent.  Masonry fireplaces work by creating a very hot fire over a short period of time.  The heat is stored in the masonry, which then radiates the heat out slowly over the period of the day.

Fireplace Inserts

Fireplace inserts are essentially the same as the wood burning fireplaces such as the prefabricated fireplaces but they are designed to fit into your existing fireplace opening and to use the existing chimney.  As a result, they are often smaller than other fireplaces but they are easier to install.  However, be aware that they may need to be removed during maintenance, depending on how they have been installed.

Freestanding Fireplaces

As the name suggests, freestanding fireplaces are not placed within a wall and thus have all of their surfaces exposed.  These fireplaces can burn natural gas or wood, depending on your preference.  The exposed surfaces mean that they are efficient radiant heaters.

Pellet-burning Fireplaces

These fireplaces are simpler than other wood burning fireplaces as they burn wood pellets – compressed wood that looks similar to rabbit food.  These fireplaces use computers to determine how much of the pellets should be burned at any one time, with most of these fireplaces having at least two burn settings. Some also have thermostats.  Pellet-burning fireplaces use forced air to distribute the heat.

Fireplace Maintenance

No matter what type of fireplace you have, maintenance will need to be performed at some stage, especially if you have a wood burning fireplace.  It is important that the ash is cleaned out regularly and that the glass and gaskets are kept clean.  You will also need to have a chimney sweep inspect your fireplace regularly, preferably every year.

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