Blog

Now that fall is here, you are most likely getting your home ready for colder weather and thinking about the most economical and efficient ways to heat your home this winter. If you have an older masonry fireplace, you may be looking for ways to increase its heating efficiency and to reduce your heating costs. All American Chimney Service can help you find the best option for you to keep your home cozy and warm without wasting energy and money on utility bills. One of the most popular options available is installing a new gas heating appliance into the opening of your existing fireplace, and we carry a wide variety of different types of hearth appliances in all sorts of styles and designs. Our chimney and fireplace technicians are certified by the National Fireplace Institute as gas fireplace experts, so you can trust us to make sure your new gas fireplace appliance is properly installed to work safely and efficiently for many winters to come. To help you decide which type of these appliances is right for you, we would like to tell you more about gas fireplace inserts.

What is the difference between vented and ventless gas fireplace inserts?

When you are shopping for a newgas fireplaceinsert, you will need to decide whether a direct-vent or ventless insert will be the right choice for you. According to HouseLogic, direct-vent gas fireplace inserts are the safest choice because they exhaust all of the combustion gases and water vapors created by burning gas away from your home. These inserts also use outdoor air to keep the flames going strong. Although ventless gas fireplace inserts do not exhaust fumes and moisture out of your home, they have higher energy efficiency ratings (92 to 99 percent) than direct-vent inserts (60 to 80 percent) because no heat escapes out of the chimney. As long as you follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions, a ventless insert is completely safe to use in your home.

What are the benefits of updating to a gas fireplace insert?

All American Chimney Service loves the convenience and ease of using a gas fireplace insert. Most models allow you to start a fire from your favorite chair by pressing on a remote control. You can also easily adjust the flames to find the right amount of heat to make your home comfortable in the winter. When you burn a wood fire, you have to wait for the fire to completely extinguish before leaving your home or going to bed, but you simply turn your gas insert off as soon as you need. You will also be free from the chores that come with a wood-burning fireplace. If you are tired of sweeping up ashes and bringing in firewood every time you have a fire, you will really enjoy the simplicity of using a gas fireplace insert. Typically, an annual appointment to inspect and service your appliance is the only maintenance required. These energy efficient heating appliances burn very cleanly without producing a lot of pollution, which is a big plus for the environmentally conscious. The high energy efficiency ratings also mean you will be saving money on your heating bills every winter, and you can increase your savings by using the insert for zone heating your home.

Considering updating your old fireplace to a new gas appliance?Contactus at All American Chimney Service to learn more about all of the gas fireplace options you will find in our online fireplace store.