How an Efficient Gas Fireplace Can Transform Your Heating Experience
If you’ve ever shopped for a new manufactured fireplace or browsed through model descriptions, you’ve encountered the word “efficient.” We all know what “efficient” means, but not everyone is familiar with how it applies specifically to gas-fueled fireplaces.
American Chimney & Fireplace of Louisville, KY, would like to share a little about gas fireplace efficiency and what it means to you as a homeowner.
How efficiency is measured
There are three main ways to measure heat.
- BTU
This stands for British Thermal Unit and identifies the level of heat a gas fireplace or other appliance can produce.
You’ll see the BTU listing on any new fireplace you purchase. The higher the number, the greater the heat. Modern gas fireplaces range in BTU outputs from 10,000 to 70,000, with around 30,000 being common in most homes.
- Combustion efficiency
Combustion efficiency measures how much of the heat produced by an appliance is available to the room. This is often described with a heat-efficiency rating.
Most of today’s gas-burning fireplaces carry heat-efficiency ratings between 65% and 85%. If your model rates, say, at 75%, it means that about a quarter of the generated heat will be lost, typically through the venting system, while three-quarters of it can be used to heat your home. But that’s assuming the heat can get into your home, which leads to the next measurement.
- Heat transfer efficiency
Warmth inside a firebox doesn’t mean a lot if it can’t move into the room. Manufactured gas fireplaces distribute heat through special airflow designs, blowers, and heat exchangers.
These components send warm air into the home and can be configured for the ideal room temperature and comfort level.
Making a comparison
These numbers become clearer when compared with those of traditional masonry fireplaces, which feature an open design and are hand-built on site.
While they’re great at producing heat, they’re not very good at holding onto it. It’s not uncommon for a masonry fireplace to lose as much as 90% of the heat it generates right up the chimney. In this case, the heat-efficiency rating would be an abysmal 10%.
Other advantages of gas fireplaces
Beyond their ability to produce heat and use it, gas fireplaces bring several other important benefits.
- Can be installed in virtually any wall in the home with a drafting chase connected on the exterior wall
- Easy to start and stop; easy to set the desired temperature
- EPA-certified for clean burns and reduced emissions
- Gas fireplace logs with shapes, bark patterns, and burn marks to resemble real wood logs
- Minimal firebox mess; minimal maintenance required
- Heavily insulated for safety near walls and floors
- A range of gorgeous design styles, finishes, and sizes
Is it time to look into a new gas fireplace for your Louisville, KY home?
If you want to replace your inefficient masonry fireplace or add an additional fireplace to your home, a new gas model might be the answer.
Visit our showroom at 11600 Electron Drive in Louisville, KY, and we’ll help you select the perfect appliance that meets your heating needs and decorative tastes. Our installation team will then install it for you correctly and safely.
Learn more by giving us a call. You can also get in touch through our contact form.
