Everyone loves a blazing fire, but many of us do not have the time or energy required to tend a woodstove or fireplace. Recognizing these conflicting facts, the hearth industry has developed a broad line of LP and natural gas fueled products that realistically mimic the look and feel of a wood fire, but that start and stop with the flip of a switch. You can enjoy the warmth of a fire without the cutting, hauling, starting and cleaning up of wood. You don't even need to have an existing fireplace.
These new "appliances" fall into three categories depending on how they handle the byproducts of combustion. The categories are Chimney Vented, Direct Vent, or Unvented.
The chimney vented category has been around the longest, and includes gas logs that fit into an existing fireplace, using its chimney to carry away exhaust gases. Although early models looked very artificial with blue flames that never moved, new models appear amazingly realistic with lots of flickering and the yellow flames of a wood fire. Often the gas is routed through a bed of sand or vermiculite where it follows a myriad of paths to the surface allowing it to burn in an everchanging pattern.
The chimney vented category also includes units with a burner and a shell that look like a fireplace or woodstove. They use relatively inexpensive metal gas chimneys, which vent through the roof like regular chimneys. They can be placed almost anywhere in a room, assuming that you can run the chimney up through the ceiling above them. Some chimney vented units, particularly gas logs, can loose a high percentage of their heat up the chimney. To keep heat loss to a minimum, you should remember to close the damper when you have turned them off.
Direct vent appliances are like the all-in-one vented units, but the short "chimney" runs through the wall behind the appliance. Actually constructed using two concentric pipes, this venting system brings in outside air for combustion through one, while the exhaust goes out through the other. The only restrictions are that the unit must be placed against an exterior wall and be kept away from windows. A direct vent heater is a good choice for newer airtight houses since it does not use up indoor air for burning. Balancing the intake and exhaust also allows for higher heating efficiency.
Unvented appliances are all-in-one units that include both the burner and a shell that resembles a fireplace or woodstove. They do not require any chimney or other form of venting. Just place one of these any anywhere in a room, hook up the gas, and you're ready to go. Combustion efficiency is close to 100%, thanks to burners designed with fixed jets, but this also makes them the least realistic looking. On the flip side, this means that all the heat produced is warming the room, not escaping through a chimney.
Although efficiency is nearly 100%, there are still byproducts of combustion, mainly water and carbon dioxide. Water vapor can make dry winter air more comfortable, and all unvented units have oxygen depletion sensors that shut off the gas if the oxygen in a room falls below safe levels.
One caveat with these units: some people report eye or throat irritation when they are in a room with an unvented appliance. Be sure to visit a store that is burning an unvented unit before you buy.
Now you know the basics about decorative gas heaters. With all the choices available, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the warmth of a "wood" fire. The good news is that making the decision will be the hardest part.
|
|
Peggy's Sugar Cookies
Weather Instruments
Household Gifts
Children's Toys
Classic Toys
Outdoor Living