For a standard unit, the main installation requirements are 1) a connection to the gas supply line and 2) an adequate venting mechanism. Like their zero-clearance cousins, gas fireplaces don’t need a ton of room. If you’ve ever cracked a window when a wood fire got a little too hot for comfort, then you know that, delightful as they are, traditional fireplaces do not excel in energy efficiency. That’s true in part because gas models feature thermostatic controls, enabling the homeowner to operate the fireplace as if it were a traditional heating system. A wood-burning fireplace pollutes a gas fireplace pollutes less. Plus, gas fireplaces are much easier to start-say goodbye to all that newspaper!-and there’s no cleanup or danger of fire from errant embers to worry about.Įnvironmental friendliness is another reason why gas fireplaces have become more popular. While they don’t offer the sounds and aroma of a wood fire, gas fireplaces create lovely ambiance and often supply more warmth than wood does. But whereas zero-clearance fireplaces can usually be installed anywhere, these more efficient designs must be situated on an exterior wall. By not having to draw air from the room, these fireplaces can operate up to 70 percent more efficiently. Some models, however, contain an external air-venting feature, one that draws air from the outdoors. Normally, zero-clearance fireplaces vent through a lightweight metal tube that extends through the ceiling. So, if your room measures 12 feet by 15 feet-for a total of 27 feet-then choose a model with an opening of at least 27 inches. The number of feet you calculate will be the best size of the opening-in inches-for your fireplace. Measure the width and length of your room, then add those measurements together. When it comes time to make a purchase, the real question is, “How big?” You can determine the ideal size for a zero-clearance fireplace with some simple math. Wood-burning, gas, and electrically powered zero-clearance models are all available, with the difference between them largely being a matter of lifestyle and personal preference. For rooms of any size, but for small rooms in particular, homeowners have found that zero-clearance fireplaces are a sensible, more than satisfactory option. Because they are lightweight and have firebox enclosures that always remain cool, zero-clearance fireplaces can sit directly over hardwood floors and within a few inches of existing walls. In comparison with masonry fireplaces, zero-clearance fireplaces are much easier and less expensive to install, requiring significantly less construction work. A nonmechanical way to address this problem is to build a fireplace with a slanted firebox, which inhibits warm air from escaping to the outside. Without such a system, masonry fireplaces can steal warm air and send it up the chimney, resulting in higher monthly heating bills. Once that air is heated, a low-voltage fan pumps it back out into the home. Talk to your builder about the merits of an air-circulating system, which forces the fireplace to draw in cooler air from the room. Local building codes typically give detailed specifications for each of these details as well as for the minimum distance between a fireplace and combustive materials. Related: 10 Accessories for the Fashionable Fireplaceįurther considerations include the dimensions and thickness of the firebox, the size of the damper opening, and the type of chimney and liner used. When used in the quantity necessary to build a fireplace of average size, these materials are hefty indeed, so building codes require that the house framing be modified to accommodate the increased load. Before you do anything else, identify the room in which you plan to locate the fireplace, then make sure its floor joists are reinforced. Adding one to an existing home presents myriad challenges, but it certainly can be done. It’s a lot easier learning how to build a fireplace like this in new construction. A masonry fireplace consists of a brick or stone firebox, a brick or stone chimney, and, more often than not, a wood mantel. When the average person envisions a fireplace, this is the kind that comes to mind. Arguably, it’s also the most attractive and impressive-looking. The most expensive option is a wood-burning masonry fireplace.
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