Why Choose A Direct Vent Fireplace
If you are a homeowner whose home doesn’t have a fireplace, you’ve likely wondered how you could reasonably install one. A direct vent fireplace is a great option for someone who wants a fireplace in his or her home but doesn’t have a traditional fireplace with a chimney. They can also be a good option for someone with a traditional fireplace, but we’ll talk more about that later.
Direct vent fireplaces don’t require a standard chimney. Instead they are directly vented to the outside through a wall. This wall has to be external. This is the one of the only limiting factors to where you can install the fireplace. The fireplace uses the venting to get air to fuel the fire, and also to allow the byproducts of combustion to escape. This direct vent method is more affordable than constructing an entire chimney.
A direct vent gas fireplace doesn’t require constant maintenance like a wood burning fire does. Once the fireplace is on, it stays on. No tending to the fire, it takes care of itself. Because its form of fuel is gas, it also requires less cleanup.
One of the things that make a fireplace so desirable is the fire itself. Just because you are sacrificing a real fire doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the look and feel of a fire. The gas log of the fireplace imitates a real fire. There is no way to exactly replicate a wood burning fire, but direct vent fireplaces have come a long way in the appearance of the flame. They are much more authentic than they used to be a few years ago. The flame can usually be viewed from the front of the fire. The fire not only looks warm, but it provides heat output as well.
One of the reasons this is a popular option for a fireplace is because of its heat efficiency. The fireplace is much more efficient than a traditional wood burning fireplace. Most of these fireplaces have blowers to help push the heat into the room. Direct vent gas fireplaces are a great way to provide additional heat to a room.
A direct vent gas fireplace insert is a great option for someone who has an existing fireplace, but want to increase its efficiency. The insert can be placed in the existing masonry with the venting going inside the chimney. Installation is especially easy if the fireplace you had before was gas. You will need to have access to a gas line to properly fuel the direct vent fireplace insert. You may require the assistance of a professional when installing the insert.
A direct vent fireplace is an affordable option. You can find models less than five hundred dollars. Also consider that maintenance is minimal and should cost very little in the lifetime of the fireplace.