Three Reasons Your Home Is Better Off With A Gas Fireplace

Although wood burning fireplaces have always been the conventional option for homes, gas fireplaces have steadily increased in their popularity. They afford households a myriad of advantages when compared to their wood burning counterparts. As such, more homeowners are considering this alternative when seeking to include a fireplace in the design of their home. Here are some of the reasons why your home would be better off with a gas fireplace.

They are easy to operate

One of the most dramatic differences when it comes to these fireplaces and their traditional counterparts is their ease of use. With the conventional fireplace, not only do you always have to have starter materials at hand, but also you constantly have to stoke and prime your fire to keep it going.  With a gas fireplace, you get heat immediately simply with a flick of a switch. In the event that your gas fireplace is not generating heat, chances are it is out of gas.

Flexibility when it comes to installation

Gas fireplaces with a direct vent have several options when it comes to their location. You could opt to have it installed against a wall similar to the traditional counterparts. Generally, if a gas line and a vent can be run from that area, then the technician can install it wherever you like. Due to the array of options available when contemplating a location, these fireplaces are easy to integrate with your current décor. All you would need to do is consult with your contractor on how best to remodel the fireplace to suit the location.

They are a cleaner option with easy maintenance

With a wood burning fireplace, you would need a regular chimney sweep as well as flue maintenance to ensure that everything is running smoothly. You do not have to worry about this when you opt for the gas alternative. Lack of ash and other residual materials once the fire stops burning means less time spent cleaning it. Generally, the maintenance involved is ensuring the vent is checked annually, to ensure it does not have any blockages. The contractors can also come in to ensure there are no gas leaks, too. Other than that, they run cleaner than their traditional counterparts do.

One thing to note, though, is that gas fireplaces will increase your utility bill. This is unlike their wood burning counterparts that use firewood. This would be something to consider when contemplating making the switch to this alternative. For more information, contact a company like Northwest Chimney Service Inc.