Other Types of Fireplaces
Fireplaces have been around for many years. They are built to keep the house warm during winter and also serves as stoves or cooking area. Over the years the fireplace developed along with the times. Variations of fireplace designs emerged so that we now have different types of fireplaces.
The wood fireplace burns wood, as the name implies. Wood that is used maybe seasoned wood or manufactured. These types of fireplaces needs a venting system. The old ones uses a chimney while newer models use a flue. This is not a very efficient heating system as the heat escapes through the chimney or flue.
There are prefabricated fireplaces usually made of metal with a brick-lined firebox. They can be installed in wood frame walls. They are highly insulated so you can install them within an inch of combustible materials like wall framing. They are much lighter in weight and easier to install compared to the standard masonry fireplaces.
Wood stoves are basically metal containers for fires. It has an inlet for combustion air and a combustion gas outlet for smoke. Newer designs have controls for the air vents that can control the fire. One of the drawbacks, however is the indoor air pollution it creates, especially with wood used as fuel.
Wood fireplaces can be converted by using a fireplace insert. Inserts can be gas inserts, where you convert to gas fireplace, pellet stove where compressed wood looks like rabbit pellets but has more burning efficiency than regular wood, or the electric insert to convert your fireplace into an electric one.
Gas fireplaces run on LP gas or natural gas. Like the wood fireplace, they also need ventilation systems, such as flue and smoke domes. Some gas fireplaces come in with a power vent that serves as the venting system of the unit. Gas logs can be vented or vent free. They are mostly made of heat resistant ceramic or cement and has a variety of finishes.
Gel fireplaces are fireplaces that run on gel as fuel. They are energy efficient are smoke free and odor free. One can of gel can last as long as two and a half hour. There are also gel inserts that you can use to convert your old fireplace into a gel fireplace.
Electric fireplaces run on electricity so there is no need for fuel and no need for ventilation. You just need an electric socket to plug in and get the heat level that you need to warm up your room. Also has inserts that can convert any fireplace into an electrical one. You may lose on the electric bill but it is more cost efficient if you compare it to the cost of winter heating.
The advantages of the newer fireplaces is that you don't need to clean any chimney or sweep ashes or stoke the fire in the middle of the night just to keep the fire burning. You just turn it on and you have heat.