Why You Need a Gas Fireplace

Hint: It’s better than streaming a fake one on Netflix and your friends will actually appreciate it.

You don’t want to chop or stack wood, but many homeowners are pressing a button and enjoying a warm, mood-enhancing fire (and we aren’t talking about using the remote to turn on the Netflix version). You can get a gas fireplace for ambiance, but these units can provide consistent, efficient and cleaner heat, and you can have far broader installation options, too.

Gas Fireplace Perks

Push-button Warmth & Ambiance

You can’t oversell the convenience of gas fireplaces — and as busy as we all are these days, between careers, home and family, the minimized work plays a big role in many homeowners’ choice. But it goes beyond the ease of starting and maintaining an enjoyable fire — manufacturers have added plenty of other figurative bells and whistles to modern units, including remote controls, timers that turn the fireplace off so you can fall asleep to a warm fire, blowers and fans that circulate more heat through the room and thermostats that keep that heat consistent.

Realistic Fires

True, you’re not stacking up logs for flames to curl around, but that doesn’t mean your fireplace won’t look like you have been. Ceramic refractory gas logs have come a long way — many are hand-made and hand-painted to look incredibly realistic, from knots and bark to glowing embers. You could choose deep, charred logs, light beach wood — sacrificing aesthetics for function is definitely a thing of the past.

Broader Installation Options

There are multiple considerations when you’re installing a masonry wood-burning fireplace, from the chimney to the concrete footing that holds it up. Pre-fabricated gas fireplaces can offer more flexibility. Zero clearance units are constructed so that minimal space is needed between the fireplace and surrounding combustible materials. Vent-free units don’t even need a traditional chimney. Chimney professionals can help you understand the options that might work best with your needs and the room you’re hoping to add a fireplace to.