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Fireplace Design & Fuel Types
Which Fuel Type is Right for My Fireplace Design?
To know which kind of fireplace best suits your
lifestyle, heating needs and budget, here is a general guideline of
features to consider:
Electric
Fireplaces
Electric fireplaces can be installed virtually any
where. They're light weight, portable and require no special
installation experience. Models sold in the US come set up with a 3-prong
plug that plugs into a standard electric outlet. Most offer both light
bulb and special effects to create the look of a fire, plus an electric
heater.
Electric fireplaces are categorized as electric space heaters,
and therefore are limited to 5000 btu. (Built-in, hard-wired electric
fireplace models producing up to 10,000 btu are available but must be
installed by a licensed electrician). As a supplemental heat for chilly
rooms or as a primary heater for small rooms (12' x 12" or so), you may
find them to be the perfect answer. Most can also be used without the
heater to provide an aesthetic appeal to any room, even if it's July and
all you want is the cozy look of a fireplace.
Long used in Europe,
electric fireplaces are rapidly gaining popularity in the US and are
offered in a huge array of sizes and designs. There are absolutely no
odors produced by electric fireplaces and most models don't get hot to
the touch so they're safe to use around kids and pets. They offer 100%
heating efficiency.
Gel Alcohol
Fireplaces
This is another portable fireplace option, but
really should be considered a merely decorative appliance. These
fireplaces come in a wide variety of sizes and designs, and use clean
burning gel alcohol to produce a small flame. These models have no
venting requirements, but the slight odor they produce can be
unacceptable to some users. To fuel the fire, most either use
replaceable cans of gel alcohol fuel or you pour the fuel into a
reservoir and then light with a match.
The flame is absolutely real fire,
so caution must be exercised when replacing the fuel and to keep curious
pets and children at a safe distance. Most gel alcohol fireplaces will
provide a general range of 3000 btu's or so of heat so they may be a
great answer for emergency or supplemental heating in small spaces.
These fireplaces may generally be assembled by the homeowner.
Gas Fireplaces
Gas fireplaces may burn either natural (city) gas
delivered by pipeline, or LP (liquid propane) gas that's stored in a
tank in your yard. Heat output depends upon the type of appliance and
how it's installed. Gas fireplaces are a popular choice because of the
realism of the fire in most models, the convenience of control with on/off
buttons, remote controls, thermostats and/or wall switches with certain
models.
No mess, no fuss - instant fire at the touch of a button. Gas
fireplaces require little interaction by the homeowner, though annual
cleaning and maintenance of the gas burner is required for optimal
performance and safety. Gas fireplaces should only be installed by a
trained and certified technician - check local codes for requirements.
Vent-free gas models require no chimney as they actually vent all their heat (and
associated fumes) directly into the room. Considered to be 99%+ in
efficiency, but safety standards don't allow them to be considered a
full-time source of heat. Great for emergency or supplemental heating
needs so long as there's nobody in the home that may suffer irritation
or health concerns related to the fumes they produce.
Vent-free
fireplaces may not be installed in a bedroom or a bathroom, although
wall-mounted vent-free appliances (usually a more industrial style of
appliance) may be approved for such use in some areas - check local
codes for details. Vent-free fireplaces - also called unvented or
ventless - must be rated at less than 40,000 btu's. Vent-free fireplaces
are a favorite of plumbers and gas appliance stores due to their simpler
installation and high efficiency rating, though many fireplace stores
and chimney sweeps are not vent-free aficionados. You may find a wide
range of opinions about them based on the type of industry professional
with whom you consult.
B-Vent (Natural Vent) gas
fireplaces are designed primarily for decorative use. Generally they
produce a larger and more realistic yellow flame. B-vent fireplaces are
sometimes available without a glass window, so many homeowners are
attracted to this design because of the open, realistic flame effect;
some models do have a glass window so the existence of a window on a
fireplace does not define its product classification. Natural vent gas
fireplaces use room air for combustion and vent fumes through a vent or
chimney that must terminate vertically above the roof line.
The key to
determining whether a B-vent fireplace will meet your heating needs is
to check the manufacturer's listed efficiency rating (gas consumed x
efficiency = heat output). While efficient, heater-rated B-vent
fireplaces do exist, many lower quality "builder grade" fireplaces have
no efficiency rating and, therefore, will not supply substantial heat.
In fact, this category of fireplace will often use the greatest amount
of gas at the lowest range of efficiencies. If you live in a warmer
climate where you want the aesthetics of a fire without much heat, this
may be the appliance for you.
Likewise, bedrooms and smaller rooms may
be a good candidate for a b-vent fireplace, but please check building
codes to see if this class of fireplace is approved in your locality or
for installation in the room where you'd like to use it. Local/national
codes in some areas prohibit the use of b-vent rated appliances,
especially in colder climates. Be aware that very "air tight" houses can
cause performance problems with b-vent rated appliances, so please
consult an experienced fireplace installer who can advise you on the
proper installation and use you are considering
Direct Vent Fireplaces offer the most features with respect to
gas consumption, efficiency ratings and venting options. A direct vent
fireplace will always have a glass window because these fireplaces are
sealed systems using a double walled venting system. Combustion air
enters the appliance via one section of pipe while fumes and moisture
are vented through the other pipe. Most often, a double wall "pipe
within a pipe" system is used.
Subject to each model's requirements for
distance and offsets, direct vent fireplace venting may be terminated
either horizontally or vertically. Efficiency rating will average 65% to
84%, similar to ratings on gas furnaces. Keep in mind that these
appliances must "waste" some of the heat produced to create a draft of
rising warm air to evacuate the fumes produced without aid of a forced
air exhaust system.
Think of direct vent fireplaces as a decorative
furnace: the beauty of a realistic flame with high efficiency. This
appliance is great for primary or supplemental heating and for emergency
backup heating as most work without aid of electricity. Because this is
a sealed system that uses outside air for combustion, direct vent
fireplaces are usually the favored choice among those in the fireplace
industry because of their greater efficiency and exceptionally reliable
performance.
Wood Burning
Fireplaces are the only choice for
certain groups of homeowners. The authentic smell and crackle of
firewood and the overall experience of hauling firewood, carefully
arranging it, and tending to the fire is a winter time ritual for many
families. The vast majority of wood burning fireplaces are designed
mainly for decorative use. The fireplace primarily uses room air for
combustion and damper must be open to evacuate the smoke, so often the
amount of heated air escaping through the chimney results in heat being
lost from the home at an equivalent rate - or even more - than the
amount of heat gained from the fire.
Be aware that wood burning fireplaces will require
the most interaction with the appliance on your part: proper storage of
your wood to keep it dry; hauling fuel to the fireplace and frequent
replenishment to keep the fire burning; cleaning out ashes and disposing
of them properly, plus annual inspection and cleaning of the chimney.
Burning wood creates a flammable chimney residue called creosote that
can clog the chimney or even cause a chimney fire, so responsible wood
burners include annual inspections as part of their home
safety and
maintenance routines. Burning well seasoned wood with low moisture
content will produce less smoke (better for the environment) and will
offer more heat per pound. Responsible wood burners select their fuel
sources carefully and take special pride in proper storage techniques.
Wood burning fireplaces may be site-built masonry
structures, with brick or stone the most popular material; factory-built
metal wood burning fireplaces are also popular and can save thousands of
dollars versus the cost of building a masonry fireplace. If you intend
to heat with a wood burning fireplace, high-end prefabricated fireplace
models are available that include an insulated firebox and chimney
design plus tightly fitting doors that both control the burn rate of the
wood and the amount of usable heat extracted from the fireplace to be
transferred to the living space. When shopping for a factory built metal
fireplace, pay careful attention to the type of appliance you need based
on your expectations for heat. Be sure and include glass doors that can
be closed when the fireplace is not in operation to help assure minimum
loss of heated air up the chimney.
Be aware that in certain localities, decorative
wood burning fireplaces are not allowed in new installations due to
their low heating efficiency and greater contribution to air pollutants,
so check local codes while in the planning stages. Non-burn days may
also affect the times you can burn the fireplace due to local air
quality concerns. Wood burning fireplaces should only be installed or
constructed by a certified, trained technician or experienced masonry
tradesman.
Coal Burning
Fireplaces are generally used only in site-built masonry
fireplaces, or specially designed coal burning stoves. Coal burns much
hotter and longer, pound for pound, than firewood and cannot be used in
prefabricated wood burning fireplaces because this concentrated heat may
damage the fireplace and render it unsafe.
Coal was a popular choice of fuel in the late
1800's to early 1900's and influenced the design of small fireplaces
found in homes built during that era due to the facts mentioned above:
with fireplaces being the main source of heat in many homes during this
era, a small load of coal could heat a room for several hours. Homes of
this era commonly have 4 to 12 fireplaces, so keeping the home fires
burning throughout the winter was a full time job often delegated to a
servant. With the advent of furnaces, coal fireplaces were infrequently
built after 1930 or so.
Coal is not readily available in all areas, and
storage may present a problem for most home owners. Coal also produces
fumes with a sulfuric odor and a particularly corrosive type of soot so
regular inspection and cleaning of the fireplace and chimney are a must.
Conclusion
When planning the installation of a fireplace,
consider your family's lifestyle, price and availability of your fuel
choice in your area, the aesthetic design you desire and the amount of
heat you expect from the fireplace. Above all, make sure you are ready
for the commitment to safety required in your new fireplace's
installation and regular maintenance based on the type of fuel used.
Our certified chimney sweeps will be happy to assist you in safety
inspections, chimney repair, chimney reline questions or any
fireplace,
dryer venting needs.
We
service all of Johnson County, Kansas City Missouri, Northland KCMO,
Lee´s Summit, Blue Springs, Desoto, Shawnee Mission, Lenexa and
everywhere in Between. | 
