Posted: November 13, 2023

Gas Fireplace Installation: What Are Your Options?

A Breakdown of the different types of fireplaces

Oftentimes, what automatically pops into our heads when we think of a fireplace is an image of a real burning fire and authentic, real firewood.

But these days there are a whole bunch of options when it comes to a home’s fireplace and fireplace installation.

If you are a homeowner who is thinking about either installing a new gas fireplace or upgrading your current gas fireplace, you may be confused and overwhelmed with the different types of gas fireplaces that are out there on the market. So Star Tex is here to provide a thorough and simple breakdown of the different types of gas fireplaces that are available that will hopefully make selecting a gas fireplace easy and hassle free.

The Difference Between Wood Fireplaces and Gas Fireplaces

Before we explore the different kinds of gas fireplaces that are available, let’s first take a step back and go over the difference between wood fireplaces and gas fireplaces.

The biggest difference between wood fireplaces and gas fireplaces has to do with venting and how they operate.

Gas fireplaces ignite immediately and their heat output can be 100% controlled by a thermostat. Wood fireplaces, on the other hand, require someone taking the time to ignite them and then additional time is required before the room that they are in actually gets warm. A damper is what controls the heat that wood fireplaces give off.

Different Types of Gas Fireplaces

When it comes to gas fireplace installations, there are three different venting options:

• Direct-vent: Recommended for homes that don’t have a chimney, these fireplaces use outdoor air to create combustion and then they get rid of that air through a vent. This decreases the amount of heat that is typically lost with a standard chimney system. In order to have a direct-vent fireplace in a home, your fireplace has to have a sealed glass door to protect indoor air quality, help the fireplace operate efficiently and sustain accurate combustion.
• Natural vent/B vent: If your home has an existing chimney, a pipe or flexible liner can be installed in this chimney to eliminate combustion and create what is known as a natural vent system (this is also sometimes called a B vent system).
• Vent-free: These days, chimneys and vent systems are no longer a necessity for fireplaces. That’s where vent-free fireplaces come in. Thanks to catalytic-converter technology, these types of fireplaces can get rid of the hot air a fire creates as it’s released from the combustion chamber.

More Things To Know About Gas Fireplaces

Here are some additional helpful things to know about gas fireplaces:

• Adding an insert to your fireplace helps it work more efficiently by keeping heat from immediately going up a chimney.
• Lots of homeowners want their gas fireplaces to look real and this includes an image of lit up logs. The good news is that you can get this look even if you have a gas fireplace with manufactured ceramic or cement logs that resemble real wood.
• It is highly recommended to regularly service your gas fireplace with professional maintenance. This servicing should include an inspection of the burner, fan, vent, pilot light and thermostat.

Star Tex Has Propane For Your Gas Fireplaces

If you are a homeowner in Waco, Burnet, Gatesville, Lampasas or College Station, Texas and need propane for your gas fireplace, know that you can count on Star Tex Propane. Our highly trained and professional team has been providing propane to members of the community for over 30 years and we’ve got more than 900,000 gallons of propane storage in our facilities.

Contact us today to learn more about our propane delivery options and to start receiving Star Tex’s friendly, responsive and reliable services.