Having a gas fireplace can be a great way to entertain in the fall and winter, but it can be much more than that. If you want to use your fireplace as an alternative heating source to keep heating costs low, there is some planning that you will need to do before winter hits for it to be effective.
Start Planning Now
If you have decided to use a gas fireplace to help you heat your home this winter, you should start now with your plans and changes so that this will be possible. If you previously had a wood burning fireplace, you will need to talk to a company that can put a gas insert into your existing masonry. This means finding a contractor and getting the system installed correctly so that it will be efficient.
Direct Vent Fireplaces
It is important that your gas fireplace or insert has a direct vent system. The direct vent system will allow 70 percent of the heat from the gas fireplace to stay in the room that it is in. With a direct vent fireplace, you can easily heat up to 1,000 square feet with very little fuel.
Additional Features
There are some other things that you will want to do to prepare using your gas fireplace for heat. You will want to make sure that you have ceiling fans installed in the room where the fireplace is, as well as in the rooms where want the heat directed. Heat rises, and if you install ceiling fans and put them on the correct setting, they will push the warm air down and through the house.
If you are interested in using a gas fireplace to cut your heating costs this winter, contact us today for more information or to get started.
