Our Company Blog
Advantages of Gas Logs
Do you long for a warm, cozy fire crackling in your fireplace, only to spend the winter looking at an empty firebox because of the work it takes to build a fire? Do you envision an open-hearth fireplace where a chimney simply can’t go? Gas logs could be just what you need for your hearth. Gas logs are an often overlooked hearth option, but they offer homeowners a wide range of advantages.
Gas logs allow you to enjoy a fire with no work.
If you were to ask most homeowners with gas logs in their fireplace why they choose to install gas logs, convenience would probably be the No. 1 answer. Gas logs provide the look and feel of a traditional open-hearth, wood-burning fireplace, but with no labor needed to ignite or maintain the fire. Turn on a switch or press a button, and you can relax or entertain next to a roaring fire.
Gas logs are cleaner.
Wood fires are dirty. Not only do you have to clean the ash out of the fireplace, but every time you burn a fire in your wood-burning fireplace, you’re filling the air in your home — and your neighborhood — with fine particles that travel in wood smoke. In fact, many health organizations discourage the use of wood-burning fireplaces due to compromised air quality.
Gas logs are safer.
Sure, it’s pleasant to listen to the crackle and pop of a wood-burning fireplace, but that crackling can be dangerous! In a wood-burning fireplace, embers unexpectedly fly and logs can shift without warning. Either of those events can ignite a nearby object or burn someone sitting near the fireplace. Gas logs eliminate the danger of unexpected embers or shifting logs.
Gas logs allow you to put a fireplace in challenging spaces.
There are limits to where you can install a full-scale fireplace. Whether space is small or impossible to run a vent to, gas logs can provide a fireplace option where no other type of fireplace is possible. Gas logs come in a variety of sizes, so a small fireplace can be constructed in small spaces to accommodate gas logs. Gas logs also come in an unvented variety; they burn so efficiently that they don’t emit enough smoke to warrant a chimney. That means you can install a fireplace in a space that can’t accommodate a chimney or vent.
Gas logs are beautiful.
These days, manufacturers create beautiful ceramic gas logs that very closely mimic real wood-burning fireplaces. You can purchase gas logs in nearly any variety of “wood,” and the logs are styled to have knots, branches, and even ax marks. If you prefer a more contemporary look, you can even forego the logs and opt for a set of smooth river rocks or glass stones to sit in your gas-burning firebox.
If you are ready to outfit your hearth with a beautiful set of gas logs, stop by Tri-County Hearth & Patio. We can help you find a set of gas logs that will have you enjoying your beautiful fireplace all winter long.
Want a Fireplace, but don’t have a Chimney? We Can Help!
It’s almost universal that homeowners love a good fireplace. A fireplace adds warmth, ambiance, and décor to any home. For many, however, a fireplace seems out of reach due to the lack of a chimney. If your home doesn’t have a chimney and you can’t build one — because it’s cost prohibitive, not possible in the room you want your fireplace to be installed in or because condo association or HOA laws don’t allow it — that doesn’t mean you have to rule out a fireplace altogether. If you want a fireplace but don’t have a chimney, Tri-County Hearth & Patio can help!
How can I have a fireplace without a chimney? 
Installing a fireplace where you can’t have a chimney seems counterintuitive. How on earth will you vent your fireplace or heating stove? There is actually a whole category of ventless fireplaces and heating stoves. These ventless heating appliances come with a variety of benefits. They’re nearly always cheaper and easier to install than their traditional, vented counterparts. They can be installed in small rooms and interior rooms that are impossible to install vented appliances in. They are incredibly efficient when it comes to generating heat. They are easy to operate and require little maintenance, other than an annual cleaning and inspection. What are my ventless fireplace options?
What are my ventless fireplace options?
There are a surprising amount of ventless fireplace and heating stove options. You’re sure to find one that fits your space, heating needs and style. When you look at ventless heating appliances, you’ll generally find three options:
- Electric fireplaces and heating stoves. Electric fireplaces and heating stoves are incredibly easy to install. They generally only require to be taken out of the box and plugged into a 120-volt outlet, which makes them a possibility for just about any space in your home.
- Ventless gas fireplaces, inserts, and stoves. Ventless gas fireplaces, inserts, and heating stoves are an incredibly popular choice for homeowners looking to install a fireplace or stove without the chimney. They run on natural gas or propane and are incredibly efficient heat sources. They do require a gas line to operate, making them more expensive to install than their electric counterparts, but they can provide flames that very closely mimic traditional wood-burning fireplaces.
- Ventless gas logs. Ventless gas logs are a great option for people who want the look of a traditional, open-hearth fireplace without the chimney. Ventless gas logs need to be installed in a safely constructed firebox, but they provide a very realistic flame that can be hard to tell from an actual wood-burning fireplace. As with a ventless gas fireplace, ventless gas logs to require the installation of a gas line to the fireplace. How can I find the right ventless fireplace for my home?
How can I find the right ventless fireplace for my home?
If you’re ready to find the perfect ventless fireplace for your home, stop by the Tri-County Hearth & Patio showroom today! You can see some of our ventless fireplace options in action and consult with our fireplace experts to find the ventless fireplace or stove that fits your home and heating needs!
