Fireplace inserts are designed to increase the efficiency of the heat output in your home. Few things are as relaxing as gathering around the fireplace when temperatures outside are ruthless. Whether you're enjoying the company of your friends and family or savoring a moment of solitude and peace, coziness is king. We're big fans of an incredibly cozy and useful product: the gas fireplace insert. For more information on fireplace inserts (as well some pretty neat products), stay with us on this journey through the land of heat and cozy winter temperatures.
Best Gas Fireplace Insert Comparison Table
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Types of Fireplace Insert
There are three main types of fireplace inserts: electric, gas, and wood-fueled. In the following paragraphs, we will give you an overview of each type and see what it goes and how it can serve you.
Electric Fireplace Insert
These are very common because they are the least complicated type of all the others out there. They do not need vents because there is no actual combustion that requires ventilation. They have a small heater with a certain number of BTUs (usually up to 5k). The flickering lights of these fireplace inserts create the illusion of having an actual burning fire, but there is no real fire involved.
Some electric fireplace inserts allow you to adjust the flame's dimensions, and probably the best part about them is that they can be used with or without heat. So, if you want to enjoy the view of being in front of the fire without the need for actual heat, electric fireplace inserts are the right products for you.
Gas Fireplace Insert
A gas fireplace insert is the best solution for an old wood-burning fireplace and would turn it into a gas-powered one. However, unlike an electric fireplace insert, a gas one needs to be installed by a professional who is authorized to make all the required changes and make sure that your chimney can handle the smoke emissions and won't out you or your home in danger.
There are usually three main subcategories for this type of product:
Ventless gas fireplace insert: These types of inserts use the natural gas pipelines in your home to produce flames that run in artificial ceramic fiber logs.
Vented gas fireplace inserts: These are the most popular types of gas fireplace inserts. They draw air from outside of your home and help protect the indoor air quality by doing so.
Gas fireplace insert with a blower: A gas fireplace blower works pretty similarly to a fan, and its role is to move around hot air into the room. What it does is suck cold air out of the room and blows it inside the fireplace. There are plenty of benefits to a fireplace insert with a blower, such as those models with built-in thermostats that will reduce your electricity costs.
Wood Fireplace Insert
Wood fireplace inserts are often chosen because of the view they offer. There is nothing like looking at an open fireplace, but that comes at the cost of emissions. Wood smoke is an air pollutant.
Benefits of Using a Gas Fireplace Insert
Before spending money on a product, let's make sure that you understand the benefits that it has to offer so you can determine if a gas fireplace insert meets your needs and solves your problems:
They are easy to install. That means that those of you who already own a fireplace can have a vented gas fireplace insert installed in its place. It takes hours to install a gas fireplace insert.
They have a reliable fuel source. Since wooden fireplaces can only run if you have wood, that means you need to make sure that you never run out of this resource. With a gas fireplace insert, you have a constant gas flow supplied by either a propane tank or your home's gas pipelines.
They are easy to maintain. When you compare them with wooden fireplace inserts, gas-based ones don't generate any ash, which means cleaning them is less of a hassle.
They provide a constant heat flow. With wooden fireplaces, you only get heat while the wood is burning. That means that you continuously have to put wood in the fireplace to enjoy warmth the entire time. Since gas fireplace inserts have a built-in thermostat, they adjust the amount of gas intake to generate a constant heat output and keep your indoor air at a constant temperature.
They are safer to use. Most people think that having gas pipelines so close to their home poses a hazard for an explosion, but the truth of the matter is that gas fireplace inserts are way safer than people think. Because they are easy to install, they can be set up in any room in the house. You should be way more worried about having a wood fireplace in your bedroom than a gas one.
Best Gas Fireplace Insert Reviews
Let's look at the products that impressed both experts and regular homeowners with what these inserts had to offer.
Best Gas Fireplace Insert on a Budget
This beautiful gas fireplace insert uses an electronic ignition system and is vent-free. It measures 19 x 23.75 x 12.5 inches and weighs a total of 11 pounds. It uses either propane tanks or natural gas to draw fuel and give you a pleasant and warm ambiance regardless of the room where it's installed.
It comes with an adjustable thermostat that helps you save money on your gas bill while providing a constant heat flow to help you make it through every winter comfortably. It can cover up to 400 square feet of home space and is made primarily out of metal. It uses an airflow technology system to provide you with decent heat flow, and it can be used with any ventless gas log set.
- "Adjustable thermostat.
- "Electronic ignition system.
- "Good area coverage.
- "Brick layer prone to damage. "
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Best Ventless Gas Fireplace Insert
You're going to love this ventless gas fireplace insert if you're looking for a small and affordable unit. It is designed for areas up to 800 square feet, making it perfect for small apartments or studio flats. It comes with a thermostat that offers different heat settings. It operates at 15,000 BTUs and uses either propane tanks or natural gas pipelines to draw fuel and operate.
It has built-in oxygen depletion sensors, which is super helpful in terms of safety. It will automatically shut down the fireplace insert in case of low oxygen or carbon monoxide detention. It measures 10.75 x 27.7 x 16 inches overall and weighs a little under 11 pounds. The hand-painted logs are a beauty to look at, and the battery-assisted Piezo ignition ensures a streamlined experience when powering up this gem every time.
- "Dual-fuel technology.
- "Fast ignition.
- "Good price.
- "Less than desirable customer service. "
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Best Remote-Controlled Gas Fireplace Insert
Even though we try to be as subjective as possible when it comes to the product we review, there's something about the R.W.FLAME gas fireplace insert that made us fall in love with it. It could be the remote control integration that allows you to sit comfortably on the couch and still operate the insert without even having to get up.
Much like the other units on this list, the R.W.FLAME fireplace insert has a dual fueling system, meaning it can be connected to either a natural gas line or a propane tank. It can heat areas of up to 400 square feet and operates without the need for a vent. It has an adjustable thermostat for consistent temperature levels and can provide a maximum heat output of 26,000 BTU.
If you are looking for a fireplace that grants control over its features without lifting much more than a finger, then you are going to love what the R.W.FLAME insert has to offer.
- "Remote control operation.
- "Vent-free system.
- "Filler included.
- "Flames are not adjustable. "
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Bottom Line
As you can see, the market is no stranger to quality gas fireplace inserts, but you need to know a little bit about these kinds of products if you're going to make the right shopping decision. Compared to wood fireplace inserts, these that are powered by gas are safer to use and easier to install, plus they use fuel that's always at your disposal. Whether you choose a vented or a ventless model, a gas fireplace insert can offer a constant temperature throughout cold winter months, making you realize you've spent your money wisely.