Within the last decade gas fireplace stoves have become increasingly popular. With such a vast amount of styles and sizes to choose from, literally hundreds, you are sure to find one to suit your décor needs as well as your budget. There are also a variety of mantles to choose from such as brick or marble to add to the décor. The modern designs which are available beautifully simulate their wood burning counterparts and they not only look good but provide an excellent and reliable heating system as well. There is no need for electricity so they are extremely reliable even during power out when you may need heat the most and some other popular addition options include wall thermostats or switches, remote controls and blowers.

Within the realm of gas fireplace stoves there are three basic types. The “Ventless” type needs absolutely no venting at all and can be installed literally anywhere and up against any wall. They must pass strict emission and safety standards. They are equipped with an oxygen depletion sensors pilot system which is almost flawless in safety record. Some states, such as California in USA, do not allow these types of stoves or restrict their use. Many experts and manufacturers agree that these types of stoves are for intermittent and supplementary use and should be used only while under supervision.

The second variety namely the “Direct Vent” type is a stove that can vent either right through the wall or up through the roof. The location options are very flexible for this type of stove and it can be installed virtually anywhere such as directly beneath the windows. This stove operates on a sealed, double pipe venting system (one inside the other). The inner pipe is the exhaust pipe and the outer pipe serves as air intake making the system very efficient and safe. The third variety is the “Top Vented” type which vents through the roof, often utilizing a chimney. These are designed similar to the wood stove design and use the special aluminum gas pipe or B vent but can easily be fitted to existing masonry or metal chimneys. For proper ventilation, models typically utilize a 4 to 8 inch pipe so modification of existing vents may be necessary.

You can find gas fireplace stoves at nearly all home improvement stores. There are also many companies who sell and install these units. You can install them yourself or buy one and hire someone to install it for you. Typically the manufacturer offers a warranty which can range from limited to lifetime