by Noreen Villarreal
There are many types of fireplaces to choose from these days. You can also choose many options for ventilation for them. You are not limited to the traditional chimney design. One thing to consider is the benefits of a direct vent gas fireplace.
These types of fireplaces are like other gas fireplaces with the exception of having a direct vent above, or to the side of the actual fire place. The purpose of this vent is to suck the fumes that are given off when natural gas burns out of your home and away from you. This ensures your home will not stink, and you will remain healthy. You do have to keep the vent clear of dust though.
Let us not succumb to nature. We will marshall the clouds and restrain tempests; we will bottle up pestilent exhalations; we will probe for earthquakes, grub them up, and give vent to the dangerous gas; we will disembowel the volcano, and extract its poison, take its seed out. We will wash water, and warm fire, and cool ice, and underprop the earth. We will teach birds to fly, and fishes to swim, and ruminants to chew the cud. It is time we looked into these things.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
A direct vent gas fireplace does have its benefits though; contemporary wood burning fireplaces require you to have wood for fuel. These only require you to have gas, and a match, or lighter. This also doesn’t require chopping down trees for fuel. It’s a nice alternative for those of us that don’t like killing trees.
Of course a direct vent fireplace doesn’t mean that you have to have an exhaust fan right over the fire. The term direct vent means a vent that is near the fire and leads directly to it. So a contemporary chimney counts, or you could go the modern high tech way and buy a blower fan and some ducts to make one yourself. Although this can be dangerous so please don’t do it unless you know what you are doing.
Once you get your direct vent gas fireplace installed and running all you need to do is buy some accessories for looks. Contemporary wood burning fireplaces have the usual pokers, a metal grate in front and of course the nice throw rug on the floor. Yes a rug goes with a fireplace, just not in it. Gas fireplaces don’t need this stuff but it can give it an old fashioned look.
Enter Rumor, painted full of tongues.
Open your ears; for which of you will stop
The vent of hearing when loud Rumor speaks?
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
Then you have your outdoor fireplaces meant for cooking or looks. Outdoor fireplaces tend to be a bit of a talking piece during parties, and get togethers. Typically a stone outdoor fireplace will be very durable, and hard to damage. This is necessary for outdoor situation. These can be either woodburning, or gas and you don’t have to worry about ventilation since it’s outside.
People sue fireplaces for a number of reasons. Mainly to keep warm and provide light. Some of us still use them for cooking things. There is nothing better than cooking on an open fire, just make sure said open fire is outside. No one likes to have to call the fire department because you were trying to roast a pig in your living room.
In closing a direct vent gas fireplace is the way to go for some. Others prefer more contemporary wood burning, or gas fireplaces. Regardless make sure you get the right accessories and practice common sense around them. Just because they are modern now doesn’t mean that you can’t get burned literally. It’s also good idea to keep children away from the fireplace. Children plus fire equals a trip to the burn ward, and someone accusing you of being a bad parent.