Gas Fireplace Conversion and Your Home

If you live in an older or vintage home, you may be fortunate to have a wood-burning fireplace that originated with the house. People moving into newer homes or who are building a new home quickly realize that many cities and towns no longer allow new constructions with wood-burning fireplaces due to the smoke that they exhaust. Those who already have a wood fireplace will quickly discover, however, that older fireplaces can be very inefficient heat providers. Much of the heat produced by the wood goes up the chimney and outside, rather than inside your home. There is also routine cleaning of a wood-burning fireplace that many people find messy. For these reasons, people with homes that have wood-burning fireplaces often decide to add a gas fireplace conversion into their remodeling plans.

A gas fireplace conversion begins with the addition of a fireplace insert replacement. An insert is sized to fit the exact opening of your current wood-burning fireplace, and it essentially plugs any little holes where heat can escape, turning your fireplace into an efficient heating machine thanks to the fireplace gas conversion.

Efficient heating is important for anyone, but especially for those who live in colder climates such as Denver, Colorado. When it comes to fireplace replacement, Denver homeowners are quick to notice the improved heating as well as the savings that come from using all the available heat produced rather than having a portion of it wasted, as in the previous scenario prior to the gas fireplace conversion.

Some people are loathe to do a fireplace gas conversion because they believe that they will lose the bright flame that is produced in a wood-burning fireplace. That may have been true with early gas fireplace conversion units of decades past, but it is no longer the case. Your modern fireplace insert replacement utilizes the latest technology of burner systems made of durable stainless steel and gas logs crafted to look like real wood, so that you get a flame and appearance that very closely resembles a wood fire with your fireplace conversion. Decorative fireplace inserts are also available in traditional and contemporary styles suitable for use in any home.

If you are moving into a home that needs work, you may be faced with a gas fireplace replacement. Older gas fireplaces need to be updated, and a new gas fireplace replacement will increase your home's value while providing you with an excellent and efficient heating source.

Fireplace gas conversion is not a do-it-yourself project. For more information about fireplace replacement, Denver home owners can visit a nearby fireplace showroom.

Susan Slobac is a consultant in the fireplace industry. Susan writes about trends in gas fireplace conversion & gas fireplace replacement.