When it comes to adding warmth and beauty to your home, nothing beats a fireplace. But, always think of safety first, especially if you have little ones in the house – and with the holidays coming up, that is more than likely. When it comes down to the safety of your family and home, vented gas fireplaces beat out traditional wood burning fireplaces. Here is why the former is the best choice for your San Diego home.
Dangers and Pitfalls of a Wood Burning Stove
Wood burning fireplaces and stoves, as well as coal stoves, have long been a source of heat and comfort in residences around the country. They were the easiest way to heat a home, especially if it was more than one story.
However, they are not very efficient and could actually put your family at risk for carbon monoxide (or other gas) poisoning, a house fire and even lung cancer, due to exposure to wood smoke. These dangers are compounded by the fact that most homeowners do not have their wood fireplaces regularly inspected and the chimneys cleaned. Also, embers in the hearth can stay hot for hours, adding to the possibility of sparks. Finally, the process of obtaining and chopping wood and then starting a fire in the hearth all come with their own perils.
Vented Gas Fireplaces are the Safe Choice
Of the types of vented gas fireplaces, a direct vent is safer and more efficient than a B-vent system. In the state of California, ventless systems are not allowed, which is a good thing as far as safety is concerned.
Vented gas fireplaces do produce warmth and realistic flames, but they don’t produce odors or smoke. However, the flames from a gas fireplace do create carbon monoxide and other gases, just as a wood burning stove does. The difference is that with vented gas fireplaces, these dangerous gases are sent outside the home. Air is pulled from the outside to fuel the gas flames inside via one vent pipe while the other sends exhaust air from inside to out.
Another way that vented gas fireplaces are safer than their wood-burning cousins is the presence of a high temperature panel of glass that seals off the hearth, where the gas flames burn, from a home’s interior.
And finally, the fact that vented gas fireplaces feature valves to control the flow of gas to the fireplace makes them safer, as well. If the pilot light on your fireplace goes out for any reason, the gas is automatically turned off. This prevents gas from building up and being released into the home.
Think Safety First
Are you convinced that vented gas fireplaces are the way to go? We hope you will give us a call or visit our showroom to find a model that is the perfect way to add warmth and ambience to your San Diego area home. At Hauser’s Patio, we both sell and install indoor gas fireplaces, making us your one-stop shop.
