If your home is out in a fairly rural area and not near natural gas lines, your two fireplace options are wood or propane gas. There are many reasons you will be happy with a gas fireplace over wood. Starting a fire is as simple as flipping a switch as opposed to all the wood and kindling you have to lug into the house to set up a traditional wood fireplace. On top of that, let’s not get started talking about the differences in clean-up afterward. While a propane gas fireplace does offer a clean and efficient alternative to wood, there are still steps you need to take to maintain it and optimize its heat output.
A Direct Vent Gas Fireplace Is the Best
You are already a step ahead in terms of optimizing the amount of heat you receive from a fireplace by going with a direct vent gas fireplace. Approximately 70 percent of its heat stays in the house as opposed to either a cordwood fireplace or a gas fireplace that still has a flue. Most of the heat generated by a fire going right up and out the flue is not very efficient at all for staying warm on a cold winter’s night.
Get Your Propane Fireplace Inspected and Maintained Regularly
Maintenance of your propane gas fireplace involves cleaning out debris from the vents as well as checking the faux logs and inspecting the gas lines for leaks. Any debris in the vents can increase the operating costs and reduce your energy savings, which is a big reason for having a propane fireplace. Such maintenance will also extend the life of your fireplace. Additionally, if it’s a propane fireplace, you will need to schedule occasional propane refills to keep enjoying those winter nights in front of the fire.
Choose the Right Amount of Heat Output for Your Room Size
Gas fireplaces come in a variety of models with vastly different heat output ranges. If you are actually interested in using a fireplace to heat the room it’s in, instead of merely for aesthetics, then its heat output becomes an important consideration. You don’t want one that puts out too much heat for a room of a given size because then you are wasting energy and giving yourself a hot rather than cozy room. There is a formula for determining optimum heat output for a gas fireplace, so you are getting just what you need for a given room and no more.
Seeing to All Your Propane Gas Needs
At East Coast Propane, we will handle all your residential propane needs. Located in Hulmeville, we serve customers in Bucks County and Montgomery County in the Philadelphia area. We provide propane fireplace transformation and refill services that will keep your hearth operating efficiently and extend its life. We have been in business for over 10 years and offer fast and affordable propane refills. We carry a wide variety of propane tank sizes to serve all your needs. Whether you have a simple propane grill or fireplace or you use propane to heat your entire home, we serve all residential propane customers’ needs from our Hulmeville location with unmatched customer service.