A Guide to Fireplaces: Types and Accessories

by DoItYourself Staff

Wood Fireplace

Burns seasoned wood or manufactured wood logs to provide primary or secondary heat to a home.

Newer prefabricated fireplaces are more energy efficient than traditional masonry ones.

Must use a venting system. In a conventional, open-face fireplace, the chimney serves as the vent. The drawback is that it pulls warm air up the chimney and out of the house.

A prefabricated fireplace has an enclosed firebox made of a material that will hold some of the heat from the flue gases so more heat is radiated back into the room.

Fireplace systems will incorporate a damper in the flue, which can be closed when the fire is extinguished. Otherwise, the warm air will continue to flow out of the house through the draft that is created.

Gas Fireplace

Uses natural or LP gas.

Burns either natural or LP gas to provide primary or secondary heat to a home.

Conventional models require a venting system and a smoke dome or chimney installed through the roof.

Newer gas fireplaces can be vented through the wall using a power vent.

Built-in units require no special flooring or hearth front. Can be converted to a wood-burning fireplace.

Vented Gas Log

Requires a venting system and a smoke dome or chimney, installed on the roof.

Operate at a range of 60,000 to 90,000 BTUs and loose heat as they require the chimney damper to be open.

Made of high-temperature, heat-resistant ceramic or cement in a variety of finishes.

Place directly on the fire grate or lay on a flame pan covered with a bed of volcanic granules for a more realistic looking fire.

Requires no electricity to operate.

Fits into fireplaces with a gas hookup and can be installed into any UL-listed, solid fuel burning fireplace.

Vent Free Gas Log

Operates with the chimney damper closed, thus preventing heat-loss.

Has an adjustable input with a maximum of 40,000 BTUs.

Any unit made after 1980 includes an oxygen depletion sensor (ODS) that shuts off the heater and flow of gas if the oxygen level in a room becomes inadequate.

Another safety feature is an automatic shut-off valve to shut off the gas flow if the pilot light is extinguished or the gas flow is interrupted.

Made of high-temperature, heat-resistant ceramic or cement in a variety of finishes.

Placed directly on the fire grate or lays on a flame pan covered with a bed of volcanic granules for a more realistic looking fire.

Requires no electricity to operate.

Fits into fireplaces with a gas hookup and can be installed into any UL-listed, solid fuel burning fireplace or in an

American Gas Association (AGA) design-certified, vent-free fireplace listed for use.

Fireplace Insert

Airtight fireboxes that can be inserted into fireplaces and mimic some of the effects of a wood-burning stove.

Most types draw air from the room, circulate it around the insert and return warmed air to the room.

Some units have blowers to help distribute the heat.

Grate

Holds burning logs off the hearth.

Prevents logs from rolling forward.

Using a grate and andiron allow air to circulate and feed the fire, while ashes fall away from burning logs.

Andiron

The andiron is a pair of metal bars with decorative front shafts that hold the logs.

Using a grate and andiron allow air to circulate and feed the fire, while ashes fall away from burning logs.

Glass Enclosure

Improves fireplace performance by controlling air intake, making the wood burn more slowly and retaining more heat in the firebox. Additionally, the fireplace pulls less warm air from the house.

Allows user to leave the fire unattended.

Allows a clear view of the fire while keeping smoke and sparks out of the room.

Most have a built-in draft at the base to direct air to the bottom of the fireplace opening. This allows the user to easily start and control the fire.

Mounts securely against the face of the fireplace and overlaps the opening.