A Real User's Guide To Gas Fire Logs

By Author: Tom Hilton
Total Articles: 22
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When stumbling upon most articles concerning logs for gas fireplace, most readers find themselves pouring over technical data that is often hard to understand and impractical to their own purpose. Although some general technical knowledge is always needed and welcomed, it can often become more so confusing than informative. So this article will try to avoid that, and offer real life information and advice.

Knowing and understanding amount of heat that gas fire logs and gas fireplaces is always the best place to start. Measured in BTU, or British thermal units, gas fireplaces come in various levels of heating strength. There are many BTU calculators online to provide an exact measurement, and these are ideal to ensure that enough heat is produced, without too much. For a traditional sized room, most people have found that vent free logs with a BTU range of 24,000-36,000 BTU’s is enough to offer plenty of heat. However, it is key to ensure to not go too large, as the levels of CO2 produced could become deadly in a small room.

Perhaps the most important facet of having Gas Fireplace Logs ...
... is circulation. As most units now come with a blower attachment, it is common for people to assume that is enough. Sadly, that information is wrong. Although a blower will indeed help, having ceiling fans in the room will provide the greatest ability to disperse the heat and avoid from having the traditional “hot near the first place, cold everywhere else” problem. Allow the heat to circulate throughout the room will help lower your heating bills, create a more comfortable environment, and ensure that there is enough air to avoid any CO2 concerns.

Speaking of CO2, it is always wise to immediately invest in a fire alarm that offers CO2 measurement. Although it is indeed rare that this be an issue, having the extra level of protection and warning is a good idea. After all, this is fire. Finally, one of the most important facets of choosing these logs is ensuring that there is a thermostat. This may seem fairly obvious, but having an understanding of what the purpose of the fireplace is, is going to help determine which thermostat is needed. If the purpose is to provide back up, localized heat, which is not used often, then a traditional “high, medium, low” setting will be fine. However, if these logs are going to be used to regularly heat the space, it will be key to have a thermostat that allows for the heater to switch to a pilot light when the optimal temperatures are reached. This will allow the fireplace to be left on at longer periods of time, as it will adjust the flame and fire as needed.