Are you tired of setting up and maintaining a wood-burning fireplace? Is your wood-burning fireplace unused because you’re not sure it’s safe to light a fire inside it anymore? Would you like the warm glow of a fire in the fireplace without the work, the wait, and the worry?
Here’s a solution that will make you feel better. Convert your old wood-burning fireplace to a new, safe and efficient propane gas burning fireplace! If you get started now, you’ll be enjoying your new propane fireplace before the leaves start turning and the holiday season hustle and bustle begins.
One of the answers you may want to know right up front is this: how much propane does a propane fireplace use? It’s fairly easy to judge. On average, a propane fireplace uses about one gallon of propane per 100,000 BTU. So if your propane fireplace is rated 50,000 BTU, you will use about one gallon of propane every two hours your fireplace is on.
When you think about all of the expense and work of operating and maintaining your wood-burning fireplace, you’ll probably warm up to the idea of switching to a propane fireplace pretty quickly.
Today’s propane hearths bring you the warmth, the glow and the comfort of a wood fireplace without most of the drawbacks, and with some benefits, you just can’t get from a wood fireplace.
You can get propane hearths as built-in fireplaces, freestanding stoves, and sealed fireplace inserts that are installed right in your existing mantle. Whether or not you have a fireplace, you can enjoy all the benefits of a propane hearth. Here are some more advantages:
Convenience: The comfort of a fireplace is at your fingertips whenever you want it with a propane fireplace. Most of today’s propane fireplaces feature thermostats, allowing you to control the flame and the heat from the comfort of your couch.
Health impact: Wood smoke may smell good, but we don’t recommend breathing it in. Wood smoke contains fine particles, also known as fine particulate matter. These microscopic particles can cause respiratory problems and other health problems. With propane, you avoid those risks.
Environmental impact: Burning wood creates around 28 pounds of smog-producing particulate emissions (soot and ash) per MMBTUs of heat output. Propane, on the other hand, produces less than one percent of that. Using propane greatly reduces your Iowa home’s carbon footprint.
Efficiency: Propane fireplaces burn at about 80 percent efficiency, about four to five times more efficient than a wood fireplace.
Versatility: While you may enjoy the warm glow of a propane fireplace, it’s also a terrific heat source during a power outage. Even if the power’s on, the heat from a propane fireplace may let you turn down your thermostat a few degrees.
Propane fireplace inserts give you the best of both worlds: the convenience and efficiency of propane framed by an attractive existing masonry fireplace. You also get:
More realistic flames: Today’s improved gas burner technology means a warm glow, and flickering and dancing flames, just like a wood fire.
Adjustable heat: Whether the winter winds are blowing and you need a roaring fire, or you just need to take the edge off a cool early spring or autumn day, the multi-stage temperature controls can give you just the right amount of heat.
Smarter fireplace inserts: You can use the thermostat to program your propane fireplace to turn on and off at specific times, and program temperature settings for any time of the day or night.
High-efficiency backup heat: Do you feel the need to supplement your home’s heating system? Today’s propane fireplace inserts can keep you much cozier than a wood fire. You may be surprised to learn that as much as 90% of the heat produced by a wood-burning fireplace goes straight up the chimney. Did you ever notice how cold a room becomes when a wood fire begins to burn out? It’s because all the heat in the room is being drawn out the chimney!
More variety in sizes: Some masonry fireplaces have openings that are too narrow or shallow to fit a standard-sized propane fireplace insert. Smaller inserts are becoming more common, meaning more people can get the benefits of a propane fireplace.
Fireplace inserts with blowers: If you have a big space to heat, like an open-concept living room-dining room-kitchen space, you can get a propane fireplace insert with multi-speed blowers that push warm air to the far corners of a room, creating more even and comfortable heating.
Masonry fireplace refinishing: You can update your existing masonry fireplace to fit your style, from sleek contemporary to modern farmhouse.
One of the biggest advantages for propane fireplaces and hearths is that there’s no work involved in getting a fire going. Just click the remote control or flip a switch and voilà. Look, you have made fire! (Proudly pounding on your chest for this accomplishment is strictly optional and can be cast away).
But seriously, there may be situations no fire appears at the click of a switch. This problem often occurs due to a lack of maintenance of the propane fireplace or hearth. Try these troubleshooting tips.
Please note that some of today’s newer propane fireplaces rely on electronic ignition rather than standing pilot lights. While they’re great for efficiency and eliminate the costs of having the pilot light running all of the time, they are not to be self-repaired. You need to leave that job to a propane professional.
Want to learn more about propane fireplaces and propane hearths? Contact your local Iowa propane provider today!
