Baltimore HUD Homes Blog

(photo courtesy of Tom Frazier)

As winter approaches and the temperature drops, you may have some options that you will use to thwart off the cold: blankets, a heating system, closing doors and windows, using rugs and one of the most common methods of heating a home, a fireplace.

Fireplaces offer not only heating but provide a decorative, homey feel. According to Fireplaces-Fireplaces.com, there are several types of fireplaces that can typically be found in a home:

• Direct Vent: These are fireplaces which have been “upgraded” from wood burning to gas and are the most popular type. They use vented logs, which also come in a variety according to their differing heat levels. A cautionary note that the site points out is that not only is it required that you have a damper for direct vent fireplaces, but that you have glass doors because the damper needs to be partially open. The glass partition will help to keep smoke and soot out of your home, but must be open while the fire is burning.

• Electric: The site states that these fireplaces are excellent alternatives to those that don’t have chimneys, live in an apartment or can’t afford other types of fireplaces. Many can simply be activated by being plugged in and there is also generally a thermostat for you to control the temperature. Again there is a variety of logs to choose from and in addition, the site states that electric fireplaces stay cool, so there is less of a chance of getting burned. Fire and fumes are not a factor and there is usually an emergency shutoff.

• Gas: This is an alternative for people that want to cut down on pollution, reduce costs of wood burning fireplaces, and decrease fireplace maintenance. Usually the fuels for these are propane or natural gas. Typically wood burning fireplaces are converted into gas fireplaces, but the website also mentions that freestanding fireplaces can be gas as well. The logs for gas burning fireplaces are stylized to suit particular wood appearances, such as birch, oak and pine. While it is true that there is drastically less cleanup with a gas fireplace, the site suggests that if you want to decrease the possibility of fume hazards, you should consider investing in a direct vent model as described above. Other gas fireplace types include the B Vent, which pulls air from inside the home through “ports that are found in the firebox”.

• Rumford: According to the site, this fireplace design was created in 1796 by Count Rumford to generate more heat in the home. It consists of a “tall and shallow” style that not only helps distribute more heat, but keeps smoke from coming into the room. Most of the time, you will find these fireplaces in historical homes. They are generally left intact and not replaced.

• Stone: These are fireplaces made with a stone based natural resource such as marble or granite. The site suggests these vary by price because of the factors that must be considered: stone type, color, texture, etc. However, it does point out that the most used stones for fireplaces are limestone and granite.

• Vent-Free: A vent-free fireplace or Oxygen Depletion Sensor (ODS), is a fireplace that can operate without a chimney. Safety features include a sensor that adjusts the flame when oxygen levels decrease. The logs are real in appearance, however the flames are not yellow, but blue. Benefits of vent-free fireplaces include thorough heating, decreased expenditures and not having to have the damper constantly open. The site does caution that you check with your local fireplace professional and insurance company to see if your state does or does not allow vent-free fireplaces.

• Wood Burning: Although old fashioned, the site maintains that this is the preferred choice of fireplace for most homes. Heating costs tend to be lower and having a blower installed can increase the heat distribution beyond one room. But there is a lot more work involved, including proper cleanup, maintenance of the chimney and proper wood selection. To get the best heat from your wood burning fireplace, the site suggests using hardwoods, for example fruitwood, oak, etc.

In addition to these various fireplace selections, the site FireplacesNow.com mentions that some people opt for fireplace stoves, which use fuels such as propane, natural gas, wood and pellets (sawdust with no additives).

If you’re in a new home and considering installing or upgrading a fireplace, some additional resources that you may want to check out are HGTV Remodeling Fireplaces and FirePlaceStation.

Read the full Fireplace Choices story