Top 5 Best Gas Fireplace Inserts 2020

Having a fireplace that radiates sufficient heat and ambient light no longer needs a chimney or duct anymore, thanks to revolutionary inventions. There are best gas fireplace inserts that take chimneys or ducts out of the equation. Now, this not only saves space or installation time but also makes your home to look beautiful as well.

In this review, we’re going to look at some of the best units to grab in 2019 for your masonry or residential apartment. These units feature vent-free designs that eliminate the need to have the said chimneys or ducts. Some of them run on natural gas alone while others run on either natural gas or liquid propane gas for versatile usage.

Also, starting them is quite easy since they have fire ignition systems in place. But for you to buy the best unit, you’re going to have a buyer’s guide to help you make an informed purchasing decision.

What Are the Key Features to Look for in A Best Gas Fireplace Insert?

A well-laid buyer’s guide is helpful to first-time buyers. It shows what to look out for in a gas fireplace insert. Some of the things to check before buying a gas fireplace unit include the following:

1. The unit’s dimensions

Before spending money on a gas fireplace insert, you will have to know its dimensions. This will help you know whether it will fit in your fireplace or not. You want a unit that perfectly fits in your fireplace without leaving any space around it. The best way is to measure your fireplace and head to a store and find the unit that will fit in perfectly.

2. The heat efficient and capacity

Gas fireplace inserts use either natural gas or liquid propane gas to produce flames. You will have to check the efficiency of a fireplace unit before buying it. The efficiency will tell you how much gas the unit is spending to produce heat in percentage. Highly efficient units spend less gas to produce more heat. The higher the number, the better the efficiency. For a given heat capacity say 25,000 BTUs, look for a gas fireplace insert with a higher percentage.

3. The area coverage

You already know that gas fireplace inserts radiate heat that covers varying areas depending on their heat capacity. As such, you will have to consider the area of the space you want heated before making any purchase. If you want to heat the entire house, you will have to consider the total space.

Also, your house insulation system will come into play as far as purchasing decision is concerned. Once you’ve figured out how much space in your home needs heat, you will be sure to find a unit that meets your expectations. The good news is that gas fireplace inserts have their heat capacity coverage ratings.

4. Variable flame control

Another feature to look out for is flame control functionality. An ideal gas fireplace insert should have a control system that adjusts the flames. The larger the flame, the higher the heat your unit will radiate to the surrounding space. Flame adjustability creates an appealing ambience that make your home warm for everyone in it. sometimes, it’s all about a beautiful ambience for a romantic movie session.

5. Electric ignition mechanism

Long gone are the days when you had to have matchsticks or pilot light to start a fire in your fireplace. Today, almost all gas fireplace inserts feature an electronic ignition technology that starts the fire without help from an external fire source such as pilot lights.

You should buy a unit with this technology if you want to have a hassle-free heating experience. You don’t want to get off your soothing recliner seat just to start a fire in your fireplace, do you? Besides, there’re fireplace units with a remote control to assist you in operating them.

6. Battery back-up system

You are probably asking yourself: what does a battery back-up system has to do with a gas fireplace insert? Well, an electric ignition system usually taps power from your household’s power supply to start a fire. What do you think will happen when you’re facing a major power outage? That’s right, your unit will not start a fire by itself.

But if you have a battery back-up system in place, you will be able to start the fire despite having an annoying blackout. So, what does this mean? It means you should try as much as possible to look for a gas fireplace insert with a battery-assisted electric ignition mechanism. This will bring you a lot of conveniences.

7. Compatibility with a standard thermostat

Thermostats play an important role in regulating the temperature of a room. Since you will need to warm your room with the heat from your fireplace, you’ll have to employ the use of some temperature regulating technology. The good news is that there are gas fireplace inserts that maintains your ideal room temperature with the help of a thermostat. You will simply have to connect your unit to a thermostat and enjoy dancing flames with a perfect ambience and temperature.

8. Safety features

You deserve to be safe at all times, even when you’re using a gas fireplace insert. As such, look out for safety features that your unit packs in its design. One brilliant feature to check is the oxygen depletion sensor (O.D.S). This safety feature makes sure that you don’t run low on oxygen, thus preventing suffocation. Also, make sure that your unit has a carbon monoxide detector that automatically shuts it off when your room is filling up with this dangerous respiratory gas. An auto shutoff is a must-have safety feature in your gas fireplace insert. Don’t leave anything to chance.

9. Budget

Though not a feature, your budget also plays an important role in getting the best fireplace unit. You should invest in only the best units. These units come at a price, but an affordable one. Shun away from cheap product. Besides, the cliché that says cheap is expensive is absolutely true. Don’t buy a cheap unit that doesn’t feature any safety function since it might harm you.

Best Gas Fireplace Insert Reviews 2020

Now with basic considerations, you are able to get the best are purifier for yourself. Below is a list of the best air purifiers for the smoke that are definitely capable of eliminating cigarette smoke and unpleasant odors from your house.

1. Duluth Forge FDF400RT-ZC Dual Fuel Ventless Fireplace

Say goodbye to the old days when you had to have a duct or chimney in order to have a fireplace. With this unit, you can safely maintain your desired residential space temperature without having to disrupt your sitting posture! A remote control device comes with this gas fireplace insert to help you switch on/off your fireplace.

Once you’ve selected an appropriate room temperature, this unit will intelligently keep the fire burning so you can have your ideal warmth without any hassle. It produces a maximum of 32,000 BTU of heat which can safely and efficiently warm areas as large as 1,500 sq. feet. It’svent-free design not only saves space but eases the installation process.

Inside this beautifully crafted fireplace unit are 6 hand-painted ceramics fiber logs that stunningly resemble real logs. They produce a dancing flame that is amazing to watch. Also, this unit features a piezo ignition technology that uses batteries. No need to have matchsticks! There’s a built-in pilot oxygen depletion sensor that automatically shuts off the unit if your room is either running out of oxygen or has carbon monoxide building up to dangerous levels. This safety feature prevents suffocation. Since it features a dual fuel design, you can operate it on either natural gas or liquid propane. Otherwise, this is an awesome fireplace unit featuring an antique-white furniture grade finish. It might blend perfectly with your home décor. Be sure to check out other colors it comes in.

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2. HearthSense A-Series Natural Gas Vent-free Fireplace Insert

You can also consider this gas fireplace insert if you have a room area size of 1,000 sq. feet. This fireplace unit produces 20,000 BTU of heat, which is enough to efficiently warm your residential space. It operates on natural gas and features a vent-free design. Even if you don’t have a duct or chimney in your apartment, you still can benefit from its efficient performance.

Besides featuring a stylish design that blends with most home décor, this unit has concrete-made logs that look exactly like natural logs do. The logs have burnersthat give you waving flame for sufficient heating purposes. Controlling the flame or temperatures is quite simple: There’s a millivolt control valve, manual control and a remote, all of which can effectively adjust or customize the heat level. Also, this unit has a crucial safety feature in its design. There’s an automatic shutoff function that kicks in when the oxygen level in your room drops to suffocating levels, thanks to the built-in pilot oxygen depletion sensor (ODS). Also, the auto shutoff kicks in when the carbon monoxide level rises to dangerous levels. If you’re looking for a zero-clearance fireplace insert that you can use with your custom built-in applications, be sure to check out this unit.

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3. Napoleon Grandville VF Series Vent-Free Natural Gas Fireplace insert

This next gas fireplace insert is ideal for a room size between 1,500-2,000 sq. feet. It produces 30,000 BTU of heat that efficiently warms living room spaces. Since it features a vent-free design, you don’t need to have a duct or chimney to efficiently use it.

It runs on natural gas, making it a reliable heating source. Inside it are phazer logs with gas burners. These logs give out beautiful, dancing flames that create a magnificent scene in homes. This unit delivers 50% flame and heat adjustment that gives you unmatched comfort and efficiency level.

One incredible feature that you will love with this unit is its oxygen depletion sensor. This technology automatically shuts off the unit when you’re running low on oxygen. Also, it automatically turns the unit off when there are high levels of carbon monoxide in your room. Safety is something that all of us could use, and this unit provides just that! Safety doesn’t stop there just yet. This unit has a safety screen that protects you and your family from direct flame. Operating your fireplace insert is also simple: there’s a switch to turn your unit on/off. For a perfect installation of the unit, you will need the Louver kit and trim kit, all of which you will purchase separately. Otherwise, this is a great unit that features an electric ignition mechanism, thanks to its millivolt ignition technology.

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4. Ashley AGVF340LP Vent-Free Propane Gas Firebox

Ashley AGVF340LP produces 34,000 BTU of heat which efficiently warms a room whose area is 1,200 sq. feet. It uses propane gas to heat residential spaces and features a vent-free design. This means that your house doesn’t need a chimney or a duct if you have this unit.

Inside it is premium-crafted logs and gas burners that produce flames. The flames have the same ambience and warmth of realwood flames, making this unit an effective home heating solution. Controlling it is easy: you can connect it to any standard millivolt thermostat that will regulate the heat so you can have your ideal temperature. Besides, it has hidden controls for efficient operations. You can use this unit as a gas fireplace insert or as a free-standing classic stove. If you decide to use it as a free-standing stove, you will have to buy the legs kit separately. Also, you will have to buy a fireplace insert kit separately. If you purchase this unit, you will also receive 14 hook-up hoses, making it ready for usage just right after installation.

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5. ProCom 29 Inch Vent-Free Dual Gas Fireplace Insert

Since it’s a dual fuel gas fireplace insert, you can run it on either natural gas or liquid propane gas. As such, this unit brings versatility. You don’t have to feel cold in your masonry because there’s no natural gas. A switch to liquid propane will get things going without problems!

With its dual-fuel design, this unit produces a maximum of 26,000 BTU of heat which will efficiently warm a room of 1,350 sq. feet and over. You can connect it to a thermostat for an intelligent room temperature regulation. Starting the fire is simple with this unit. There’s a battery-assisted piezo ignition mechanism in place to help you start your fire.

Safety concerns is something you shouldn’t worry about since this unit has an automatic shutoff function. It kicks in when the oxygen level in your room runs very low or when carbon monoxide is building up to suffocating level. This is possible because this unit has the O.D.S (oxygen depletion sensor) and carbon monoxide detector. Just like the rest of the gas fireplace inserts on the list, this one features a vent-free design. You don’t need to have a chimney or duct in your house just to have a great ambience and radiating from your fireplace. You can install this unit directly into a fireplace or pair it with a face mantel for additional aesthetics in your home décor. This unit is great, and it features logs and burner set to give you realistic, dancing flames.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do gas fireplace inserts produce dangerous fumes?

Normally, gas fireplace inserts are 99.9% efficient. This means that they burn most of the natural or liquid propane gas, leaving only 0.1% unburnt. The unburnt gas forms carbon monoxide. With proper room ventilation, you will have plenty of oxygen coming in to neutralize the carbon monoxide.

The situation is a bit different if your room has insufficient ventilation. Will sufficient ventilation, your gas fireplace insert will emit fewer fumes into the room, making it a safe home heating solution.

2. Can I add a blower to my gas fireplace unit?

Yes, you can add a blower that will blow hot air into your room for an efficient room warming experience. Before you buy a blower, check to see whether your unit has louvers in front of it. it’s through the louvers that the blower will channel out nice, warm air into your room. Besides, louvers are easy to install. So, if you love hands-on DIY activities, why not buy a blower and add it to your fireplace unit?

3. Can I install a new gas fireplace insert in my old wood fireplace?

Yes, you can. You only need to take the measurements of your old wood fireplace and fit a new, right-size gas fireplace insert in it. It’s best to call a professional to inspect your old fireplace before fitting it with a new unit. Also, you will have to incur some cost that might be anything between $500-$5,000.

4. What is BTU?

BTU stands for British Thermal Unit. It is a unit for measuring the amount of heat from a gas fireplace insert. BTU rating in your unit is the heat energy it radiates in an hour. This unit came about when scientists were looking for means of quantifying heat from fire or flames. They then concluded that 1 BTU is the amount of heat you need to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. For you to find an ideal fireplace unit, you will need to consider its BTU ratings and make sure that it can efficiently warm your room without any problem. On average, you will need 10,000 BTU of heat to warm a room whose area is 500 sq. feet. Of course, other factors such as the ceiling, floor plan and windows will also determine the amount of heat your room will need.

Conclusion

Gas fireplace inserts are very efficient and easy to operate. Also, they feature safety features that take you out of harm’s way. For you to heighten your home space heating experience, you will need to select the best gas fireplace insert and you’ll be good to go. Since you’re now armed with a buying guide, finding the best unit shouldn’t take you a lot of time.

From this list, one unit- Duluth Forge FDF400RT-ZC– stands outmore. It features a dual-fuel performance, has an antique-white furniture grade finish that no other unit on the list features, and produces sufficient heat. Its dual-fuel and elegant look makes it take the number one spot on the list. Otherwise, all the units on the list feature by merit. You might find your ideal unit from this list.