8 Reasons Why You Should Install a Gas Fireplace This Season

Not all gas fireplaces are created equal, so when searching for your perfect place, look for one really important feature – radiant heat. This technology is based on the sun’s rays, heating objects (and people) in their path, which in turn act as tiny heaters scattered around the room. Radiant energy waves aren’t a lot of hot air, they’re direct heat (neat!).

Whether you’re revamping a tired living room or starting from scratch, innovations in fireplace design have come a long way. Big, small, long or tall, there is a gas fireplace out there to suit your style (and square footage).

Think about how much you love a good, roaring fire; now, think about how much prospective buyers would love one too. According to a homeowners’ survey done by The National Association of Realtors, 40 per cent of people say they’d pay extra for a home with a working fireplace. Invest now, get paid later… and enjoy the heat in the meantime.

Energy efficiency is a hot topic in amongst homeowners: how to get it, how to keep it and how to save. Going with gas will lower your hydro bill considerably, but there are also ways to manage how much fuel is used throughout the year. Look for a fireplace design that comes with a built-in energy-saving setting.

Even if you received your fire-building badge in Scouts, managing an open, wood fire is hazardous. If you opt for a glass-encased, gas-burning fireplace instead, you still get to enjoy the aesthetics of open flames without the worry of wayward sparks.

Flip it on, flip it off, turn it up and turn it down – gas fireplaces give you a plethora of heating options with the click of a button. No messing around with thermostats, timers or baseboards; when you want heat, you get heat immediately. In the dead of winter, there’s nothing sweeter.

Install a gas fireplace and say goodbye to smelly fire-starter and kindling splinters forever. Sure, there’s something romantic about the idea of splitting your own firewood and hauling it in through a snowdrift, but the reality is much rougher. If your only interaction with an ax was at a work team-building event at an ax-throwing arcade, keep it simple (and safe) and go with gas.

Over the past few winters, Canada’s major cities have experienced some pretty devastating power outages thanks to snow, wind and ice storms. When the lines go down, it doesn’t take long for the cold to seep in. Many gas fireplaces don’t require electricity to function, making them a great way to heat a home in a blackout. (Plus, it provides the perfect atmospheric light for an impromptu family board-game night.)