A Gel Fireplace is Clean and Simple

Lots of people think about installing a fireplace in their house. However, when they start investigating what’s involved in doing so, they quickly become overwhelmed. That’s because it requires ripping out walls and installing a chimney through your roof. In addition, a wood burning fireplace needs a lot of cleaning and maintenance.

However, there’s an easy alternative to the traditional fireplace. It’s known as a gel fireplace, and for many people it’s the ideal answer.

More and more people are opting for this contemporary type of fireplace, and there are some good reasons why. There’s no odor, soot, smoke, or fumes, which means almost no clean-up. No more hauling logs in from the cold or cleaning up messy ashes. No need for an extensive selection of fireplace tools and accessories. All you need to do in order to enjoy the warmth of a fire is to light up a can of fuel.

A gel fireplace is completely different from your conventional wood burning or electrical fireplace. They create a real fire by burning a gel that’s produced from grain alcohol. This product burns cleanly and produces a real flame with none of the usual mess. Gel fireplaces usually hold three fuel cans, with each container burning for approximately three hours. The gel even makes the crackling noise of a wood burning fire and there are scent sticks available you can add to your canisters.

There is no construction involved in installing a gel fireplace and no hookups required. It should only take an hour or so to put it together and set it up anywhere in your house that you choose. You can even move it later on if your decor changes. Some models can be hung on a wall. Another alternative is to buy a special insert for your existing fireplace in which you can burn the gel canisters.

There are no fumes or smoke produced by a ventless gel fireplace. However, they do release a small amount of carbon monoxide into the air, although the amount is so minute that there is no cause for concern. These fireplaces must pass rigorous safety tests with regard to their output of this gas.

Maintenance of a gel fireplace is very simple. They are also the most energy efficient, cost effective heating units on the market. Since there’s no flue, all the heat enters the room instead of escaping outside. Keep in mind, however, that they are not intended to be a major source of heat for your house, even though they do give off a warm glow.

Gel fireplaces range in price from several hundred to two thousand dollars, depending on the size and style. But they’re well worth it for people with busy lives who just want to enjoy a real fire without a lot of trouble.