There is nothing like the warmth and vibrancy of an authentic gas fireplace in your own home. These ingenious heaters add a regal flair and primal charisma to any space. However, they comprise a massive market, and navigating through the uncountable stores and sites can lead to confusion, uncertainty, and stress. There are so many different features, capabilities, and installment choices that you may wonder where to even begin. Fortunately, this guide is here to simplify the process and ease your mind. We have selected five of the best gas fireplaces that are sure to brighten your home – and your life.
Best Gas Fireplaces of 2020
These fireplaces are some great choices for optimal size, safety, and style. We have included a range of designs and functionalities to expand your perspective as you begin your own search. While there are some drawbacks to each of these fireplaces, the value for their price far outweighs any inconveniences or limitations.
Pleasant Hearth Intermediate Gas Vent Free Stove, Black
This 32-inch, free-standing heater looks like something out of a vintage photograph or a 19th-century homestead. Its sleek, elegant style and relatively small size make it compatible with almost any indoor space. Its aesthetic is simple, making it an iconic contemporary piece, but its subtle deviations from modern design make it refreshingly unique. For example, the screen frame has a sophisticated look, and the supporting elements are curved to soften the straight structure of the unit’s body. Standing on a set of tall, strong legs, it is perfect for both wooden and carpeted floors.
Including up to 30,000 BTUs, this fireplace does not require a flue or chimney. Rather, you can choose between either natural gas or liquid propane. It arrives in separate pieces, but they are easy to assemble, and the operating unit is simple to deal with. Most importantly, it includes features that ensure both safety and comfort.
The flames are soft and aesthetic, creating a warm and vivid ambiance. Although the sides can become hot to the touch, the included blower function keeps the unit from overheating. It also includes a dual burner, which provides two rows of flames for a fuller, more pleasing aesthetic, and it comes with a thermostat control knob so that you can easily maintain a comfortable temperature. Overall, this fireplace functions efficiently and effectively.
Pleasant Hearth is a well-reputed company, and this product has earned almost 5-star reviews. The highest evaluations are in the categories of style, ease of use and installment, and value for the price. The only category with below-average reviews is remote control capability, which is not included with this heater.
Top Features:
- 30,000 BTUs per hour of use
- Dual fuel technology (LP or NG)
- Heats up to 1,000 square feet
- Thermostat control
Duluth Forge Dual Fuel Ventless Fireplace Insert, Black
This contemporary insert is perfect if you want a custom fireplace that saves space. Its sleek and simple design makes it an ideal choice for both minimalistic and sophisticated aesthetics. The decorative vent at the base of the unit comprises five unobtrusive slats for comfort and safety without compromising style. An extra vent is included at the top, and the frame adds a beautiful touch.
This unit is 29.1 inches wide, 23.9 inches high, and 13.9 inches deep. The item itself weighs 47.6 pounds. You can place it in a face mantle (an extended wall surface) or recess it directly into the wall. Since no electricity is required, the installation process is fast and straightforward.
This fireplace is ventless, which means that it consumes almost all of the gas and burns more efficiently and economically than vented units. Any excess emissions escape back into the room. While these are very small amounts and do not pose a threat to safety, ventless units should not be installed in sleeping areas or smaller spaces. The unit comes with a built-in pilot oxygen depletion sensor (ODS), which immediately shuts off the heater upon detecting carbon monoxide or lack of oxygen.
This fireplace radiates 26,000 BTUs of heat, which is enough to warm up 1,350 square feet of space. The fuel technology is compatible with natural gas or liquid propane. It also includes thermostat control for easy heat management. The unit comes with five hand-painted ceramic fiber logs that realistically mimic the look of real firewood.
This product is assembled fully in the United States, and only high-quality materials are used. Overall, this fireplace insert is a dependable, fashionable, and safe option that will bring vibrancy, warmth, and style to your home.
Top Features:
- Dual Precision Ported Vent Free gas burner
- Battery-assisted Piezo ignition
- Realistic hand-painted logs included
- Built-in thermostat and safety controls
Sure Heat Seasoned Hickory Dual Burner Vented Gas Log Set
This innovative fireplace is one of the more affordable options on the market. Comprising six realistic hand-painted refractory cement logs stacked on a black tiered grate, this simple unit brings the essence of an outdoor campfire to your home. Its high-performance embers are even brighter than the real thing, creating a glowing magnet of attraction that will beautifully accent any space. This unit is also environmentally friendly, using natural gas instead of dangerous and unpredictable wood and ashes.
This fireplace features a U-shaped dual burner, providing a unique dancing flame pattern for visual intrigue. The product dimensions are 12 by 19 by 16 inches (with 18-inch logs), altogether weighing 50.1 pounds. However, one potential drawback of this vented fireplace is that it requires an open and working flue or chimney.
The unit transmits 50,000 BTUs of heat with 12-percent efficiency. It includes a burner pan with an external manual valve, allowing you to light the logs as you would ignite an outdoor gas grill. Since this is a vented unit with an open flame, you will need to check the fireplace installment regulations in your region.
Sure Heat Manufacturing is a reputable company that produces innovative and high-quality heating appliances. This fireplace has excellent ratings from over one hundred verified buyers, and the best rating is for monetary value. While it is not as safe as ventless options, this fireplace is a great option if you are looking for a realistic piece that will bring the primal beauty and comfort of the outdoors into your living space.
Core Features:
- Six hand-painted logs for a natural aesthetic
- Equipped with a U-shaped dual burner for style and feasibility
- Comfortably fits all standard fireplace spaces
- Match-light style manual ignition
Duluth Forge Dual Fuel Ventless T-Stat Control Fireplace Insert
This fireplace is similar to #2, but there are some differences. It is slightly deeper and taller (by a few inches for each), but the height is essentially the same. Additionally, it features a pair of fashionable french-style screen doors with handy knobs, but the decorative vent slats are very similar to the other Duluth model. It also comes with one extra hand-painted ceramic fiber log, making six in total for a slightly fuller look.
This sleek unit comes with remote control functionality, making it easy to use and manage. It radiates 32,000 BTUs and offers a patented dual-fuel technology, giving you the choice between natural gas or liquid propane. The unit can heat up to 1,500 square feet of space.
This fireplace also features a variable control thermostat, allowing you to customize the heat settings to easily and effectively maintain your ideal temperature. Equipped with safety and energy-regulating controls, this high-quality unit is one of the most economical options on the market. It does not depend on a flue or chimney; rather, it protects the environment and conserves energy by burning almost all of the gas. Any that is left over is emitted back into the room, but the amounts are so small that safety is not compromised.
Although this model is not reviewed quite as well as its sibling unit, it is manufactured in the United States with the same ethical conscience and high-quality materials. This fireplace is built with a zero-clearance design, which facilitates cleaner and more compact installation – allowing for more options when it comes to wall size. Altogether, this unit is a trustworthy, economical, and stylish heater that is easy to install and use.
Top Features:
- Built-in thermostat for automatic temperature control
- Zero-clearance design for easy installation
- Includes six realistic hand-painted logs
- Heats up to 1,500 square feet of space
Peterson Real Fyre Live Oak Log Set with Vented Burner
This simple fireplace unit is based on the same concept as #3, but there are a few differences. Both units use a foundational grate for the logs, but this model includes a rugged vent burner resembling ashes. These refractory cement logs are also hand-painted to mimic the aesthetic of natural wood. Keep in mind that this unit only permits the use of natural gas (NG). Also, it does not provide a gas connection hose nor the capability for connecting to a gas pipe stub-out.
The efficient design of this inventive fireplace makes it an economical and earth-friendly choice by preserving natural resources. Although this unit is simple and slightly limiting when it comes to fuel options and temperature control, it is a stylish and dependable piece that will add both warmth and charisma to your home.
This fireplace comes with a match lighting kit. You can light the unit in one of two ways. The first is to hold a match while turning on the gas with your key valve. If this becomes inconvenient, however, you can purchase a switchable autopilot safety kit to implement a wall switch. Either way, the unit is fairly simple to ignite.
The high-quality craftsmanship of this product makes it a competitive option in the home fireplace market. While it does not emit as much heat as the more conventional options (see #1, #2, and #4), it is a compact and durable heater that offers a comfortable balance between natural preservation and heating efficiency.
Core Features:
- Economical and earth-friendly design
- Vented, hand-painted gas logs for style and efficiency
- Burner output: 75,000 BTUs
- Lightweight (1.2 pounds) for easy movability
Conclusion
Not all home fireplaces are built the same, and new and innovative designs keep emerging in this ever-growing market. There are ones that that are modern like the electric ones that don’t need wood and gas. Finding the perfect fireplace depends on your own needs and preferences. You will want to consider price, size, installment, heat range, efficiency, and durability. These five highly-reviewed options are a great place to start, and, hopefully, they’ve sparked some ideas that will inspire and guide your search for the perfect home heater.