Gas log fireplaces are becoming very popular.

Their convenience (Some come with a remote control!) and cleanliness have convinced many wood burners to retire the chain saw and log splitter. Gas logs may be fueled by either natural or propane gas. There are two basic types of gas logs currently on the market, the "Yellow flame" and the "Blue flame".

Yellow flame logs require venting while blue flame logs may be approved for use without a venting system. The yellow flame log sets, produce a very realistic and attractive fire and will often be mistaken for real wood fire. The heat out put from a yellow flame log set will be similar to the heat output from a comparable size wood fire. Yellow flame, often referred to as "vented" as logs generate soot and carbon which is deposited in the chimney. These deposits require chimney cleaning like a real wood fireplace does.

Blue flame log sets are designed to provide much more heat output than a yellow flame log set. While the blue flamed log sets are generally not as attractive as the yellow flame, they burn hotter and cleaner. A special type of blue flame log is the "invented" or "vent free" gas log. Invented or vent free gas logs may be approved for installation in a wood burning fire place with the damper closed or in a separate fire box cabinet approved for installation without a chimney. There have been some questions raised recently about the affects vent free gas logs may have on the indoor air quality of a home when the logs are burned for prolonged periods.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

In addition to gas logs, several other products have been developed for fireplace use. Gas fired inserts have been designed to be installed in fireplaces. These gas inserts usually have a greater heat output than conventional gas logs and may resemble a wood burning insert. Gas fireplaces have also been developed for installation where no fireplace currently exists. An entire cabinet style enclosure, complete with logs and mantle, is purchased and installed pretty much any were you want it. These fireplaces are usually more economical to install than a wood burning fireplace and offer the convenience of gas as a fuel.

** Source information from Chimney Safety Institute Of America