The 7 Best Gas Fireplace Inserts of 2019

Ancient fire pits were sometimes constructed from the ground, within caves, or in the center of a hut or home. Evidence of ancient, man-made fires exists on all five inhabited continents. The disadvantage of premature indoor flame pits was that they produced toxic and/or annoying smoke within the dwelling.Fire pits developed into elevated hearths in structures, but ventilation smoke relied on open windows or openings in roofs. The great hall typically had a centrally located hearth, where a open flame burned with all the smoke climbing into the vent in the roof. Louvers were developed during the Middle Ages to allow the roof vents to be covered so rain and snow wouldn't enter.

Additionally throughout the Middle Ages, smoke canopies were invented to prevent smoke from spreading through an area and vent it outside via a ceiling or wall. These can be placed against rock walls, rather than taking up the center of the space, and this allowed smaller chambers to be warmed.Chimneys were invented in northern Europe from the 11th or 12th centuries and largely fixed the problem of fumes, more reliably venting smoke out. They made it feasible to provide the fireplace a draft, and made it possible to put fireplaces in numerous rooms in buildings conveniently. They didn't come into general usage immediately, however, as they were more expensive to build and maintain.

In 1678 Prince Rupert, nephew of Charles I, raised the grate of the fireplace, improving the airflow and venting system. The 18th century saw two important developments in the history of fireplaces. Benjamin Franklin developed a convection chamber for the fireplace that greatly improved the efficacy of fireplaces and wood stoves. In addition, he enhanced the airflow by pulling air from a basement and venting out a lengthier area at the top. At the later 18th century, Count Rumford made a fireplace with a tall, shallow firebox which was better at drawing the smoke up and out of the construction. The shallow design also improved greatly the quantity of radiant heat projected into the room. Rumford's design is the foundation for modern kitchens.

The Aesthetic movement of the 1870s and 1880s took on a more traditional spectra based on rock and also deflected unnecessary ornamentation. Rather it relied on simple designs with small unnecessary ornamentation. In the 1890s the Aesthetic movement gave way into the Arts and Crafts movement, in which the emphasis was placed on supplying quality stone. Stone fireplaces at this time have been a symbol of prosperity, which to some degree is still the notion today.A fireplace is a construction made from brick, stone or metal made to contain a fire. Fireplaces are utilized for the relaxing ambiance they create and also for heating a space. Modern fireplaces change in heat efficacy, based on the plan.

Historically they have been used for heating a dwelling, cooking, and heating water for laundry and domestic uses.

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On the exterior there's often a corbeled brick crown, where the casting courses of brick act as a drip course to keep rainwater from running down the exterior walls. A hood, cap, or shroud serves to keep rainwater from the outside of the chimney; rain in the chimney is a far larger problem in chimneys lined with impervious flue tiles or metal liners than with the standard masonry chimney, that soaks up all but the most violent rain. Some chimneys have a spark arrestor incorporated into the crown or cap.

Organizations like the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Washington Department of Ecology warn that, according to various studies, fireplaces can pose a significant health threat. The EPA writes"Smoke may smell good, but it is not great for you.

Kinds of fireplacesArtificial fireplaces are made out of sheet glass or metal fire boxes.Electric fireplaces could be built-in replacements for gas or wood or retrofit with log inserts or electrical fireboxes.A few kinds are, wall mounted electric fireplaces, electric fireplace stoves, electrical mantel fireplaces and fixed or free standing gas fireplaces.

Ventless Fireplaces (duct free/room-venting fireplaces) are fueled by either gel, liquid propane, bottled gas or natural gas. In the USA, some states and local businesses have laws limiting these kinds of fireplaces. They need to be properly sized to the area to be heated. Additionally, there are air quality management problems due to the amount of moisture they discharge into the room air, and oxygen detector and carbon monoxide sensors are safety essentials. Direct vent fireplaces have been fueled by either liquid propane or natural gas. They are completely sealed in the place that is heated, and vent all exhaust gasses to the outside of the structure.

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AccessoriesFor the interior, common in recent Western civilizations comprise grates, fireguards, log boxes, andirons, bark baskets, along with fire puppies, all which cradle fuel and accelerate burning. A grate (or fire grate) is a framework, usually of iron bars, to maintain fuel to your fire. Heavy metal firebacks are occasionally used to catch and re-radiate heat, to protect the rear of the fireplace, and as decoration. Fenders are low metallic frames set before the fireplace to include embers, soot and ash. Other wider accessories may include log baskets, companion sets, coal buckets, cabinet accessories and more.

As time passes, the intent behind fireplaces has changed from one of necessity to one of interest. Early ones were fire pits compared to contemporary fireplaces. They have been used for warmth on cold days and nights, in addition to for cooking. They also served as a gathering place within the house. These fire pits were generally centered within a room, allowing more individuals to gather around it.

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Many flaws were found in ancient fireplace designs. Along with the Industrial Revolution, came big scale housing developments, requiring a standardization of fireplaces. The most renowned fireplace performers of the period were the Adam Brothers. They perfected a style of fireplace design which has been used for generations. It had been smaller, more brightly lit, with a emphasis on the quality of the materials used in their construction, instead of their dimensions.

By the 1800s most new fireplaces were composed of two components, the surround as well as the insert. The encircle consisted of the mantlepiece and sides supports, usually in wood, marble or granite. The insert was where the fire burnt, and was constructed of cast iron often backed with ornamental tiles. As well as providing heat, the fireplaces of the Victorian era were believed to bring a cozy ambiance to homes.

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Some fireplace units incorporate a blower that transports more of the fireplace's heat to the air via convection, resulting in a more evenly heated area and a decrease heating load. Fireplace efficiency can also be enhanced by means of a fireback, a piece of metal which sits behind the fire and reflects heat back into the room. Firebacks are traditionally made from cast iron, but can also be manufactured from stainless steel. Efficiency is a complex concept though with open hearth fireplaces. Most efficiency tests consider only the effect of heating of the air. An open fireplace isn't, and never was, intended to heat the atmosphere. A fireplace with a fireback is a toaster, and has done so since the 15th century. The ideal way to gauge the output signal of a fireplace is in case you detect you are turning the thermostat up or down.

Most older fireplaces have a comparatively low efficiency rating. Standard, contemporary, weatherproof masonry fireplaces still possess an efficiency rating of at least 80% (legal minimum necessity such as in Salzburg/Austria). To improve efficiency, fireplaces can also be modified by inserting special heavy fireboxes designed to burn cleaner and can reach efficiencies as large as 80% in heating the air. These altered fireplaces are usually equipped with a large fire window, enabling an efficient heating process in two phases. During the first phase the initial heat is offered through a big glass window while the fire is burning. During this time period the construction, constructed of refractory bricks, absorbs the heat. This heat is then evenly radiated for several hours during the second stage. Masonry fireplaces with no glass fire window only provide heat radiated from its surface. Depending on temperatures 1 to 2 daily firings are enough to ensure a constant room temperature.gas logs for fireplace