Propane fireplaces are often the most hassle-free and practical method of home heating these days. Unlike a wood fireplace, they don’t produce any smoke or soot and are generally an incredibly clean home heating product. Because of the on-demand nature of the propane and the high power output available, propane heaters can get hot immediately and move that heat throughout the dwelling.
Propane fireplace inserts can be installed into pre-existing fireplace hearths. This gives the modern, on-demand features of a propane fireplace but can also give you the comfortable atmosphere of a wood burning fireplace. These fireplaces make a steady heat source without worrying about lengthy start-up and cool-down periods necessary for an ordinary wood burning fireplace. Compared to an electric heater, propane fireplaces can also create a considerable amount of heat – even adequate to heat a large home – which is often the restricting characteristic of electric heaters.
An even more modern option for homeowners is ventless propane stove. A recently created invention compared to other home heating technology, these ventless fireplaces do not require a chimney or flue to vent out the combustion gases. The reason is because the flames can burn hot enough to achieve almost 100% combustion performance. Due to the lack of a flue, these heaters tend to be much simpler to setup. Also, due to the improved efficiency, these are less expensive to operate.
Ventless propane heating units will have a few downsides however. They’ll deplete oxygen inside the room, which is the reason they are required to include an oxygen depletion sensor (ODS) to shut the device down in the event there is a danger of not having suitable levels of oxygen for the people in the room. In addition, a result of any combustion is steam. Any time a ventless heater is run for a prolonged a period, it can generate a high humidity which can encourage mold growth. For these reasons, ventless fireplaces are not allowed to be sold in some regions such as Massachusetts, California and Canada.