Home Heating - Fireplace Alternatives, A Popular Choice

So, you live in an apartment and want that homey feel that those big wood burning fireplaces give off, but how do you go about getting it? The trend recently is really going with these small type wood burning stove replicas. They aren't powered by wood, are very portable and heat your home very efficiently.

Ventless type heaters are very popular, mostly they have been gaining popularity in the last 2 years. The big boom has come mostly because of the styling that manufacturers have designed into the units as well as advanced safety improvements over earlier designs.

The styling on these heats can be from the standard flat black to an all out full sized fireplace replica which usually includes a brick facia as well as top mantle.

If you are going to position the fireplace near a wall, some companies even sell fake chimney kits that you can mount right to your wall which give give it an added extra boost of real authenticity.

Again, not only do these units look great, they are also extremely efficient. Ventless heaters usually run in the range of 100% efficiency because they run on either natural gas or propane.

I know what your thinking when I talk about ventless, "how can that be safe?"

That question has been asked by many, that is actually what caused manufacturers to put safety features on these heaters such as locking front panels and oxygen sensors. You can now have a fake fireplace that really works and is safe!

The oxygen sensors really have made a vast improvement in safety. Pretty much what the oxygen sensor does is periodically check the oxygen levels in the air. When the oxygen level gets to say 18% or less, the unit will turn itself off. Some of the units will actually turn back on when the oxygen levels start to rise again.

Positioning the heaters is up too you. You really can place them anywhere in your home, but most people place them in the standard location that a real fireplace would be installed in. Another common place to put the heaters is in the corners as this will actually heat up both walls and create a great radiant heat pattern.

No longer do you have to go outside to chop firewood! I cannot stress how great it is to come home to a cold home and just turn on a great looking fireplace with a flick of a switch. No more do you have to get dressed up, grab an axe and go outside for at least half an hour to chop some firewood.

No longer do you have to pay someone to come out and inspect and/or clean the chimney each month or year. These indoor fireplaces do not have vents, well, most of them do not have vents, which makes them very easy on maintenance.

If you live in an apartment or mobile home, these little heaters are great, they look great, are very cost effective and efficient and they really do a great job of heating up that home, no matter how cold it gets!