My husband and I were looking for some way to supplement our home’s heating system without a huge investment or renovation project.
Our home is quite old, extremely large and very difficult to heat.
The multitude of rooms, high ceiling and big windows create a challenge for comfort. Plus, we live in an area with especially long and cold winters. The outdoor temperature frequently drops below freezing and even into the negative digits. We rely on our furnace for approximately eight months out of the year. Heating our home costs a small fortune. Much of our heat tends to rise straight up to the ceiling. Due to several remodeling projects over the years, certain rooms lack the necessary number of supply and return vents for adequate heating. We tried electric baseboard heaters but didn’t like the appearance or their lack of effectiveness. We considered having a ductless mini split installed but weren’t eager to mount an air handler on the wall of our historic home. When my husband suggested that we use our fireplace, I got the idea to convert it into a gas heater. After living in the house for nearly ten years, we’d used the wood burning fireplace twice. We never wanted to go through the work of chopping wood and hauling the dirty logs through the house. Building a fire meant smoke, ash, sparks and the need to have the chimney cleaned. I called a local HVAC contractor and asked about a gas insert for the fireplace. The insert includes faux logs and the look of real flames. We’ve kept the ambience of an authentic wood burning fireplace but added amazing convenience. With the push of a button on a cordless remote, we can quickly and easily raise the temperature in the living room. The gas heater features a fan that works to effectively distribute the heat.