Are Propane Gas Logs Energy Efficient?
Written on: January 4, 2023
Enjoy Warmth, Comfort, and Energy Savings with Propane Gas Logs!
Nothing adds more cozy charm than a crackling fire. But as a source of supplemental heat, a wood-burning hearth is a lot of work. Logs, kindling, matches, smoke, and ash: What a mess…and what a hassle, too! It’s, in many cases, the main reason many people have installed propane gas logs to replace their old-fashioned fireplaces.
After all, it makes sense. They love the convenience! All you must do is flip a switch and the flame goes on—or off—without worrying about smoldering embers or cleaning up afterward. But the big surprise for most customers is how efficient a propane gas log hearth is compared to a wood fire.
Fact: A propane fireplace operates at or around 80 percent efficiency. That makes it four to five times more efficient than a wood fireplace!
How is a Propane Fireplace So Efficient at Heating?
A big reason a propane gas log is more efficient than a wood fire is the chimney—or lack thereof. A wood fire needs a chimney to burn safely, but in addition to pulling smoke and combustion gasses out of your space, as much as 90 percent of the heat is sucked up the chimney as well. What’s more, if your home is well sealed, you may need to crack open a window or use a vent, letting cold air in to ensure the fire has enough oxygen to burn.
On the other hand, a propane insert using direct venting only needs a single dual-chambered pipe directly through a wall to the outdoors. The pipe simultaneously draws air for the fire from the outdoors, while it expels the fire’s combustion byproducts to the outside. Similarly, ventless models have a regulator that produces a fine gas-air mix that allows the gas to burn cleanly. You don’t even need a chimney or a flue! That means all the heat stays in the room, instead of going up and out the chimney.
Propane Logs are Efficient in Other Ways, Too.
With a wood fire, you admittedly don’t have a ton of control. Without constant attention, adding logs and poking embers, your fire dies down and your room gets cold. With today’s propane logs, a remote control and a thermostat lets you dial up the heat you want—which is great not only for precisely controlling temperature but for controlling your propane use. Further, those electric igniters are also more efficient than a standing pilot light.
Another feature you don’t get with a wood fireplace are multispeed blowers that push warm air into the room, providing better, more even heat—especially in great rooms and other larger spaces.
Lastly, they let you spend time enjoying time with family and friends, not tending a fire. There’s countless value you can chalk up to that!
Easy, Versatile Propane Gas Logs—Let Pico Propane and Fuels Help You Install a Set Today!
It’s easy to convert a traditional fireplace to a maintenance-free, efficient propane hearth with a gas log insert. Thanks to minimal space requirements between the fireplace and wallboard or wood, a gas hearth can be installed almost anywhere. That means you can incorporate cozy charm into just about any room, including living rooms and family rooms, but also kitchens and dining rooms. Create your dream master suite or a spa-like bathroom escape, just by adding a gas fireplace!
Let the team at Pico Propane and Fuels show you how easy and affordable installing a gas fireplace can be. We service and install everything we sell, and we stand by our work. Contact us for more information, or visit our propane appliance showroom in Bergheim, Texas today!
