Propane Gas Fireplace

[CurlyDave]

We are putting a propane built-in fireplace in the living room of our new house.

Our GC has suggested a supplier who only carries Lennox brand.

Does anyone have any experience with this brand? Any other brands we should consider?

Any brands to avoid?

 

[IslandTractor]

I don't know specifically about Lennox gas fireplaces but the brand Lennox is certainly very well respected here in New England: Smaller than Carrier and some of the other big gas furnace companies but known for high quality and engineering. Most of the fireplace insert type heaters seem to be made by much smaller companies so Lennox might actually be much better engineered and built given their corporate resources and experience.

 

[Egon]

In our previous house in Alberta we had a Lenox High Efficiency natural gas furnace installed. Very happy with it.

Lenox was a well know popular brand name.

 

[wjmst]

I have a Martin direct vent propane gas fireplace in my living room and if I don't have the pilot light lit all the time there is a cold air draft into the room. In fact, when it is sunny outside you can look up through the vent and see daylight! The fireplace only heats our living room.

I purchased the fireplace for two reasons, one the "romantic" atmosphere and two it works when our power is out for emergency heat.

Wes

 

[PBinWA]

I think Quadrafire has a good reputation for efficiency and they are made in the USA.

Fireplace Stoves, Gas Stoves, Pellet Stoves, Fireplaces, Fireplace Inserts by QUADRA-FIRE: Products - Gas Fireplaces

I would also consider your local service and support options too.

PB

 

[tractorsanmore]

my mom has a buck brand propane fireplace , it's her main heat source ( small house ) Has a remote control , just like a tv

 

[Jimbrown]

I don't know about Lenox they are a known brand but I am on my second propane fire place and I think they are great. no mess no wood and you can turn em on and off when you want and don't have to leave the fireplace open to suck heat out when you are ready for bed. I do not think they are particularly efficient but they are convient. My wife and I just like to sit in front of it for 30 min or so with a glass of wine after she comes home from work and then we can turn it off. could not do tht with real wood. Ours look as real as a real wood fire just does not smell the same. but we do have some stuff you sprinkle on for smell if you really want it. Mine does make quite a bit of heat but I am sure the same amount of propane tru the furnace would be far more efficient. But agin a nice glass of wine in front of the fire place is worth the pennies. here is pic of mine

 

[Highbeam]

As far as efficiency goes you may be surprised to know that the heater rated gas fireplaces can be more efficient than a gas furnace at extracting heat but the big benefits are zone heating and lack of duct losses. You lose a huge amount of heat through forced air ducting. You also stand to gain by only heating the room you are in and effectively shrinking your home.

You will also benefit from the radiant heat made by a modern heater rated ags fireplace. I owned a natural gas fireplace and we enjoyed the zone heating and warmth of the heater unit much more than the ducted heat.

 

[turbo36]

We have 2 Lennox Wood burning fireplaces with gas logs. We looked at a lot of brands and thought the Lennox very good quality.

Here are a few pictures.

 

[Jimbrown]

Is that a big poodle? Here is one of mine.

 

[kenmac]

We are putting a propane built-in fireplace in the living room of our new house.

Our GC has suggested a supplier who only carries Lennox brand.

Does anyone have any experience with this brand? Any other brands we should consider?

Any brands to avoid?

Dave,
Are you talking about a vented or un-vented fire place with logs ? Out of All the brands that I have come in contact with ,I don't find any brand better than the other. H.D. sells them as well as other stores . Vanguard use to be a good brand I think they were bought out a while back. If you go with the un- vented fire box with un- vented logs be sure that your mantle (if wood )above the fire place in within the factory specs. or a heat deflector is required at the fire place opening. Alot of heat comes out of that opening when the logs are on. It will give you the specs in the installation papers with the logs

 

[johnk]

The dogs look like twins. Maybe a DNA check is in order...

 

[dfeck]

I've had two Vermont Castings Gas fireplaces. One was natural gas the other propane. Both units worked great and had no problems with either one. I also had Lennox products and they were fantastic.

 

[turbo36]

Is that a big poodle? Here is one of mine.

He is a "Puli". He looks like a standard Poodle because we keep him in a puppy cut.
Puli - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is what he would look like if we let his hair grow into cords.

 

[turbo36]

. But agin a nice glass of wine in front of the fire place is worth the pennies. here is pic of mine

Wine? Now you have my attention, I just happen to have a few bottles around the house that my wife and enjoy around the fireplace also.

 

[CurlyDave]

Dave,
Are you talking about a vented or un-vented fire place with logs ?

This would be a direct-vent fireplace (that is a type of vent which uses double-wall pipe to supply outside air for combustion), with a circulating fan for room heating. They actually look pretty efficient.

Looks like the Lennox brand is going to be OK, so we will probably go with that.

I don't have the paperwork here with me, but efficiency is in the 85% range.

 

[kenmac]

I know what you are talking about on the direct vent. But, I'am just curious as to why you would go with 85% efficiency logs insteat of the 99.9% efficienty logs without a vent ?

 

[IslandTractor]

I know what you are talking about on the direct vent. But, I'am just curious as to why you would go with 85% efficiency logs insteat of the 99.9% efficienty logs without a vent ?

Even though unvented gas heaters are legal in many states, it still doesn't seem like a great idea to me. Sure, in some ways it is no worse than having a gas cooktop running but you don't generally do that 24hrs a day with the house buttoned up tight. People notice odd films developing on their windows, there are at least trace amounts of air pollutants discharged into the living space too.

Here is an interesting summary of the "con" position from a Canadian website:

“For $500, you can have this unvented gas log that will throw off heat, water vapour (adding to the humidity levels in the home), traces of carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxides, and may, if not maintained, operated or installed correctly, kill you and your family in your sleep. Or, you can have this direct vent fireplace that uses outside air in a sealed combustion system, and only delivers heat into your home, allowing you and your family to sleep in safety for $2,200.”
I guess it’s all in how you ask the question.
Perhaps one of the better quotes I have read in this debate came from one of the many opponents to unvented, Jim Hermann of The Earth Stove, who said: “You don’t need a scientist, you need a psychiatrist.”

I'll accept the 15% penalty for peace of mind.

 

[scott_vt]

Afternoon Island Tractor,
I concur, my propane insert is vented and I feel alot better about going to sleep at night with a pretty good chance of waking up in the morning I can live with the 85% efficiency !

On the other hand my friend had a Vermont Castings un-vented that he swears by Plus he gets the benefit of the water vapor also. Im happy with what I have and really wouldnt change !

 

[BillyP]

We've had unvented propane heat for 15 years or so. The first was a Renai infrared. That was in our previous house. This house has a fireplace so we installed an unvented gas log heater. It's the Vanguard's ChaRealistic. It's OK and looks like real logs burning but it doesn't put out the heat of the Renai.

EDIT-Pardon my spelling. Renai should have been Rinnai and should have been radiant instead of infrared.​