Reviews of the Best Fireplaces - Gas Fireplace - Wood Burning Fireplace:
Most of us grew up with wood burning fireplaces or perhaps even a wood stove to help keep our homes warm. Today there are many more choices when it comes to fireplaces in your house. With the invention of gas fireplaces, there's no need to keep wood each winter, just turn on the switch and "ta da", the flame comes on and the house gets warm. Many modern homes are built with gas starting, but wood burning fireplaces to help get the fire started much quicker than the old days when you need kindling and newspaper. The house I live in has one gas fireplace and one tradional wood burning fireplace with a gas starter for convenience. Woodburning fireplaces are often referred to as masonry fireplaces and are still generally preferred by the public. Nothing beats an authentic fire on a cold winters night with the wood sparking and the hot coals burning bright orange. A generation from now, many young adults may not even know how to start a fire properly in an actual fireplace as more and more gas fireplaces will replace the older models.
Regency-fire.com is a quality website to start with when researching what product to buy. They carry gas fireplaces, gas stoves, gas inserts, wood fireplaces, wood stoves, and wood inserts. The 2 top sellers are their Classic WarmHearth Wood Fireplace (70,000 BTU, 22" log size, EPA Certified, 90% cleaner burning than a conventional fireplace) and the WarmHearth Plus
Wood Fireplace (high efficiency, low ash production, virtually no smoke, 20" log size). For gas fireplaces, they carry the Liberty gas fireplace line and the Panorama gas fireplaces. The Liberty Gas Fireplace has 2 sizes (L676 & L900), has a no louver look, and burns cleans. The Panorama Gas Fireplaces are easy to install in almost any room (no chimney needed). Just pick your fireplace, choose a fireplace mantel, and have it vented through an outside wall. The models available are the P33 Small, P36 Medium, P40 Large, P42 Large, P48 extra Large, P121 Two Sided, P131 Three Sided. Their sister site is located at Palace-Fire.com and there you can view unique fireplaces that are custom made. You can choose from one of 3 designer styles (textured finish, screen doors, brick panels). The most prestigious custom fireplaces I have seen are stone fireplaces, tile fireplaces, marble fireplaces. Palace Fire will even send you a free fireplace solutions kit with lots of ideas on how to customize your fireplace. We really like The Kensington Fireplace, the Westminster Fireplace and the Balmoral Fireplace that they offer. Lastly, for a luxury fireplace, check out Excalibur-Fire.com for top end gas and wood burning fireplaces that are stunning both in efficiency but looks. The new EX90 Fireplace is clean burning and handles 20" logs. For gas, the Excalibur Gas Fireplaces (P90 Medium and P95 Large) are high in quality, provide plenty of warmth during those cold winter months, and are luxurious. RECOMMENDED - We suggest shopping online at Amazon.com since they carry all the leading brands and often have the lowest prices on the internet. You can browse the top selling fireplace inserts online here.
Electric Fireplace:
Electric fireplaces offer flickering flames and seem very real, only they are ventless fireplaces and you can plug them into a wall outlet. Electric fires are cheap to run - about 2 cents and hour on the "flame only" setting and $.07 an hour with the heater on as well. Most electric fires have no hot surfaces so they're safe for kids and pets. Electric fireplaces produce good heat (5000 BTU average) to handle a 400 square foot room. They come as freestanding stoves, fireplaces with mantel, corner fireplace, corner mount, wall hung fireplace, electric inserts, electric logs, and electric coal basket. They work well in bathrooms, nursery, foyer or kitchen. The best electric fireplaces are the Brugges Fireplace Suite ($1299) - electric fireplace, mantel & hearth, Oakhampton Wall Mount Electric Fireplace ($799), Dakota Fireplace Suite ($1299), Esse Freestanding Stove ($300), Atlanta Fireplace Suite ($1099), Timbersby Fireplace Suite ($999) - white corner mantel, Rothersby Electric Insert ($799) - converts small fireplace to electric. You can find out more details on ordering/buying an electric fireplace at Gascoals.net.
Fireplace Accessory:
Fireplacemall.com is a great resource online for fireplace accessories. Get fireplace tool sets ($49.95), Fireplace screens ($59.95), Brass and Cast Iron Fireplace Andirons ($47.95), Log holders, log racks, log carts, and firewood baskets (start at $38.95), cast iron fireplace grates ($31.95), cast-iron firebacks and stainless steel firebacks ($58.95). Fireplace screens are available in single panel, tri-fold, screens with doors, and antique fireplace screens. For cleaning up ash after the fire, use a Cricket Ash Vac ($23.95) - good for fireplace, woodstove, or grill. A solid brass fireplace tool set goes for $297.95 (4 tools - poker, brush, shovel, and tongs.
How to Choose the Best Fireplace for your home?
There are many factors to consider when buying a fireplace for your house. Do you need gas, electric or authentic wood burning? What type of heat efficiency do I need? What are the top fireplace brands? All of these questions and many more can be answered at http://www.fireplacesnow.com/faq.asp. This online fireplace shop carries all the latest fireplaces from Ambient, Appalachian, Archgard, Arctic, Empire, Security, Continental, Napoleon and Lennox.
Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.
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