What is the difference between sealed gas, wood and open fireplaces?
A fireplace in your home gives you some much needed warmth during the winter months, and helps create that warm cosy atmosphere we all need when its rainy and cold outside.
But with so much choice out there it can be hard to know which type to install, let alone with make and model!
We chatted to the team at Abbey Fireplaces to help clarify the advantages of sealed gas and wood fireplaces as opposed to open fireplaces >>>
So what are the advantages of a sealed gas fire?
- Sealed gas fireplaces do not release any gases into the room therefore you are not inhaling any. There is also less of a chance of falling asleep because of the gas being released into the room.
- No oxygen is taken from the room, so no windows need to be left open to allow air to get in.
- Sealed gas fireplaces are more efficient because the heat is more contained and along with the fan and dedicated air opening, can direct the heat out into the room far better and warm the area in a shorter amount of time.
- Some sealed gas fireplace brands such as Escea & Ortal (optional) have a power flue system. This means that where the flexible (2) flue terminates, there is a separate fan that pushes in the air from the atmosphere while the other flue pushes gases out into the atmosphere. This helps feed the fire therefore not as much gas is used. Some Escea models have a 5 star efficiency rating as a result.
Love wood or not able to have gas? What about a sealed wood fireplace!
Now let’s talk about the benefits of a sealed wood fireplace over an open fireplace:
- Most of the heat is contained in the firebox and along with the baffle plate (located in the roof of the firebox) which acts as a heat deflector, does not let most of the heat escape up the flue but direct it into the actual room. This makes sealed wood fireplaces far more efficient.
- Some brands such as Eureka have a standard 3 speed fan which pushes the heat out further into room thus warming the area in a shorter amount of time.
- Sealed wood fireplaces do not let out any lit embers or ash and very little smoke into room which can be dangerous as opposed to an open wood fireplace.
- Some brands such as Lopi and ADF have a damper control which means when the door of the fireplace is open to reload with wood, the flue can be fully open so the smoke can escape up the flue rather than being released into the room.
- Lopi Wood fireplaces also have the option of a “greenstart” igniter. It an electric bellow that blows hot air (760 degress Celsius) into the firebox igniting the wood.
This cannot be done in an open wood fireplace.
Thank you Abbey Fireplaces for your advice and outlining the advantages of sealed gas orwood fireplaces over open fireplaces. If you want to pop in, chat to the team and view these stunning fireplaces then you can view their listing here, visit the team in the showroom at 28A Roger Street, Brookvale or call (02) 9939 9848 to discuss your needs.
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It’s good to know that sealed wood fireplaces are more efficient. My husband and I want to look into getting a fireplace installed for our living room in a couple of weeks, and we were wondering what type would be best to choose. I appreciate you helping me learn more about the benefits of different types of fireplaces.