Erin Porteous
The cold season is finally here. With your fireplace working, you’ll not only get to save that extra cost on the air conditioning but also get to enjoy that authentic fireplace vibe to set the ambiance. This all sounds like a good idea, but then comes the baggage of having to chop wood, right? Well, with modern trends, you don’t have to worry about all that. The invention of gas logs has made it easy and fun to enjoy the benefits of having a traditional fireplace without spending too much on real wood.
Gas logs are designed to look as good as wood and are actually cast from actual wood samples. They are then painted by hand to insert details you’d see in natural wood. To make it even more realistic, some go as far as having that charred appearance, with the front-most logs split to give the impression that the fire has been going for hours. Gas feature different designs that will blend easily with your internal home décor. Boasting an efficiency rating of 99% against their wooden counterparts, which have an efficiency of around 70%, these gas logs are surely the better option.
Because gas logs come in so many different varieties and sizes, finding the right one can come as a challenge, especially considering that some come as decorated logs while others come with the whole heating system. To help you find one that is most opportune to your needs, we’ve done our research and compiled a detailed review of the best gas logs out there.
Top 10 Gas Logs of 2019 Reviewed
1. Pine Mountain 6PK 2HR Trad Fire Log
[wt_products id=”2572″ template=”5″]2. Sure Heat SH18DBNG Sure Heat Seasoned Hickory Dual Burner Vented Gas Log
[wt_products id=”2573″ template=”5″]3. Sure Heat BRO18NG Sure Heat Burt River Oak Vented Gas Log Set
[wt_products id=”2574″ template=”5″]4. Barton Ceramic Wood Fireplace Decoration
[wt_products id=”2575″ template=”5″]5. Peterson Real Fyre 24-Inch Split Oak Log Set
[wt_products id=”2576″ template=”5″]6. Regal Flame 10-Piece Set Of Ceramic Wood Large Gas Fireplace Logs
[wt_products id=”2577″ template=”5″]7. 3GPlus Birch Ceramic Wood Gas Fireplace Logs
[wt_products id=”2578″ template=”5″]8. VFDM30LBN CERAMIC FIBER BURNER
[wt_products id=”2579″ template=”5″]9. Stanbroil Fireplace 10-Piece Set Of Ceramic Wood Logs
[wt_products id=”2580″ template=”5″]10. Emberglow Savannah Oak 18-Inch Vent-Free Propane Gas Fireplace Logs
[wt_products id=”2581″ template=”5″]How to Choose The Best Gas Log – The Ultimate Buying Guide
There are many reasons for people choosing to buy gas logs over other types of fireplaces. For instance, the gas logs are space-saving. They aren’t as bulky and easy to operate. Even a small child can change the heat intensity from one level to another. Also, you won’t have to buy wood logs, which can be a nuisance because they produce smoke and ash. With the best gas logs, it is easier to start and put off a fire.
Some of the logs come with a thermostat functionality, which enables you to choose a temperature level at which you want it to operate. You may also place in any room in the house, without having to disrupt anything.
So, you want to buy a set of gas logs but you have no idea what to look for? There are many people like you, who may not have an idea about what to look for in a set of gas logs. That is why we have come up with this buying guide. It will help experienced as well as newbie buyers to know what to look for.
Type Of Gas Logs
There are two main types of gas logs you may buy for installation in your fireplace. They include the following:
- Vented Gas Logs: Vented gas log sets are designed to be as realistic as possible. For instance, you will notice the flames swirling wiggling around the ceramic logs and dancing between them. As such, the damper needs to be constantly open and the flue system operating at its best. Just like for the vented gas insert fireplace, you will require to install intake and exhaust pipes. To prevent cold air from coming into the house, you will have to install some glass screens. The screens will also prevent hot air from escaping out of your home.
- Vent-Less Logs: Vent gas logs are great when it comes to heating the entire room and maintaining its warmth. Only that the fire may appear more unnatural than usual. The flames usually pass through cutouts in between the logs. Some may have a remote to help you regulate the level of heat from a distance. Thus you can choose a larger flame if you want more heat and a smaller one accordingly. The good thing with ventless logs is that they ensure that all the heat remains inside the room.
- Direct Vent Systems: These systems usually have a large viewing area, which makes the fire visible to everyone in the room. You may use propane or natural gas to provide fuel to these systems. Most of them come with dual burners with adjustable heat output. Unlike ventless gas logs, these particular systems have more realistic fires.
Size Of Gas Logs
Before you pick a set of gas logs, you should ensure that it will fit inside your fireplace. In a simple process, you will be able to measure your fireplace to know the length of the gas logs you need to buy.
You will need to measure the front width, back width, depth, front height, and back height of your fireplace. Record these measurements and carry them with you as you shop around you the perfect gas logs.
Does It Complement Your Home Décor?
When you buy gas logs, you are not just getting a source of heat for your home. It also plays an important role in complementing or enhancing your home décor. So, the set of gas logs you choose should be able to do just that. Luckily, you will find a range of gas log styles on the market.
Some have decorations depicting oak. Others mimic pine or birch. You can choose birch logs if you mostly have white or cream-colored walls in your home. If they are brown, pine or oak will do just fine.
Methods Of Starting And Controlling Fire
- Match Light: Matchlight is recommended for gas logs that use natural light only. In such a system, you will have only the burner and logs. To ignite the fire, place a match close to the burner and turn on the gas. You can control the height of the flame and heat level by turning the gas up or down using the key valve.
- Manual Safety Pilot: Such a system has a manually-lighted safety pilot that remains lit all through. It is also known as a standing pilot and looks like the pilot in water heaters. To turn the burner on/off, simply reach inside the burner and turn the control knob. The system doesn’t come with a remote control to use.
- Remote control: Some gas logs have a pilot valve that can be remote-controlled. Using the remote, you can control the level of the fire from a distance. If you want it reduced, the remote will help you to do that simply and easily.
Natural Gas Or Liquid Propane?
Two types of fuel that can be used with gas logs. It is either natural gas or liquid propane. If there is a line already installed in your fireplace, you would already have an idea of the fuel to use. Where there is no line, you will have to make up your mind the type of fuel you want to use.
It is important to be clear about the fuel the gas logs you intend to buy are already using. It is also important to check the type of gas for which plumbing has already been done in your home.
Conclusion
Have you decided on what set of gas logs you want to buy? After reading the reviews above, you have an idea of what you are looking at. Whatever your choice, make sure that the logs are perfect for your fireplace. If it is a small fireplace, choose logs that have been designed for such a space. For larger fireplaces, you may want large logs. Here, the price doesn’t play a very important role. It is the functionality that matters.
