Electric fireplace or ventless gas heater: which is right for your home?
Electric fireplaces are the easiest way to add a flame and some heat to a room. Vent-free gas heaters give far more heat and keep working in a power cut. Your fuel, your room and your local code decide.
Electric fireplaces
An electric fireplace plugs into a standard outlet, needs no chimney or gas line, and can go almost anywhere. Most give about 5,000 BTU of heat (1,500 W), enough to take the chill off a room of up to roughly 400 sq ft. The flame effect can run without the heater, so you can enjoy it all year. There are no fumes and no installation beyond hanging or placing the unit.
Vent-free (ventless) gas heaters and stoves
A vent-free unit burns natural gas or propane and releases all its heat into the room, so it is very efficient. Outputs of 10,000–30,000 BTU can heat a large room or a small home. Many blue-flame and infrared models have ignition that works without electricity, which makes them valuable during winter outages.
- Certified models include an oxygen depletion sensor (ODS) that shuts the unit off if oxygen gets low.
- They add moisture to the air and must be sized to the room as the manual specifies.
- Local rules: vent-free gas appliances are not permitted in some states and cities, including California, and some areas restrict them in bedrooms and bathrooms. Check your local code before buying.
Dual fuel
Dual-fuel models can be set up for natural gas or propane, which is useful if you move or switch fuel.
Safety in any case
Install a carbon monoxide detector on every level of the home and near sleeping areas, keep furniture and curtains at the clearances the manual specifies, and have gas appliances installed by a qualified technician.