Everything You Need to Know About Fireplace Glass

The winter is finally here. Time to clear out your summer wardrobe. And get out those winter clothes you had stashed in the back from last year’s winters. Get ready to huddle around bonfires and tell horror stories. Makes some delicious s’mores. And sip on pumpkin spiced lattes.

These are outdoor activities that every season brings with it. But how do you keep yourself warm and comfy when you are indoors? By getting that fire going in the fireplace, of course.

Fireplaces are Used All Around the World. Here is Why?

Fireplaces have become an absolute necessity for both new houses and remodeled ones. Not only do they keep you warm during the cold winter nights, but also add on to the aesthetics of your living space. Who does not love a pretty home?!

Among arsenal that makes your house into a home, one of the most important elements is a fireplace. This unique, multi-purpose tool can be used to make the environment of your home cozy and more inviting.  

Different Types of Fireplaces Work with Different Settings

There are a number of fire rated glass doors available in the market today. Different styles of fireplaces are meant for different settings. When you go looking for one to buy for your home, pay special attention to the little details that matter the most.

For this reason, we have put together this brief guide on fireplaces.

What are the Different Types of Fireplaces?

When it comes to the fuel used in a fireplace, there are four basic types of fireplaces. These include wood-burning fireplace, gas-burning fireplace, ethanol fireplace, and electric fireplace.

Let’s discuss them in detail.

1. Wood-burning Fireplaces

As the name suggests, wood-burning fireplaces use wood to produce heat. It should be your number one option if you long for the romanticism and traditionalism of the olden days.

Pros

• The superb feeling that you get around these wood fireplaces.
• Wood-burning fireplaces are economical.
• The fireplace can produce a significant amount of heat.

Cons

• Refueling this fireplace is a quite tedious task. You will have to buy the wood to burn it.
• Wood-burning fireplace produces a lot of ashes that you need to clean out every once in a while.
• A chimney or vent is a necessity for wood fireplaces to get rid of the emissions produced with the heat. So, maintenance of this type of fireplace is quite grueling.

In my opinion, the cons of this particular type of fireplaces outweigh the pros by a large margin. Unless the old-timey feel that you get with this compensates, the extra effort you have to put to keep the fireplace going.

2. Gas Fireplaces

The second major type of fireplace works by using gas as fuel. Unlike the wood-burning fireplaces, you do not have to go out and get fuel every time you want a fire burning. Instead, it connects to your gas supply – much like your stove in the kitchen.

Pros

  The gas fireplace is a more convenient option than a wood fireplace as it doesn’t require fuel or wood for burning.

• It does not produce any ashes, so there is no clean up required.
• The gas fireplace is economical.
• It is easy to install.
• It produces quite a bit of heat.
• Available in both vent-less models and vent models. The fireplace with vent allows you to get rid of any harmful emissions that may be produced along with heat.

Cons

• Gas fireplaces require propane to burn. It can be expensive if you want to heat the whole house.
• Though gas fireplaces heat up rapidly, they also lose their heat quickly.

3. Fireplaces that run on ethanol

Fireplaces that run on ethanol are not as popular as the other types of fireplaces available.

The biggest reason? They are not very efficient at keeping your house warm, to be honest.

Ethanol fireplaces run on liquid bioethanol fuel, stored in a container inside the fireplace. This container has a typical volume of 2 liters and has to be refilled every time the ethanol runs out.

So, like wood fireplaces, there is no constant supply of fuel and you have to make some effort in that regard.

Pros

• They allow you to adjust the amount of heat by adjusting the burner level.
• Ethanol fireplaces are extremely lightweight.

  These fireplaces are super easy to install. People often pick them if they want the fireplace on a tabletop or mounted on a wall.

Cons

• Ethanol fireplaces are not a primary source of heat. They just supplement the main heat source.
• It can be dangerous if the fuel of ethanol fireplace burns or caches on fire.  

4. Electric Fireplaces

Last but not least, the latest type of fireplaces available is the electric fireplace. These are one of the most popular options among homeowners and interior designers around the globe.

Electric fireplaces use a heated coil to produce warmth in the room- just like the electric kettle to boil water for your morning tea. The flames you see in an electric fireplace are not real, but these are simply images that are projected onto a screen.

Pros

• Electric fireplaces are incredibly convenient, efficient, and super safe.
• Many models of the electric fireplace can distribute the heat all-around the home.
• Electric fireplaces are easy to install.
• You can turn off an electric fireplace while still having artificial flames going on. It creates a nice ambiance.

Cons

• Electric fireplaces don’t have a natural look. You may not get the same nostalgic feel with this kind of fireplace as that of a wood fireplace.
• The fireplace looks fake with no amazing smell or noise.
• The power outage will keep the fireplace from working, and it will not produce any heat.

Is Gas Fireplace with Glass Fronts Safe?

You might have often seen a fireplace glass sheltering the flames behind it in a fireplace. This glass barrier is set up as a safety feature in most cases.

However, glass tends to heat up quite a lot. So, it is important to not touch the fireplace glass while the fire is still on or has just been killed. Doing so can cause serious and irreversible damage to the body.

If we specifically talk about gas fireplaces, there is one added danger- the shattering of a fireplace glass. If the gas is turned on for a long time and the fire is not going, the gas can accumulate behind the glass screen. This gas then exerts pressure on the fireplace glass and may result in shattering it.

The glass might even shatter when it gets hotter too quickly. However, if you take the proper safety precautions and use the high-quality glass, the chances of this happening are extremely rare.

Which Fireplace Glass is the Most Shatter-Resistant?

The next question that arises is what type of fireplace glass is safe? Which fireplace glass is the most heat resistant and shatterproof?

Heat resistant glass that contains soda-lime or silica should be the glass of choice when creating a fireplace screen. This glass is used in industrial settings and kitchens. It can withstand sudden temperature changes without breaking apart or cracking. This glass is often treated chemically to obtain this unique property.

Pyrex glass, PyroCeram glass, and Robax glass are the main types of heat resistant glass used as fireplace glass.

Which Fireplace is Most Effective in Keeping the Home Warm?

When it comes to warmth, the wood and gas fireplaces are the ultimate winners. However, the electric fireplace is also worthy of a mention here. It has the ability to keep the entire house warm – unlike the ones mentioned above.

As we mentioned before, an ethanol fireplace is not the fireplace of choice when you are considering efficiency.

Have you been considering to get a fireplace installed when remodeling your home? Educate yourself on which fireplace works best by carefully reading through the above content. And you will be guaranteed to make the right decision.

If you still have any concerns about fireplace or fireplace glass, ask us in the comment section. We’d love to hear from you and will try our best to lay these concerns to rest.