The cold wintery days are all about enjoying the hot coffee and reading your favorite book, feeling cozy in front of the fireplace. This special time becomes even more relaxing when the blazing fire needs no tending and tiring cleanups.
This is what gas fireplaces are all about. These contemporary fireplaces not only enhance the space’s aesthetic but are also safe, and controllable and heat the room evenly. Not to forget, the intense crimson embers and orange flames look splendid when they dance and flicker around.
That being said, many users feel confused about covering and uncovering the glass covers over the gas fireplaces. If you are one of those folks, worry not. Keep on reading as we address some of the most concerning questions related to covering gas fireplaces:
Different Fireplace Types and Need for Glass Covering
Most glass-covered fireplaces have direct vents that do not work correctly without the glass covering. If you have a direct vent gas fireplace, you will see that the glass panels are fixed and cannot be removed manually. They work on sealed combustion systems and function properly only when the glass cover is completely closed.
If the glass is not correctly installed or closed, the fireplace will not burn, and the residents of the house can become subject to carbon monoxide poisoning. In short, you cannot remove the glass panels on your direct vent gas fireplace.
However, some gas fireplaces can operate even without a glass in place. If a wood-burning fireplace has been converted to a gas type, glass doors must be open when the fire is burning. Otherwise, the tempered glass can explode and cause havoc.
For other types of gas fireplaces, such as the B-vent and vent-free gas fireplaces, you must consult the user guide to know whether you can remove the glass panel or not.
Differentiating between Open and Glass Fronted Fireplaces
Open Fireplaces: The open ones use air from the room to ignite the fire. The fire is drawn, and the air is re-circulated around the room while some of the room air is also removed outside through the flue. Where warm air is drawn outside the house when not needed, the outside air also needs to be utilized to balance the airflow.
This might be a little less efficient as this method uses more air, I.e. gas, to heat for better output in order to maintain suitable room temperature.
Glass-Fronted Fireplaces: The glass-fronted fireplaces are sealed and are designed to overcome the limitations of open fireplaces by directing the air directly into the chambers.
Here no replacement air is required, and no heat loss is induced. The air is pulled into an exchanger that circulates it via a fan or duct system. This reduces the temperature difference between the incoming and outgoing air, ensuring constant temperature.
The popular gas fireplaces run between 85% to 90% efficiency due to their smart mechanism, which summarizes an output of between 8.4 to 10.4Kw.
Reasons Why Fireplaces Have Glass Covers
Gone are the days of traditional coal fireplaces. Now is the time of wall-mounted gas fireplaces designed to give a warm and pleasant experience without tiring cleanups. Unlike traditional fireplaces, gas fireplaces do not splash embers and ashes. The key reasons for this include:
🔹Increased Safety:
A glass screen for fireplaces is not only there for visual appeal but also increases energy efficiency, functionality, and safety. It keeps people, particularly kids and pets, safe from getting burned by getting in contact with fire. Plus, they also limit the chance of any woodwork, carpet, and furniture catching fire from the fireplace.
🔹Heat Efficient:
A lot of heat escapes from the open fireplaces, but a glass door triples the heat output, considerably improving the fireplace efficiency. These are also highly effective for zone heating. According to estimates, a gas fireplace burns at about 50 to 90% efficiency, which is significantly higher than a wood fireplace, which offers only about 10 to 30% efficiency.
🔹Decreases the Operational Cost:
The open fireplaces are just like windows that allow warm air to escape quickly from the house, making it challenging to keep the house warm for longer. However, a properly installed gas fireplace with a glass door has a strong sealing system that lets you stay warm and cozy all day all winter.
🔹Aesthetically Pleasant:
If you wish to upgrade the style profile of your living room, add a glass door fireplace to it and see the space transformed into an unmatched beauty. The fire beds with intense flames look striking and are safe at the same time.
Exception for Tempered Glass Doors
The tempered glass fireplace doors need to remain open when the fire is burning. As the tempered glass cannot withstand the high temperatures of blazing fire, it is highly recommended to leave the doors wide open when starting a fire and when the fire is burning intensely.
Tempered glass is vulnerable to extreme heat, especially when the fire is at a distance of 6 inches only. If the doors are closed when the embers are still burning in the hearth, the results will be shattered glass. Close the door only when the fire has died down, and the temperature is moderate again.
All mentioned points are set aside, feeling safe about your home might always remain a concern when having a gas fireplace. if you are going through a renovation it is always a good idea to exchange your fireplace inserts with electric inserts or have a beautiful built-in linear electric fireplace that can modernize your area and they are completely dangerless.
Wrapping It Up
Glass doors on gas fireplaces bring safety and efficiency to your fireplace. The decorative glass adds beauty to your hearth, while the roaring flames give a warm feeling. Not to forget, they are easy to clean.
The decision to keep the glass door open or close comes on one basic significant fact whether the glass is tempered or not. Not to forget, all the gas fireplaces come with their distinct user manual, instructions, and functioning information, depending on their type. It tells you how to use a gas fireplace. If the manual of your fireplace suggests keeping the door open when the fire is burning, it is best to follow the instructions in the manual.
