Keep warm without the hassle


Have you always wanted a fireplace, but weren’t sure it was worth the hassle? Or maybe your old fireplace is out of use and disrepair because it was just too much work. If you like the idea of a fireplace, but aren’t committed to all of the energy it takes to keep it going, then a natural gas log fireplace might just be the option for you. Reaume specializes in gas log fireplace installation, and would love to help you choose one that fits in beautifully with your home. With more than 40 years in the industry, our professional staff know what they’re doing, and can put in a gas log fireplace that makes having a fire as simple as pushing a button!


We’d love to help you pick out the best gas fireplace logs for your home, as well as install the gas line safely and properly. We are the West Michigan Lakeshore’s most trusted source for gas fireplace log installation and we provide fast, reliable service.


These days, a lot of people are switching to gas fireplaces. A natural gas fireplace gives you all of the benefits of a wood burning fireplace, but without the hassle. If you’re still not convinced, here’s 8 reasons why you might consider switching to a natural gas fireplace:

No more hauling: Running out to the woodshed in the middle of the winter certainly has its drawbacks. It’s freezing, you have to put on your coat, you probably have to split the wood, and then you have to let it dry out. You can forget all of that with a natural gas fireplace. Just hit the button, and you’re good to go.

No wood in the home: Since you won’t have to cut any wood, you also won’t have to keep it in your home. Many people let a few pieces of firewood dry out in their home so they don’t have to run to the garage every time the fire needs more fuel. Unfortunately, firewood houses a host of pests, and isn’t very clean to have in your home. Without the firewood, you’ll better protect yourself from infestations, and you’ll have to clean considerably less.

Constant heat supply: Also, you’ll never run out of fuel. Even if the power goes out, in most cases you’re still able to light the gas fireplace with a match or lighter. You won’t have to keep stoking the fire either. You can turn it on and forget it.

Safer: If you’ve got little kids or pets, this is also a really great option in terms of safety. Natural gas fireplaces don’t spark, and you don’t have to watch for ashes or cinders popping out of the fireplace.

Cleaner: Along with that, because natural gas fireplaces don’t spark, you won’t have to clean around them. That means no soot or ash around the area or potentially burning your carpet.

No particulate emissions: Additionally, natural gas fireplaces tend to be much better for your health and your indoor air quality. Burning wood emits particles and fumes that can be dangerous to your air and your health, and when you switch to natural gas you eliminate those particular health hazards.

Easy to work: You literally just have to push a button or flip a switch. A natural gas fireplace saves you a lot of time, while still providing a warm, comfortable ambience.

Endless options: With a natural gas fireplace you’re not limited to the same design constraints as a wood burning fireplace. If you opt for a vent-free unit, you don’t even need a traditional chimney!


Types of gas fireplaces

Gas Fireplace Inserts: These are generally used when people either decide to switch to a gas fireplace, or when an existing wood fireplace no longer functions safely. Most fireplace inserts use ceramic logs to look like real wood logs, and the gas is generally hooked up to your home’s gas lines. This means that the new gas fireplace is easily started with the push of a button. Some inserts are also fueled by a propane tank outside of the home, but they look and work almost exactly the same way.

Gas Logs: A gas log fireplace allows you to keep the size and look of your original fireplace, something an insert does not. Most gas log fireplaces are admired for their large flames, but in most cases they do not produce as much heat as an insert does. If you’re just going for a great looking fire, this is the perfect option, plus the installation is much quicker than an insert installation tends to be.

Built-in Gas Fireplaces: You guessed it, this is a gas fireplace that was built to be a gas fireplace. While the other two options are essentially remodels of an existing wood-burning fireplace, this one starts out as a gas fireplace, and is easiest to put in when you’re building your home. The major benefit of a built-in gas fireplace is that there is considerably less heat waste than most other fireplace options.

The Vented vs Vent-Free Controversy

There’s a lot of information out there about vented and ventless gas log fireplaces, some of it conflicting. The truth is that both options have their benefits, and both have their drawbacks. Either way, you’re likely to find one option that works best for your home. So what’s the truth?

Vented: Vented log sets are nice because they can be installed directly into your existing wood-burning fireplace. They’ll use the chimney you already have and are quick to install. They provide the most realistic looking fire, with large flames and arrangeable logs. Because the fireplace is vented, all emissions and fumes will go right out the chimney, never making it into your home. The tradeoff here is that, although you won’t have to worry about any negative emissions, because everything flushes right out the chimney, they don’t produce a lot of heat.

Ventless: The great benefit of a ventless fireplace is the heat output that you get. Since the fireplace damper is closed for this version of natural gas fireplaces, all the heat that is produced stays in your home. It’s an incredibly energy efficient option compared to a wood-burning fireplace and is great for power outage situations. The downside is that since the damper is closed, any fumes or soot will remain in your home, instead of going out the chimney. Though this isn’t a huge issue, since ventless fireplaces burn exceptionally clean, it does give some people pause. It’s important to know that though some fumes will be released into your home, most ventless fireplaces have an oxygen depletion sensor that turns off the burner in the event that oxygen in the room reaches a dangerous level.

Both options have their advantages and their disadvantages. If you have more questions regarding which option would be best for your home, give Reaume Heating & Cooling a call. We’re West Michigan’s first call for gas log fireplace installation!



Share This