Zero Clearance Fireplace
The zero clearance fireplace is a very popular choice among homeowners because this type of fireplace can be safely installed against or near combustible material such as paneling, walls, or wood, which means that there is no need for the traditional buffer zone that is required for traditional fireplaces. The zero clearance fireplace is prefabricated using materials that do not get hot enough to burn other materials, making them safer than other fireplace types.
While the most obvious benefit of the zero clearance fireplace is its safety features of these units - although they should still be operated with care. In addition, the space that is required for installation of the zero clearance fireplace is much smaller than a more traditional unit would require, meaning that these fireplaces can be effectively utilized in more diverse locations - which makes them popular among builders of new home constructions and existing homeowners. Because of the design of the zero clearance fireplace, there is no need for complex and difficult brick work or masonry work in order to shield other surfaces in the home from heat exposure, which makes the cost of installation for this type of fireplace much less, typically lowering the overall cost of the project. The new generation zero clearance fireplaces are also usually more energy efficient than older models, which can translate to savings on the energy bills of the homeowner as well. Inversely, there are some drawbacks to using a zero clearance fireplace, namely that the old fashioned look that is so appealing (and the reason that many folks desire a fireplace to begin with) is often lost when installing this type of fireplace.
There are a plethora of zero clearance fireplace models on the market, available in different types, styles, sizes, and finished. Most of these fireplaces operate on gas, although there are electric, wood, pellet, and propane type fireplaces in the zero clearance line-up as well. And although there are different options for venting your zero clearance fireplace, most of them require no chimney but rely instead of a system of vents and ducts to circulate air in and out of the fireplace unit.
When shopping for your zero clearance fireplace, be sure to take accurate measurements of the area where you would like to install the fireplace, and take those measurements with you or refer to them if you shop online. Take into consideration whether you have a nearby outlet in the area for an electric model, or if you need to run lines, wiring, or do other work to use a gas model. Also, do a bit of comparison shopping; online retailers and dealers often offer deep discount on many zero clearance fireplace models at particular times of the year.