Upgrade Your Fireplace With the Best Gas Fireplace Logs

Gas logs for your fireplace carry all the unique advantages of conventional logs without the drawbacks. This means no cleaning, no switching out logs, or heat fluctuations on cold nights. They look and feel like the real thing, and getting the best gas fireplace log is an investment most homeowners won’t regret.

In this guide, we’ll discuss the different styles of logs, their features, strengths, weaknesses, and other important details.

What Are the Different Styles of Gas Logs?

There are two main styles of gas fireplace logs.

Vented logs

Vented gas logs are designed to be used in a traditional wood and ash fireplace with an operational chimney. They’re safer replacements for real wood and feature substantial detailing. They produce large orange flames that very much look and burn like authentic firewood.  

Vented gas logs emit carbon monoxide when they are set to fire, and require your chimney damper to stay open at all times to prevent build-up. They are not the most efficient type of gas log because most of the heat generated is lost through the chimney.

The average vented ceramic gas log ships with a standard or ANSI certification. This proves that it has not been tampered with.

Ventless Logs

Ventless or vent-free log sets are the opposite of vented ceramic fire logs. They are designed to produce clean, smokeless fire and do not need a chimney or outlet to operate. They are nearly 100% efficient since they emit almost no carbon monoxide after combustion and heat is not lost via the chimney.

Ventless gas logs produce low burning, blue flames that seem almost unnatural. They can also produce larger, golden flames, but they don’t look as organic as fires from vented gas logs.

Ventless fire logs burn oxygen and leave water vapor as a byproduct. Over time, this excess moisture can raise the humidity in your home, cause condensation to form on your windows, supercharge local odors, and can even trigger lung irritation. 

Just like the vented logs, ventless gas logs also have to be ANSI certified and adhere to the national code. Ventless gas logs are also illegal in several states within the United States, so you’ll have to confirm their status before you place an order.

What Are Gas Fireplace Logs Made Of?

Gas logs are made from a unique blend of ceramic fiber and refractory cement and are designed to withstand extreme temperatures. Some manufacturers might choose to add steel reinforcement rods to increase their resistance to heat long-term, but cement and ceramic are universal bases.

They use refractory cement because it makes them extremely durable and allows them to hold their colors for longer after continuous exposure to extreme heat. Gas logs are modeled after actually burned logs. To make them, detailed molds are made and then filled with cement and ceramic mixture, and finally painted to capture the wood’s natural marks, pittings, colors, etc.  

The material composition might differ between various manufacturers. Some might emphasize ceramic over refractory cement and vice versa, while others might prioritize the aesthetic appeal.

What Other Factors Are Important To Ensure a Good Fireplace Experience?

Type of fireplace

A ventless fireplace is the most widely used in modern homes. It provides a comfortable, steady warmth while also being superior in terms of safety and ease of use. It uses a sealed venting system that burns fuel outside the house and produces a clean flame inside the fireplace. This is a safe and efficient way to stay warm as it does not compromise the air quality of your home. Also, it helps ensure that your family stays healthy by avoiding the generation of harmful gases like carbon monoxide that are produced by wood-burning fireplaces. If you are purchasing a fireplace log set, make sure you have a ventless fireplace to ensure the best warmth in your space. 

Control options

Controlling the flow of propane or natural gas to your log is arguably more important than the appearance of the logs themselves. With proper control systems set in place, you can guarantee your home will always be safe and prevent any accidents down the line.

Match-lit ignition

Match-lit ignition controls are the most affordable and reliable control method. All you have to do is release the gas, and use a match or lighter to ignite it. Unfortunately, this lighter method is only available with a vented gas log set that uses natural gas.

Manual safety pilot

The safety pilots prevent gas leakage and automatically shut the gas flow to a fireplace when the fire is put out.

Modified safety pilots

These safety pilots can be remotely operated via remote control. This means you can turn on and shut off the gas flow to your fireplace whenever you choose. 

Millivolt valve

The Millivolt valve is more or less like the Safety pilot, except more versatile. You can connect it to a handheld remote, wall switch, timer, or thermostat.

Electric valve

These come coupled with electric ignition systems. They more or less allow you to remotely shut on and off your gas flow via a wall switch, remote, or valve. 

Any of the control systems would do just fine. Some people prefer to stick with the manual Safety pilot, and others prefer a full electric ignition set.

Sizing

There is generally no universal sizing method in place for gas fireplace logs. Usually, the manufacturers provide the sizing, measurements, and clearing they deem appropriate and tell you how to measure. Oversized or undersized logs can damage gas valves and your fireplace, and could even start fires, so you want to make sure you confirm that you are dealing with the right set. 

We recommend you measure out the width, height, and depth of your fireplace so you can get a proper fit.

To keep up the appearance of your fireplace, it’s important to keep the logs clean. Take a look at this video from Fireside Kitchens for a simple tutorial:

Pricing

The price of gas logs is determined by the product’s style, model, manufacturer, extra features, durability, and level of detail.