Wosame

Fireplaces Then and Now

Ancient fireplaces are built in the ground and are placed at the center of the house. Problems such as smoke entering the house are later addressed through building a chimney to vent the smoke outside. However, it was in the 1700s when Ben Franklin developed a convection chamber to improve the efficiency of gas stoves and wood burning fireplaces. He also improved the heated air flow by venting out a making the area at the top longer. It was also in the later 1700s that Count Rumford designed a fireplace with a tall shallow firebox which greatly improved the amount of heat that was dispersed all over the room.

Today, fireplaces have evolved and there are a lot of choices now available. Different types from the masonry fireplaces to ventless gas fireplaces are now available in the market. Everyone can now find a perfect fireplace that perfectly suits his/her lifestyle. It is unbelievable how a fireplace, how simple or elegant it may be, can give a room such a different look and make it more comforting.

There are also lots of manufactured or prefabricated fireplaces to choose from which are all aesthetically pleasing. Another advantage of manufactured fireplaces is that they are easy to install and can be placed in any room. And today, ventless gas fireplaces are becoming a popular alternative for the traditional fireplaces. These ventless gas fireplaces emit blue flame and have a close to 100% fuel combustion, making it really efficient. But before you purchase these types, make sure that this is legal in that state you are in because some states banned the use of ventless gas fireplaces.