Gas fireplace logs?

[mac56]

Any wisdom to be shared on this?

Just the logs, or the whole insert "box" that goes around them?

Good for zone heating, or kind of overrated?

Please bear in mind that we're in east central Minnesota, where wintertime temps can get down to minus 25 F at the wink of an eye. In large part this is for aesthetics too - we love a nice roaring fire.

Odd to think about here in mid-August. But the prices are good right now, so we're trying to make a decision. Thanks -

[achtung_circus]

1. When I lived in Alberta

we had a house with a sealed combustion insert and glass panel. We went this route because I hate chopping wood. We would lose power every winter for various lengths of time.

The longest was 3 days. We closed off most rooms and lied in front of the fireplace. This was a large room, 14' X 45'. We dressed warmly, cooked on either the barbeque or a Coleman stove, used lamps and candles for light.

It wasn't a big deal. No trauma.

I quite liked the fireplace, clean, turned on with the flick of a switch and was neatrly indistinguishable from a wood fire.

[RevCheesehead]

2. I've lived in parsonages with both wood and gas heat.

Give me the gas logs any day! Wonderfully warm, easy to clean, and no messy down-drafts, ashes, or smell to irritate my allergies.

Sadly, I don't have a fireplace in this parsonage. :(

[mac56]

3. Did you have a gas insert, or just the gas logs?

nm

[RevCheesehead]

4. I honestly don't remember.

That was 10 years ago, and the brain cells are dying off. :)

[FloridaPat]

5. When I lived in Syracuse NY I had wood. Woke up in the morning

freezing because the fire had gone out. Went outside to get logs. Dig under the snow and grab some and take them inside. Then go find kindling. Once I got the fire started it would take about 2-3 hours to get it warm enough for me to feel life was worth living. Everything was fine except I had to keep putting wood in about every 5-6 hours. Next day start all over again. Have a regular fireplace but use gas as much as possible. That way when and if gas disappears you can still use it for wood. A glass or metal cover works well so the heat inside the room doesn't go up the chimney.

[Midlodemocrat]

6. Check out the Peterson logs, Real Fyre.

They have a lifetime warranty. They are much more expensive, but they had an issue with the burner and called me about replacing it, I didn't have to call them.