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We purchased a Napoleon GDS50, 44,000 BTU 3 burner stove type fireplace to replace the electric baseboard heaters in our house. This unit with it's 2 blower fans will heat the house in Southern Ontario very well on the coldest days.

With the blower fans, and a ceiling fan to draw the heat to the upper floor it works well. At a temperature setting of 72F, it will keep the upper floor around 69 to 70F.

For us, retro fitting for a gas furnace was not an option, as the house had been completely renovated just before we bought it.

Overall it has cut our heating cost by over 40%. We have not had to use the 3rd burner yet.

gas fireplace

I have no doubt about the fireplace heating the house. Regular log set is only 50% efficient if vented. Vent free- 100%. Very good chance of Monoxide. Sounds like more info required.





pay me now or pay me later

Depending on what gas F/P she has and the size of the house, it could work.

Its more expensive to run a gas fireplace than a furnace to heat an area unless the home owner spends most of their time in the room of the appliance. the best thing you can do is install a fan if not allredy installed or explane that the fireplace is more of a decoration than a heat source and explane the different colors of flames and what they mean. or just laugh yourself to sleep.

If it is installed according to the manufacturers certified instructions than she can run it 24/7 no problem. I'd be more concerned of the cost because of the lower efficiency.

Need to know what kind of gas fireplace??? Vent Free log set, Vented Log set, Direct Vent...Some are heater rated appliances and some are just for decoration. JB

Gas Fireplace as Primary Heat Souce?

I have a customer who insists if she runs her Gas Fireplace 24x7 her house stays warm and her furnace only cycles on cold days. (-15 C and below).
I have a couple questions,
1. i know that they should not be used a a primary heat source and as more of a decorative appliance but could someone please re-state the reasons as to why so i can let her know?
2. She has a cold air return right in front of her fireplace and leaves the furnace blower fan on, this may distribute some heat from the fireplace but i would think that the upstairs rooms do not get enough heat from this? does anyone know? i think there was a mythbusters article once produced. . .