A fireplace can add just the right amount of warmth and coziness to a room. It can save on heating bills in the winter and can create the perfect, crackling ambiance. For many people, however, the benefits of a traditional fireplace are not worth the hassle. Those who do not enjoy paying for firewood, chopping kindling, lugging logs up stairs and grinding pitch into their carpets, often find that a gas fireplace is a more practical option. It features all the homey benefits of a traditional fireplace, but turns on at the flick of a switch.
Choosing and Installing the Right Fireplace
Adding a gas fireplace to your home can be relatively easy compared to many home 
improvement ventures. If you have a traditional wood fireplace that you would like to convert to a gas model, an insert fireplace is probably the best choice. An insert model is one of the easiest types to install, because it uses the existing structure and venting system. Many are designed to fit into the décor of older homes, since wood fireplaces are rare in houses built within the last fifty years. While this means that traditional masonry designs are common, it is also possible to find models that have a more modern design, or to have one custom-ordered to fit your home.
If you are installing a livingroom or bedroom gas fireplace without any existing structure, a direct-vent fireplace is probably the most suited to your home. Direct-vent fireplaces vent fumes out of a small hole in the wall, instead of a traditional chimney or flue. This means that installing them can be a more time-consuming procedure, because the vent must be drilled into the wall. While they may be more difficult to install, a direct-vent fireplace 
usually takes up less space, because it does not need a chimney structure for venting. Additionally, they tend to be more sleek and modern in appearance and may fit more easily into the décor of a newer home. Unless you are familiar with electrical and gas routing, both insert and direct-vent models will require the services of a professional to set up the electricity and gas hook-ups.
A third option that is available in many places is the vent-free gas fireplace. This model requires no venting structure at all, because it vents its fumes into the room. While this is certainly the simplest fireplace to install, many doctors and scientists have expressed concerns over the air quality in homes with vent-free fireplaces. Fumes and soot create dirty, humid air and may lead to increased levels of carbon monoxide. While they have been banned in countries such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, they are still available in many places in the United States. If you do choose to install a vent-free fireplace, it is important to proceed with caution and to make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector in every room.
Burning Wood in a Gas Fireplace
If you have converted a wood burning fireplace into an insert fireplace, it may still be possible to burn wooden logs. Simply disconnect the gas log set that is inside the fireplace and turn off the gas. The smoke should vent properly out of the existing flue. If you have a 
direct-vent fireplace, then chances are you will not be able to burn wood, because the venting hole is not large enough to account for the smoke and soot that would be released. Wood logs should never be burned inside a vent-free gas fireplace, because the smoke would be vented directly into your home.