Many people have fireplaces in their homes and we are going to talk about a certain kind of fireplace that is not so common, however a gas fireplace is a great way to add both heat and ambiance to your home, and gas fireplaces are also honestly efficient, using less energy than electric or wood-burning fireplaces; In fact, gas fireplaces can be up to 99% efficient, meaning that almost all of the heat produced by the fireplace goes into your home. This efficiency is due in part to the fact that gas fireplaces do not require a chimney. Instead, they vent directly to the outside through a small pipe. This means that there is no heat loss up the chimney as with a wood-burning fireplace. Additionally, gas fireplaces can be used in conjunction with your gas furnace and heating and A/C system. This allows you to use your fireplace for heating without affecting the temperature of your entire home. You can also use your thermostat to control the amount of heat that is produced by the fireplace, making it easy to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. If you are considering adding a gas fireplace to your home, be sure to consult with a qualified heating and A/C rep to ensure that it is constantly installed and vented. And if you are going with a normal wood burning one then be sure to keep it cleaned constantly so that fires are not an issue. We made the mistake of not cleaning the fireplace for a long time and it almost burned down the entire home one winter season when the flue caught fire.