Many people have considered installing a new fireplace in their home. However, when they start investigating what’s involved in doing so, they quickly become overwhelmed. That’s because it requires ripping out walls and installing a chimney through your roof. In addition, a wood burning fireplace needs a lot of cleaning and maintenance.

However, there’s an easy alternative to the traditional fireplace. It’s known as a gel fireplace, and for many people it’s the ideal answer.

Many people these days are choosing this leading edge style of fireplace, and for lots of good reasons. There’s no odor, soot, smoke, or fumes, which means almost no clean-up. Stockpiling wood and cleaning up soot and ashes will be a thing of the past. No need for an extensive selection of fireplace tools and accessories. Just light a can of fuel and enjoy the warmth of your ventless gel fireplace.

A gel fireplace is completely different from your conventional wood burning or electrical fireplace. They create a real fire by burning a gel that’s produced from grain alcohol. This product burns cleanly and produces a real flame with none of the usual mess. Gel fireplaces usually hold three fuel cans, with each container burning for approximately three hours. The gel even makes the crackling noise of a wood burning fire and there are scent sticks available you can add to your canisters.

There is no construction involved in installing a gel fireplace and no hookups required. Once you get it home, it takes less than an hour to assemble and can be placed in any room of your home. You can even move it later on if your decor changes. Some models can be hung on a wall. Another alternative is to buy a special insert for your existing fireplace in which you can burn the gel canisters.

There are no fumes or smoke produced by a ventless gel fireplace. However, they do release a small amount of carbon monoxide into the air, although the amount is so minute that there is no cause for concern. They have to undergo strict testing to make sure they comply with regulations regarding emissions of this substance.

Maintenance of a gel fireplace is very simple. They are also the most energy efficient, cost effective heating units on the market. Since there’s no flue, all the heat enters the room instead of escaping outside. Be aware, though, that while they do provide warmth, they are not meant to be a primary heating source for your home.

A ventless gel fireplace can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars up to two thousand dollars for a high end product. If you have a busy lifestyle but still want the elegance and warmth of a fire, these fireplaces are well worth the money.