As the air grows colder and days get shorter, having effective heating solutions for your home is more important than ever. With their ability to provide both warmth and ambiance, gas fireplaces have become a popular choice for many homeowners. However, when it comes to large rooms, determining the best fireplace for your specific needs can be challenging.
In this guide, we list the best gas fireplaces for heating large rooms and guide you through important factors to consider when selecting the perfect one for your home.
Jump ahead:
- Fireplace BTU Output
- Heating Capacity
- Efficiency Ratings
- Top Gas Fireplaces for Large Rooms
- Meet with a Gas Fireplace Expert
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Gas Fireplace
Gas fireplaces are renowned for their superior heat output and efficiency. They offer adjustable heat settings, allowing you to precisely control the temperature in any space, ensuring optimal comfort and energy savings.
When looking for the best fireplace to keep your home warm, understanding heat efficiency is crucial. To ensure optimal heating and efficiency, several factors should be carefully considered:
BTU Output (British Thermal Unit)
BTUs (British Thermal Units) measure the amount of heat produced by an energy source or fuel, such as a gas fireplace. The higher the BTU rating, the warmer the fireplace will be. While there are many considerations to estimate the best fireplace BTU for a space, the chart below is great starting point:
| Room Square Footage | Gas Fireplace BTU |
|---|---|
| 600 – 900 square feet | 17,500 – 30,000 BTU |
| 800 – 1,300 square feet | 21,000 – 40,000 BTU |
| 1,300 – 2,100 square feet | 26,000 – 50,000 BTU |
| 1,500 – 2,400 square feet | 30,000 – 58,000 BTU |
Heating Capacity
Many fireplace models will also specify their heating capacity in square feet, which represents the amount of space it can effectively heat. This will tell you what room size it’s suitable for.
Efficiency Ratings
Fireplace models are often assigned efficiency ratings to give you an idea of how effectively they convert fuel into heat—and ultimately, how well they can heat your home. Here are the most common efficiency ratings and what they mean:
Steady State Efficiency (SSE): a measurement of how efficiently a gas fireplace converts fuel into heat when operating at a constant rate, typically expressed as a percentage. For large rooms, a minimum SSE rating of 70% is recommended.
EnerGuide Fireplace Efficiency (FE): EnerGuide is a nationally recognized rating and labeling program run by the Government of Canada. EnerGuide labels rate the annual FE of different products, expressed as percentages. Typically, an EnerGuide FE rating of 60% or higher is considered efficient for most residential applications.
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE): another measurement of how efficiently fuel is converted into heat, mostly used for vented fireplaces and inserts. It’s calculated by measuring the proportion of heat that’s lost up the chimney, versus the amount left over to heat the space. Gas fireplaces typically have an AFUE rating of between 65% and 85%.
These efficiency ratings are important to consider because they can help you determine how effective a fireplace will be at heating a space, especially bigger rooms. Although specific calculations will vary for each type of rating, higher percentages typically mean lower levels of heat loss.
Top Gas Fireplaces for Large Rooms
Finding the best gas fireplace for a large room hinges on heating capacity, BTU output, and efficiency ratings. With these factors in mind, below is a list of gas fireplaces that can effectively heat larger spaces in your home.
1. 6015™ High Output Deluxe Gas Fireplace
6015 Linear Fireplace Specifications:
- Heating Capacity: Up to 2,800 square feet
- Maximum BTU Input: 56,000 BTUs / Hour
- Minimum BTU Input: 30,273 BTUs/ Hour (NG), 29,626 BTUs/ Hour (LP)
- EnerGuide Efficiency Rating: 63.56% (NG), 66.078% (LP)
The 6015™ High Output Deluxe linear gas fireplace is a beautiful focal point for any home, but it especially shines in grand living spaces. This is the largest unit in its series and has a notably high heat output of 56,000 BTUs, allowing it to heat up to 2,800 square feet. It has two concealed 90 CFM fans that help circulate warm air, and thanks to optional Power Heat Vent Kits, you can also heat additional rooms in your home—all with this single heat source.
2. 4237 Ember-Glo Deluxe Gas Fireplace
4237 Ember-Glo Fireplace Specifications:
- Heating Capacity: Up to 3,000 square feet
- Minimum BTU Input: 32,089 (NG) BTUs / Hour; 30,887 (LP) BTUs / Hour
- Maximum BTU Input: 60,000 BTUs / Hour
- AFUE: 66.30% (NG), 67.70% (LP)
- EnerGuide Efficiency Rating: 66.41% (NG), 67.50% (LP)
The 4237 Ember-Glo Deluxe is a premium gas fireplace perfect for large spaces. Thanks to a generous heat output of over 30,000 BTUs, this showstopper is a heating powerhouse, with a range of up to 3,000 square feet (about the area of a tennis court). Its design allows you to enjoy the aesthetic appeal of a traditional masonry fireplace and the functionality of modern gas heating technology at the same time.
3. ProBuilder ™ 42 Clean Face Gas Fireplace
ProBuilder 42 Fireplace Specifications:
- Heating Capacity: Up to 1,750 square feet
- Maximum BTU Input: 35,000 BTUs / Hour
- Steady State Efficiency: Up to 68.40% (NG), 69.50% (LP)
- EnerGuide Efficiency Rating: MV: 68.53% (NG), 69.51% (LP); GSB: 69.21% (NG), 70.19% (LP)
The sleek ProBuilder ™ 42 Clean Face gas fireplace mimics the aesthetic of a classic masonry fireplace, with an open design and little metal around the viewing glass that allows for beautiful flame presentation. With an optional 180 CFM fan and a BTU output of 35,000, this fireplace can heat up to 1,750 square feet. That’s about half the area of a tennis court!
Find the Perfect Fireplace for Your Home at Creative Energy
By searching for gas fireplaces with high heating capacity, BTU output, and energy efficiency ratings, even the largest rooms in your home can stay warm this season.
For decades, Creative Energy has served the Bay Area as a leading retailer of fireplaces, inserts, and firepits. No matter what feature you’d like to add to your home, our team of experts is ready to help you find the best option for your lifestyle, needs, and budget. Contact us online today, or visit any one of our Bay Area showrooms to experience our selection in person.