Remote controls for gas fireplaces and gas stoves were once a high priced luxury item. This is no longer true and many manufacturers now routine offer remotes. The remotes vary with brand and operate by transmitting radio signals and do not interfere with TV signals which are infrared.
Gas fireplace and stove remote controls can often do more than simply turn flames off and on. They may offer options to adjust the fan speed, display the temperature of the room and may be set for automatic shutoff of the fire. Most also come with child safety locks.
Many gas inserts are connected to a switch just like a light switch. Flip the switch on and the fire appears. Older models required the user to turn a key to start gas flowing and then to apply a flame (usually a very long lighter) to light the fire. Compared to old methods, a simple switch is about as easy as it gets to start a fire.
But then, there is the remote control. This is strictly an item of convenience for the gas fire in your living room, basement or family room. You have a remote for the TV, a remote for the DVD, the VCR, and the stereo system. You may have a remote that dims the lights in your room. Why not add one more convenient remote to control the fire?
If your fireplace is in the bedroom a remote control for your gas fireplace or stove is a practical investment. The ability to simply turn off the fire when you become drowsy or set it to turn off after a period of time is much preferred to leaving the cozy warmth of your bed.
The same remote control options are available for those purchasing flueless gas stoves.
Using natural gas or propane, these gas stoves require only a minimum room size and an air vent. There is no chimney, flue or pipe needed to install a flueless model. Waste gas from burning passes through a catalytic converter and forms carbon dioxide which is harmless at the levels produced.
For homes where a chimney is not currently present, installing an exhaust for a gas stove can be expensive and the pipe itself unsightly. By installing a freestanding or wall hung flueless gas fireplace, any home can enjoy a warming fire. Whether you are adding a gas stove insert into your masonry fireplace or using a standard insert it’s wise to consider buying a remote control for your gas fireplace.
