I would never buy an unvented type. If they are not acceptable for a
bedroom they are not acceptable for my house.

The best product out there energy wise is an insert with ceramic glass. If
you decide to go with an insert, make sure it has ceramic glass and not
tempered glass. Ceramic glass can take the heat and stays closed all the
time. It has double walls internally and a fan that draws in air into a box
separate from the combustion. We had gas logs before and we love the
insert. Plus it is zero clearnance. Only disadvantage is that fan won't
work when power goes down. You still get heat but no circulation. It
lights without power with the flick of a switch but circulation won't have
fan power. 2 stainless steel tubes go up the chimney. One for fresh air
and the other for exhaust. No fumes get into the house. According to the
literature, it is as efficient as some furnaces.


"DesignGuy" wrote in message
news:952jf.368693$084.54504@attbi_s22...
I've got a 12x20 foot family room that already has gas logs in the
fireplace. The fireplace is suburbia standard-issue... flush with the
chimney brick and glass doors.

A few years ago we had an ice storm that knocked out power for almost
there
days. Despite having the fireplace going all that time, the temperature in
the room never got above 55 deg. The fireplace damper was open, since the
logs came with the house and I'm not sure if they are the vented kind or
not.

I'd like to get a set of gas logs that will both look nice and actually
put
out usable heat. My question is which type -- I'm leaning towards veneted,
but want to get a set that will not send most of the heat up the chimney.
I've read where there is a partially-vented type. Has anyone had any
experience with those?

Also, any brands to recommend?