Top 10 Best Direct Vent Gas Fireplaces of 2021 – Reviews

There are a lot of homeowners that really love the idea of having a fireplace in their home. Although fireplaces provide so much warmth and comfort, let’s be honest, nothing beats sitting around the fire reading a book or catching up with friends and family, but there are a lot of cons or negative aspects of owning a traditional fireplace that can deter a lot of people from owning one themselves.

The problem with traditional fireplaces that burn wood is that they end up sending a considerable amount of heat up the chimney—which is a pretty big waste. Direct vent gas fireplaces are different, however, and are gaining more and more popularity every single day. These models use outdoor air for combustion, instead of the inside air, and that creates a convection-type of heat distribution that’s more energy-efficient and helps to keep homes warmer.

And since they come in a variety of different models of direct vent gas fireplace inserts, we truly believe that there’s one for every type of home.

What Is a Direct Vent Fireplace?

A direct vent fireplace is a prefabricated metal fireplace that features a direct-vent combustion system. This simply means that the combustion system is a sealed-combustion system where air for combustion is taken from the outdoors and the waste combustion is also exhausted back outside.

A direct vent fireplace is suitable for a lot of style homes and makes having a functional and low maintenance fireplace an option for many households around the world.

Below we’ve done the hard work for you and researched and trialed and tested and came up with the best of the best when it comes to direct vent gas fireplace inserts. We encourage you to scroll below and discover some of the ten best models currently available and what they have to offer to someone thinking about purchasing one of these fireplaces.

Best Direct Vent Gas Fireplaces, Reviews

#10 Empire Tahoe Deluxe 32” Fireplace

A lot of people when they’re searching for the perfect direct vent gas fireplace inserts are searching for that real wood-burning fireplace experience and we have just the solution for you.

Whether you’re at a log cabin in the woods or in a suburban neighborhood, this Empire Tahoe Deluxe Fireplace really gives you that rustic, real fire experience with the five-piece log set inside and realistic flames. Although this fireplace is only  32-inches it’s pretty efficient and can produce quite a bit of heat. It can burn up to 18,000 BTUs with 83% efficiency.

Pros:

• Heat efficient
• Compact size
• Rustic appearance
• Easy to install

Cons:

• Flame can be on the smaller size

#9 Majestic Quartz 32-Inch Fireplace

Anyone looking to give their home a more modern looking fireplace would be well off taking a look at this product. It has a nice modern design that should fit in with just about anyone’s decor, and it does it for a reasonable price too so if you’re on the market for something that not only looks great but doesn’t eat up too much of the budget, this is a great option for you!  It can be purchased in either a top or rear vent model, and it can provide up to 21,000 BTU of heat using natural gas.

It can be used as a primary fireplace in the home, or it can be used for supplemental heating as the homeowner sees fit and depending on the size of the home. Overall just providing that cozy wood-burning fireplace experience without spending much money and much hassle at all.

Pros:

• Produces a lot of heat
• Easy to install
• Remote operated

Cons:

• Better for heating smaller homes

#8 Majestic Quartz Direct Vent Gas Fireplace

Another traditional wood-burning fireplace option, this fireplace completely fits into any decor style with its contemporary design and authentic fireplace apperance. If you’re looking for that homey and cozy fireplace experience without spending a lot of money, this fireplace is a perfect option for you.

It’s a low-cost option that is very well made and offers electronic ignition, a slim depth, and incredibly easy to install. It’s already wired for a wall switch and produces 20,000 to 28,500 BTU’s of Natural Gas keeping your home nice and warm all winter long.

Pros:

• Contemporary Design
• Low-Cost
• Pre-wired for wall switch

Cons:

• Rear or top venting sold separately
• Switch not included

#7 GMHome 40 Inch Wall Mounted Electric Fireplace

GMHome is a well-known brand for having some of the top fireplaces out there and for good reason. They feature modern designs that are unlike anything else on the market today.

Similar to the 50” model that has made it higher up on our Top 10 list, this 40” version has almost the exact same capabilities, but at a smaller size. It’s intended to be wall-mounted but comes with additional legs if you’re looking for more of a freestanding fireplace. It doesn’t use gas or oil and is smokeless with the use of 3D flame technology to heat your room. With the option for no heat, this fireplace is something that you can use year-round to perfectly set the mood at any time of the year and definitely great for people who live in warmer climates that still want to experience that cozy holiday feeling during the winter but don’t necessarily need the heat setting on.

Pros:

• Easy installation
• Customizable options, color-changing flames and heat control
• No heat option available

Cons:

• Artificial looking flames
• Produces more noise than other fireplaces

#6 Empire Comfort Systems Tahoe 42-Inch

A lot of the top-rated fireplaces are a great value and this is certainly one of them. When it comes to direct vent gas fireplace inserts, this one from Empire Comfort Systems Tahoe 42-Inch is simply one fo the best on the market today.

This 42-inch natural gas-powered fireplace is approximately 43.18-inches wide, 37.68-inches high, and 17.75-inches deep and comes with a number of accessories that make it an even better value. It comes with ceramic fiber logs, a blower, a burner, and a barrier screen. And since it can provide up to 20,000 BTU of heat, it’s ready to provide much-needed heat. Keeping you and your friends and family nice and warm during any dinner party or game night you throw it’s way!

Pros:

• Can be vented at the top or at rear
• Great value
• Powerful
• Additonal accessories

Cons:

• No freestanding options available

#5 Majestic Oxford Direct Gas Stove

If you’re looking for that classic, wood-burning fireplace design, this is a great option for you. This fireplace is compact and can fit into just about any space with its 23″ (W) x 12.5″ (D) x 28.38″ (H) dimensions so it’s perfect for apartments, townhouses, tiny homes, or smaller spaces in general. It uses Natural Gas and has a capacity of heating up to 1200 square feet. With being remotely operated, you can control and adjust this fireplace from just about anywhere inside your home. Making it not only extremely functional but very practical in it’s operations.

Pros:

• Classic design that compliments any style
• Remote operation

Cons:

• May require servicing over time

#4 GMHome Electric Fireplace

This GMHome Electric Fireplace is great regardless if you’re looking for a fireplace mounted on the wall or free-standing. It has a very large 60-inch display which makes it an automatic focal point for your room and truly makes a statement. These styles of fireplaces are a very modern take on fireplaces and therefore has gained a lot of traction and praise by a lot of younger individuals who are looking for a cozy fireplace but with a twist.

This fireplace is a CETL Certified which means it’s safe to be around kids and pets, it has safety features to ensure it won’t overheat and is incredibly easy to install.

Pros:

• Available for both wall-mounted and freestanding
• Customizable options when it comes to colors and heat settings
• Remote control panel
• Hassle-free installation

Cons:

• Can be noisier than other fireplaces
• Heat settings aren’t as powerful

#3 Majestic Quartz Vent Natural Gas Fireplace

If you are working on home renovations on your first home and it’s a dream to have a fireplace, a direct vent gas fireplace insert is a great solution and this particular fireplace is perfect for entry-level homes with its affordable price tag. With custom options available, this fireplace can be the fireplace of your dreams without breaking the bank. It’s a mixture of traditional and contemporary to fit just any style, has an electric ignition, and produces about 15,000 to 21,000 BTU’s of Natural Gas. Keeping you nice and warm but more importantly adding that cozy fireplace experience so many are searching for.

Pros:

• Pre-wired for wall switch
• Low-cost fireplace
• Easy to install design

Cons:

• Top or rear venting sold separately
• Switch not included

#2 Empire Tahoe Deluxe 36-Inch

Another Tahoe option, this Empire Tahoe fireplace may have the most appropriate name of all time. Sitting in front of it certainly makes a person feel like there at Lake Tahoe, nice and warm at a ski resort. This version of the Tahoe Empire fireplace is a little larger with being a 36-inch fireplace and also capable of producing serious heat. It can produce up to 20,000 BTU of heat and has a listed efficiency rating of 83%. And since it has a compact design that’s only 16-inches, it won’t take up a whole lot of space and is easier to install. Great for smaller properties or bedrooms. Providing that great cozy fireplace feeling without breaking the bank or taking up too much space.

Pros:

• Very efficient
• Powerful heating
• Compact design
• Easy to install

Cons:

• Can take a while to be delivered

#1 Touchstone Sideline Steel Electric Fireplace

This fireplace has everything you would ever want when it comes to a fireplace. It’s a mixture of modern meets traditional and has formed the perfect combination for people who are looking for something more in the middle. If you’re not sold on the modern fireplaces but also want something a little bit more updated than the traditional fireplaces, you should definitely take a look at this Touchstone Sideline Steel Electric Fireplace insert.

This fireplace is designed for in-wall installation so mounting it is incredibly simple with the easy-to-follow instruction guide. It’s 50-inches and has two heat settings, high and low which allow you to enjoy a fire year-round. With the realistic flame with color-changing options, you can set the mood with this quality fireplace easily.

Pros:

• Customizable with heat, color options, and brightness settings
• Easy to install on wall
• Realistic Flame

Cons:

• Louder than some other fireplaces

Overall Thoughts

We hope that you found this post helpful when it comes to finding the perfect direct vent gas fireplace for your home. Entertaining in the winter can be a challenge for many, but not with a direct vent gas fireplace insert. With constant heat radiating and keeping you and your friends and family warm during evening dinner parties, drinks, or even game nights, adding the addition of a cozy direct vent gas fireplace insert into your home will truly elevate your living room and home cozy vibe experience. 

We hope that this post not only gave you important insight into things you should consider when searching for your perfect direct vent gas fireplace regardless if it’s a direct vent gas fireplace insert or not, but there are also so many options on the market today, that if you go with any of the top-rated options above, we’re sure you’ll be thrilled with the experience.