If this is what you want to do, sitting by your fireplace, then you must get a regular, wood burning fireplace with a built in chimney. If you want to just relax and enjoy the warmth, the look, the sound and even the smell of a real fire, then you have a choice in Fireplaces.

Besides the built in wood burning fireplace there are also built in gas or propane fireplaces that require a chimney for venting. They are hooked up to a gas line with a shut off valve. One simply turns it on, lights it and jazaam, an instant fire. Artificial logs on a crate and a material that glows but does not burn can be added. It looks similar to the real thing and creates plenty of heat. Many people, who do not want to deal with carrying wood and ash clean-up, settle for this version. Others are forced to it in towns like Phoenix, Az for example, where wood burning fireplaces may not be used on days when the ozone count is high.

Those who do not have a built in chimney can settle for a ventless fireplace. Several versions are on the market. Non-vented natural gas fireplaces which also have to be connected to an available natural or propane gas line. But they need no chimney. Most do come with oxygen sensors that shut down the unit if the home oxygen level gets too low. In several states their installation is prohibited because of the dangers of carbon dioxide build up, Another problem with these fireplaces is excessive moisture condensation, since a byproduct of gas combustion is water vapor. Fungus and mold infestation could result in additional serious health problems.

A better solution is an electric fireplaces. It needs no outside venting, just plug it into a 120 V outlet. Electric fireplaces have a realistic flame effect, created with randomized filtered lighting. It comes with a heater but the flame effect can also be used without the heater. A multifunctional remote control comes with each unit.

Then there are gel fuel fire places. They need neither installation nor hook ups. They can be placed anywhere in a home or cabin and can be taken along when one moves or spends time at a second home. Some people even take them outdoors on chilly evenings. All one needs to do is light the special gel and enjoy the crackling flames. The gel comes in pint size cans and will burn from 2 to 3 hours, depending on the humidity level of a home. The dryer the air, the longer the fire will burn. This gel fuel is a non-toxic gelled alcohol made from organic thickeners and Isopropyl Alcohol, that it is smokeless and odorless. It is safe, clean burning, no sparks, no fumes, no ashes. 100%environment friendly. Because it is an alcohol product it can be safely stored indoors at room temperature or cooler. Another feature neither the electric nor the gas fireplace offers, is the real crackling sound produced while the gel fuel burns.

Through the use of scented candles, incense or oils one can ad the smell of burning wood.

Besides the wood burning, vented fireplace neither of the others mentioned will allow you to burn papers or anything else in them. Then again, neither will you have to clean up ashes. That in itself is a factor that decides people in their choice of a fireplace, it even makes many buy a gel fueled fireplace insert which they use in their vented fireplace instead of burning wood.