The History of Gas Logs: From 80s Kitsch to High-Tech Hearth Heroes 

If you own a home with a fireplace, you can appreciate the enjoyment that you experience year after year. Those cozy nights curled up with a book, the excitement of holidays, and family gatherings all around the blaze of the fireplace. Over the last few decades, the fireplace has entered a new era, driven by technology and innovation.

Over the years, the fireplace has evolved from a simple stone fireplace in the middle of a small hut into a mega business with many options for heating and aesthetics.

While kitsch is most commonly associated with 1950s retro decor, nowadays, modern kitsch draws inspiration. Childhood nostalgia, pop culture, and 1980s maximalism have made this design more popular lately. The structure of the fireplace has evolved from very simple to elaborate.

But the consumer was looking for more. The money spent on a masonry fireplace, as well as its maintenance and upkeep, has become a chore for many.

Gas Logs Emerge

In the mid-1900s, Heatilator introduced the first factory-built fireplace system. This new product eliminated the need to build a masonry fireplace. A very short time after this, factory-built fireplaces became very popular. They were inexpensive and easy to install. A few years later, in the 1980s, Heat & Go invented direct-vent gas technology. This revolutionized the industry, allowing safe fireplace installation anywhere in your home.

Today

The gas log fireplace has come a long way. They were not so popular in the early days, when they were hard to find. As they began to develop in the 80s, their popularity has grown.

Consumers are demanding a sleek, high-tech heating device that many of us depend on. In the early days of gas logs, they began as a simple yet effective way to burn fuel and radiate heat.

The gas fireplaces, which offered ease of operation with a turn of a switch, became very popular during the mid-1900s, especially after the Clean Air Act of 1956, thanks to their clean lines and simplicity, as well as their mid-century design.

Over the years, gas fireplaces became bigger and better. The flames became more realistic, and the venting system improved. Consumers have been choosing the ease of a gas fireplace without the need to buy and store wood. The clean burn is much more desirable to many as their needs continue to grow.

If you are in the market for a new gas insert or a vent-less gas fireplace, look no further than Chimney Specialists Inc.!

Call us to see what we can offer. Since our very first customer, we’ve been committed to delivering the highest level of customer care and the most professional and reliable chimney and fireplace services. Our technicians are expertly trained and certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), so there’s no aspect of chimney or fireplace service, installation, repair, or troubleshooting we can’t help you with.