Heat & Glo Solaris direct-vent gas fireplace
- Manufactured by Heat & Glo
- 888-427-3973; www.heatnglo.com
- Cost: $11,999 for the Solaris 36 ST; $13,999 for the Solaris 36 MR
Who needs a window to view the sunset? Maybe that was what the folks at Heat & Glo were thinking when they devised Solaris, an ultrathin direct-vent gas fireplace that confines its glowing flame neatly within a 2×6 wall.
The Solaris comes in two models: the 36-ST, a see-through model that features a single line of flame spread across the center of the fireplace’s circular window; and the more dramatic (and somewhat pricier) 36-MR that uses LED lighting and mirrored glass to create the illusion of a 6-ft.-deep “infinity flame.” Both are 33 in. wide and are installed with a simple black trim ring on one side and customizable steel panels on the other.
The unique flames are created with a burner that consists of two horizontal glass panels positioned parallel to each other with a 6/100-in. gap. Gas flows vertically between the panels and is ignited at the top, creating a linear, transparent flame. The Solaris is rated at 29,500 Btu and has a heat output of 21,500 Btu/hr. Heat enters the room through the unit’s ceramic glass window; a barely visible steel fire screen prevents injury from contact with the heated glass.
