How to Decide between a Gas and a Wood Burning Fireplace Installation

During winters especially in the United States and Canada, temperatures can get quite freezing posing a problem for the household and its inhabitants. Without a proper fireplace, the home interior can become quite an uncomfortable place. Traditional fireplaces were generally used by families to tackle the colder months. However, with the passage of time, other fireplace variants have started to emerge, which provide almost the same degree of comfort and efficiency than a traditional wood-burning fireplace can achieve. One such variant is the gas fireplace, a relatively new addition to the industry.

Since the introduction of gas fireplaces in the market, there has been much debate about its effectiveness. It needs to be said, that in certain instances, traditional wood-burning fireplaces are more suited to a particular environment. This article aims to explore the advantages of both these variants in terms of usability, fuel usage, and maintenance among other factors. [Information Credit: http://www.theoriginalflame.com/fireplaces]

1. Ease of Use: Contrary to popular belief, wood-burning fireplaces need a lot of effort to get going. For instance, there are specific directives on wood fireplace installation that have to be followed, failing which can have dire consequences. It’s almost like a “living” organism that requires frequent supervision and maintenance for sustenance. Although it can be satisfying for some homeowners to install this, it takes a lot of hassle, labor and time to achieve the required results.

Gas fireplaces, on the other hand, are simpler to switch on. Most gas fireplaces have simple knobs or buttons for igniting the initial flame. Gas fireplace models are also technologically superior to traditional fireplaces, offering many functions such as temperature, fume control, etc.

The advantage: Gas fireplaces

2. Cost of Fuel: Wood-burning fireplaces depend on firewood for fuel, a relatively inexpensive fuel in modern times. Most owners of wood-burning fireplaces can get standard firewood from several hardware stores or any home improvement store. In some cases, they can just acquire firewood by chopping down a tree, even though that is illegal in some areas. Overall the cost involved is comparatively less than the gas fireplaces.
Gas fireplaces rely on natural gas for their fuel. Natural gas or any other gas used for fuel is usually acquired from utility companies. This can add to a household’s utility bills, which makes the cost of fuel pretty high.

The advantage: Wood Burning Fireplaces.

3. Maintenance: Maintenance is a common factor that buyers consider when they acquire fireplaces. A fireplace that is fuelled by wood can leave behind a mess after burning. Pollutants like soot, ash, burnt-out log fragments can be very difficult to remove and clean. Another dangerous byproduct of wood-fueled fire is creosote, which can quickly build up in the chimney walls. It can present a health hazard. Even worse, many cases of chimney fires have been attributed to the excess buildup of creosote in the inner walls of the chimney. The process should be handled by professionals for thorough cleaning as well as for ensuring safety.
Gas fireplaces have a clear advantage in this respect, as there is no messy clean-up or sweeping required. This is because of the absence of real fumes, and hence no extra pollutants are formed. A yearly or bi-annual maintenance is required to ensure safety.

The advantage: Gas fireplaces

Fireplaces offer comfort as well as utility, with some homeowners preferring one over the other. Even though gas log fireplaces are easier to handle and provide the same level of comfort as compared to traditional ones, many homeowners still prefer the aesthetic qualities of traditional fireplaces. Even though it may appear as a 50-50 decision on paper, the final decision ultimately rests on the homeowner’s preference and requirements.