Fireplace Comparisons

Winter is fast approaching and we all would love to have a nice fireplace. In fact when shopping for new homes the addition or lack of a fireplace is one of the considerations of would be home buyers. Because there are many things to consider when choosing a fireplace and there are many choices available, it is not a bad idea to weigh the pros and cons of different fireplaces.

For instance fireplaces require upkeep, and there are safety concerns. They can also add to the value of your home and add to the energy efficiency of your home. They can also create more expense and upkeep than not having a fireplace. So, with all of the choices available today it is not a bad idea to consider all of the options available.

There are really five main options when choosing a fireplace. The first is the traditional wood burning fireplace. These use real flames to burn wood and require a vented chimney. These will give your home that nice fireplace smell, create warmth, and add that crackly wood burning fire sound to the room. If you are a true lover of wood burning fireplaces, this is the only way to go.

Some people would prefer not to have a wood burning fireplace because of the added hassle of burning the wood. You have to buy or chop wood and find a place to store it. Often times if you have an outdoor woodpile you have to deal with spiders and other insects. Then once the fire is done burning you have to deal with ashes and soot and all kinds of messes. A real fire can also make your home smell smoky and requires constant tending and regular upkeep on your chimney and fire pit.

Because of environmental concerns and ease of use the gas fireplace has become popular in fact in many states it is required that all new homes built are equipped with a gas fireplace if any. Gas is clean burning and the flame can usually be turned on with the flip of a switch. The fire doesn't required tending and there is no cleanup afterward. The cost to run a gas fireplace is usually affordable. They even come in a vented and a vent less option. Although the vent less option is more costly and little more risky when it comes to safety. If you want a true vent less fireplace you would probably be better off choosing an option other than gas. One draw back of a gas flame is there is not that crackle sound that we associate with burning wood.

An option that has become popular recently is the electric fireplace. An electric fireplace is safe and requires no upkeep. It doesn't really have a flame although most are designed to look close to real flames. Many also give off heat and some have speakers which provide that crackle sound. A great thing about the electric fireplace is that they are safe to operate and don't require vents or fuel. Just plug it in and you are ready to go. They are also portable and can be moved from room to room or home to home. Although there are also elaborate built in options you can look into.

Another easy portable alternative to the electric fireplace is the fuel gel fireplace. These are vent less fireplaces that have real flames provided by burning cans of fuel gel. This fuel gel is usually alcohol based and clean burning. They give you real flames and even that crackling sound and yet they are safe to use and don't make a mess. You can also get fuel gel inserts and many mantle and hearth options, just like the electric fireplace. They are vent less, portable, and clean burning. When you move you can take it with you or if you have room go ahead an move it into that bedroom or bathroom.

As you can see there are more options today than ever before. Not only with styles, colors, and sizes, but with the type of fuel used to create the perfect fireplace atmosphere. No matter what you are looking for there should be an option to fit your needs.