With a range of fireplaces available these days you might be a little confused as to which one will benefit you best. This month we aim to weigh up the pros and cons of each fuel type to help you make a more informed decision when picking out your new fireplace.
Beginning with the pros of electric fireplaces, the most obvious advantage is that you aren’t using a combustible fuel. This reduces the risk in your home, firstly, because you won’t have harmful emissions like carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide, and secondly because the risk of a naked fire spilling out into the room is removed. You won’t have any soot or ash to clean up either. An electric fire is also easier to install than other types and once it is in place they are longer lasting, without a combustible fuel there is less wear and tear. This type of fire suits chimneyless houses best of course, because there are no harmful emissions, and can be placed in any room of your home.
Considerations
Electric fireplaces do have their cons though; the first being that they don’t match the feel or the beauty of a real fire – it will always look artificial. Though power cuts are rare you also need to consider that if there is a power outage you could be without your fire, and that reliability also ties into your bills. By piling another electric energy appliance onto your heating you will see the bills climb higher.
In a way, gas fireplaces marry the benefits from both electric and solid fuel fireplaces. With a quick and easy ignition you don’t have to nurse a fire to life and keep it going, plus you still get the unmatchable beauty of real flames to warm your room without any of the mess. With no real wood burning there isn’t a spillage of ash and smoke into your home.
Considerations
On the downside there is the cost of gas, with energy prices rising it won’t be much cheaper to use gas as an alternative to wood or pellets. You also won’t get the authentic sounds which come with an open fire as it crackles and melts the atmosphere, and where an open fire can potentially heat a whole floor of a building a gas fire will have to use a lot of propane to produce the same results.
Clearly the biggest thing solid fuel fireplaces have going for them is that they are the most authentic, natural and cosy way of heating a room. It just wouldn’t be the same to huddle around an electric insert, the sights, sounds and warmth from a solid fuel fire can’t be matched. On top of that, if there is an energy blackout you will always be able to heat part of your home without fear.
Considerations
With the natural feel of these fires comes the natural downsides, the smoke, soot and ash will all fill your home so if you’re a neat and tidy homeowner then an open fire will be more hassle than it’s worth – there are also safety issues concerned with small children and pets as well as the risk of polluting the air in your home. Additionally you need to factor in your chimney maintenance, many homes won’t have a chimney and are therefore unable to have solid fuel burning fireplaces, but a chimney sweep could push the cost of running a fireplace beyond your budget.
Obviously these are the main points to consider and you might be able to have your pick of the three, to learn more about which kind of fireplace would suit you best then contact us at Enviro-Flame for more information or to speak with one of our friendly advisors.