A fireplace adds so much warmth and personality to your home. Everyone loves a fireplace in their home and it also adds value to your home. Whether you are shopping for a new home or remodeling your current home, there are many factors to take into consideration when you are looking into fireplaces. How do you choose between wood or gas? What are the pros and cons of both? Is one better than the other?
Lets first take a look at wood burning fireplaces. Most people can't resist the sound of a crackling wood burning fireplace. They also like the fact that the wood that fuels a wood burning fireplace does not cost money. Of course, if you choose to buy wood at the store, that will cost you. But most homeowners choose to chop their own wood to use. This way is obviously cheaper to heat the home than paying for gas to be used for a gas fireplace.
When it comes to a gas fireplace, it can be as easy as flipping on a switch and having a fire right away. Although with a gas fireplace you will not get the smell of a wood burning fireplace or the crackling fire, gas fireplaces have come a long way and produce a more realistic flame. The types of logs used in gas fireplaces now look like the real thing and even has glowing embers, giving you the realistic look of a wood fireplace.
Wood burning fireplaces are great for the ambience, but they do pull a lot of the warm air from other parts of your home up and out of the chimney. For this reason a wood burning fireplace is not very efficient. By being able to turn the gas fireplace on and off you can control the temperature in your home better. You don't have to tend to the fire either.
Air quality for many homes is an important factor. Burning wood creates pollution in and around your home from the smoke. Having your chimney swept is important to do to get ride of any creosote build up in the chimney. Gas fireplaces are important to keep clean as well. Gas fireplaces are a little easier to maintain. They do not get the creosote buildup like with wood, but it is important that you dust the fireplace every now and then to keep it running effectively. Other than a few cleanings, it is a good idea to have it cleaned and inspected annually by a specialist so that it runs at it's best.
Overall it is ultimately each individual's decision as to which type of fireplace will work best for your home. If the feel, look, and cost efficiency of a wood burning fireplace is what's important to you then that is the route to go. If you don't mind spending a little more on gas monthly and would like a cleaner heat source, then the gas fireplace will work the best! Sutherlands can help with all the accessories you need for a wood burning fireplace and with inserts for a gas fireplace!
