Ah! There’s just something about the glowing hues of fire that can leave you transfixed, calmed by the bright dancing flames in front of you. Some researchers believe that watching fire is one of our primal habitual instincts. And, if rising sales of crackling fireplace DVDs are any indication (a strange but studied truth), these researchers just might be on to something.
Today, the fireplace still radiates feelings of luxury and comfort. There are a number of fireplace options, types and purposes to choose from that no longer imply you have to have deep pockets to feel cozy and warm. With today’s technology, design and efficiency improvements, as well as initial affordability, owning a fireplace no longer has to make you feel left out in the cold, or burned paying those costly monthly bills.
At Nordic Energy, we believe many prospective buyers will see a gas fireplace as the best option to provide heated comfort on cold nights. It’s overall heat output efficiency, low maintenance needs, easy installation, and fewer environmental impacts than wood-burning units, make it a great choice.
But let’s take a look at some pros and cons of some other options, including gas, that are available on the market.
WOOD-BURNING
Pro:
- Smell
- Sounds: the crackle of wood burning
- Environmental impact: sustainable wood availability
- Least costly way of heating
Con:
- Upkeep: checking the chimney, removing ashes,
- Labour-intensive: the arduous work of collecting and chopping wood.
- Proactively securing wood supply for future seasons
GAS/ PROPANE FIREPLACES OR STOVES OR INSERTS
Pro:
- Easy maintenance: no ash or soot clean up
- Time and space-saver: no need to bundle or chop wood, and no space required for fuel storage
- Easy to use: light the fire with push of a button
- Reliable: if there is a power failure, many can be lit up manually or don’t need electricity at all
- Unit size: can come in very small and modular models to ensure even the smallest spaces can bask in the comforting glow (think apartments, or even mobile homes)
- Heat efficient: steady state efficiency around 80%, compared to 10-30% when using an open wood fireplace or older wood stove
- If offsetting Oil or Electric, cost savings possible.
Con:
- Costly: typically increases gas and (possible minor if using blower) electric monthly bills
- Limited: to the costs of fuel
ELECTRIC
Pro:
- Easy to install: no vents or chimney needed
- Efficient: electricity is considered almost 100% efficient for heat output.
Con:
- Costly: May see a significant increase in your electricity bill
- Poor visual quality: do not produce real flames
PELLET
Pro:
- Eco-friendly: produces little to no smoke or odours
- Has a real flame, ambiance like a real wood stove
- Little additional cost to electricity: adds 200W draw while running. Excellent leverage of one energy source to generate heat.
Con:
- Pellet bags must be manually handled and loaded into stove
- Homeowner has Daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning and servicing tasks
- Availability: pellets may not be readily available in your area
ETHANOL
Pro:
- Eco-friendly: these types do not introduce any new toxic chemicals into the air
Con:
- Very pricy
- No real heating value
GEL
Pro:
- Easy to use and transport
Con:
- Availability: may not be readily available in your area as it is a fairly newer burning alternative
To ensure your fireplace is as efficient as it can be, you’ll need to determine a few things first, like your home’s current heating system or what you may want to change it to, installation costs, maintenance costs (over years of ownership).
Here at Nordic Energy we pride ourselves in providing you with the knowledge and expertise our professionals have to offer. For more information or questions on how you can enjoy your own fire glow, get in touch with us today.