Which is more efficient? Using a gas fireplace or an electric space heater?

John

I have a home built in 2004, masonry fireplace with metal flue and a Home Depot gas log set. My question, is whether it is cheaper to run the fireplace to add a little warmth to the den or to use a ceramic type electric space heater. From what I've read, a fireplace is very inefficient. However, gas is more efficient and cheaper than electricity. You do get a fan, oscillation, etc out of the space heater, but gas is a thermally more efficient than electricity and much cheaper. I also have a solar voltaic system that covers about 50% of my normal electricity usage, so that may also skew the real equation of relative costs.

Answer
It is more efficient to use your electric space heater unless you had a fireplace insert. After reading your question it sounds like you just have a flue and not an insert. If you only have a flue and no insert is present, then most of the heat generated by the fireplace logs is going up and out the flue. Thus, it is more efficient to run the electric space heater. In addition, you have a solar voltaic system to increase the efficiency of your electric heater. However, if you had a fireplace insert and not just a flue, then it would be more efficient to burn gas rather than run the heater.

-Miller's One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning

Can you put an electric fireplace insert in anywhere?

Meagan P

Im looking at getting an electric fireplace entertainment center for the living room since our base board electric heater is Broken for some reason and its going to cost $1500+ for an electrician to come fix it and wire it correctly or something, we just don't have that kind of money for a house we don't own. anyways, i cant seem to find any good looking fireplace entertainment centers that i like that are for a reasonable price, so i was wondering since we have a great entertainment center now, and it has 2 drawers in the center that could be taken out can I just put an electric insert in there? or is there certain Materials that the entertainment center needs to be made of or Clarence problems and such? i cant seem to find info on this kind of stuff anywhere.

Answer
Anywhere there's a plug. Be prepared for your heating bill. That is simply a space heater. They are not made to heat a room.

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Title Post: Which is more efficient? Using a gas fireplace or an electric space heater?
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