jonass21
I have a 224 sqft room that has an old in wall gas heater. I want to tear out the old in wall heater and put in a fireplace, should I go electric or gas? Which is cheaper to run? Would electric add as much value to the home as gas?
Answer
Electric fireplaces are strictly for looks or for adding to spaces where there simply is no means of installing a fireplace or the cost to do so is prohibitive. They produce about as much heat as a hair dryer and the flame effect looks very unrealistic.
A gas fireplace can heat the entire room...along with a good portion of the house, depending on the type of fireplace you choose and the efficiency. Gas fireplaces come in 4 different types:
1) Natural Vent (least efficient)
2) Direct Vent (very efficient)
3) Ventless or Vent-Free (super efficient...but with drawbacks)
4) Wood Burning Fireplace with a Gas Log Installed (Vented of Ventless gas logs)
An electric fireplace will add little or no value to the home. The above 4 types of fireplaces will add value to the home. A wood burning fireplace with a gas log added to it will add the most value to the home because it allows a potential buyer to remove the gas logs and burn real wood if they so choose. A vented gas log installed in a wood burning fireplace will give you the most realistic looking fire but produces the least amount of heat. A ventless gas log installed in the same wood burning fireplace will be less realistic but will provide the most heat.
There is a significant expense involved in installing a fireplace. Ventless gas fireplaces are the least expensive to install since they do not have a chimney or vent. A direct vent gas fireplace is next as far as installation expense if it can be installed on an outside wall because the vent can come directly out the back of the fireplace and go through the wall with a termination cap just outside (no vertical chimney). Natural Vent gas fireplaces and Wood Burning fireplaces both require a chimney or vent that goes vertically through the roof, so they are more expensive to install. There are huge differences in the prices of each fireplace itself in addition to the cost of installation. For example, a wood burning fireplace and chimney pipe will cost substantially less than a direct vent gas fireplace, but the installation cost will make the overall cost substantially more for a wood burning unit.
I would suggest Googling the above fireplace terms and doing some research. Then go visit a local fireplace shop...they should be able to explain the differences between all of the above options including an electric fireplace.
Electric fireplaces are strictly for looks or for adding to spaces where there simply is no means of installing a fireplace or the cost to do so is prohibitive. They produce about as much heat as a hair dryer and the flame effect looks very unrealistic.
A gas fireplace can heat the entire room...along with a good portion of the house, depending on the type of fireplace you choose and the efficiency. Gas fireplaces come in 4 different types:
1) Natural Vent (least efficient)
2) Direct Vent (very efficient)
3) Ventless or Vent-Free (super efficient...but with drawbacks)
4) Wood Burning Fireplace with a Gas Log Installed (Vented of Ventless gas logs)
An electric fireplace will add little or no value to the home. The above 4 types of fireplaces will add value to the home. A wood burning fireplace with a gas log added to it will add the most value to the home because it allows a potential buyer to remove the gas logs and burn real wood if they so choose. A vented gas log installed in a wood burning fireplace will give you the most realistic looking fire but produces the least amount of heat. A ventless gas log installed in the same wood burning fireplace will be less realistic but will provide the most heat.
There is a significant expense involved in installing a fireplace. Ventless gas fireplaces are the least expensive to install since they do not have a chimney or vent. A direct vent gas fireplace is next as far as installation expense if it can be installed on an outside wall because the vent can come directly out the back of the fireplace and go through the wall with a termination cap just outside (no vertical chimney). Natural Vent gas fireplaces and Wood Burning fireplaces both require a chimney or vent that goes vertically through the roof, so they are more expensive to install. There are huge differences in the prices of each fireplace itself in addition to the cost of installation. For example, a wood burning fireplace and chimney pipe will cost substantially less than a direct vent gas fireplace, but the installation cost will make the overall cost substantially more for a wood burning unit.
I would suggest Googling the above fireplace terms and doing some research. Then go visit a local fireplace shop...they should be able to explain the differences between all of the above options including an electric fireplace.
Wood vs. gas fireplaces...?
momathomew
What are the pros and cons of EACH? We are moving into a house that has an older gas fireplace. Our inspector says he personally likes wood and we should convert it back. My husband also likes wood and thinks the point of a fireplace is to save on gas/electric bills. I agree with that, but I'd like to know the good and the bad about both gas and wood.
Thanks
Answer
I have a wood burning fireplace. My original thoughts were that I would go with wood burning because I wanted to use it to save money rather than lose money due to gas. The place that built my house put in a radiant wood burning fireplace. I've found out a few things since then. I'll list some of the options regarding fireplaces and pro's/cons.
Radiant Woodburning:
- Pros: best as far as appearance - real fire and easily visible
- Cons: lets cold air in during winter when not in use and can make the room smell a little, have some mess to clean up when you bring in the logs, can be a little hard to start, doesn't heat the room well
Woodburning with Blower:
- Pros: best for saving money if you have firewood available and does a great job of heating the room
- Cons: can't see the fire as well, it's encased by a metal door with glass in it due to the blower
Radiant Gas:
- Pros: easy to start, easy to see, no firewood mess, no smell, easy to view
- Cons: not real wood, expensive to heat with, doesn't heat the room well
Ventless Gas:
- Pros: very easy to start (just flick a switch), no firewood mess, no smell, very good at heating room, easy to view
- Cons: somewhat expensive to heat with but much more efficient than a radiant fireplace, glass door isn't meant to be opened often
If it was me, I'd either go with a wood fireplace that has a blower or a ventless gas fireplace.
Oh yeah, a few little notes if you get a wood fireplace, especially a radiant one. After you open the chimney flu and before you get ready to start the fire in the fireplace, I recommend opening an exterior door or window, especially if you have a well insulated home. If you don't the difference in air pressure between outside and inside your house can draw smoke into the room even with the flu vent open. Keep the window or door open until the fire gets going. After the heat from the starts going up the chimney and creates an air draft up the chimney then you can close the door or window without the worry of smoke filling the room. Also, it's good to leave a few ashes in the fireplace. The ashes are what hold the heat. And lastly, make sure to leave air void under your logs and some in between them. The air void allows oxygen to get to the fire when you are starting it and allows the fire to start easier.
I have a wood burning fireplace. My original thoughts were that I would go with wood burning because I wanted to use it to save money rather than lose money due to gas. The place that built my house put in a radiant wood burning fireplace. I've found out a few things since then. I'll list some of the options regarding fireplaces and pro's/cons.
Radiant Woodburning:
- Pros: best as far as appearance - real fire and easily visible
- Cons: lets cold air in during winter when not in use and can make the room smell a little, have some mess to clean up when you bring in the logs, can be a little hard to start, doesn't heat the room well
Woodburning with Blower:
- Pros: best for saving money if you have firewood available and does a great job of heating the room
- Cons: can't see the fire as well, it's encased by a metal door with glass in it due to the blower
Radiant Gas:
- Pros: easy to start, easy to see, no firewood mess, no smell, easy to view
- Cons: not real wood, expensive to heat with, doesn't heat the room well
Ventless Gas:
- Pros: very easy to start (just flick a switch), no firewood mess, no smell, very good at heating room, easy to view
- Cons: somewhat expensive to heat with but much more efficient than a radiant fireplace, glass door isn't meant to be opened often
If it was me, I'd either go with a wood fireplace that has a blower or a ventless gas fireplace.
Oh yeah, a few little notes if you get a wood fireplace, especially a radiant one. After you open the chimney flu and before you get ready to start the fire in the fireplace, I recommend opening an exterior door or window, especially if you have a well insulated home. If you don't the difference in air pressure between outside and inside your house can draw smoke into the room even with the flu vent open. Keep the window or door open until the fire gets going. After the heat from the starts going up the chimney and creates an air draft up the chimney then you can close the door or window without the worry of smoke filling the room. Also, it's good to leave a few ashes in the fireplace. The ashes are what hold the heat. And lastly, make sure to leave air void under your logs and some in between them. The air void allows oxygen to get to the fire when you are starting it and allows the fire to start easier.
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