What makes a good gas fireplace?
Ventless gas fireplaces, in particular, are popular because they're clean and easy to use. Also known as unvented or vent-free fireplaces, a ventless gas fireplace operates with natural gas or liquid propane (LP) that flows into a gas burner mounted in the fireplace. When ignited, the flames run through gaps in artificial ceramic fiber logs ...
Which gas fires are the most efficient?
Which Gas Fires Are The Most Efficient?
- Open Front Gas fires. Open front gas fires look fantastic with their traditional open fire period aesthetic. ...
- Outset Living Flame Gas Fires. Outset fires are those that sit on the hearth rather than being set into the chimney. ...
- Outset Radiant Gas Fires. ...
- Glass Fronted High Efficiency Gas Fires. ...
- Balanced Flue High Efficiency Gas Fires. ...
- Flueless Gas Fires. ...
Are electric fires cheaper to run than gas fireplaces?
Gas is typically cheaper than electricity. As we have already mentioned, gas fires also use less energy than an electric fire, too. So, they tend to be more economical to run. However, you should also bear in mind that gas fires require an annual safety inspection which also adds to the running costs. Winner…
What is the best rated gas fireplace?
- BEST OVERALL: Napoleon Grandville VF Series GVF36-2N 37″ Vent Free
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: ProCom Vent-Free Dual Fuel Fireplace Insert
- BEST FLEXIBILITY: Empire Loft Series DVL25 Fireplace Insert
- BEST DUAL FUEL: Superior DRI2000 Gas Fireplace Insert
- BEST DIRECT VENT: Empire Tahoe Deluxe 36″ Direct-Vent NG Millivolt
Is it cheaper to heat with wood or gas?
In general, a gas fireplace will be about three times cheaper to use than a wood one. Paying for the amount of gas it takes to heat your home with a fireplace is much less than the cost of paying for wood.
Which type of fireplace is most efficient?
Electric fireplacesElectric fireplaces are by far the most energy efficient option. Only 1% of the heat from an electric fireplace is lost, because it is in no way connected to the outside. And if you're concerned about pollutants, electric fireplaces are also the cleanest for the air inside your home.
Which heats better wood or gas fireplace?
Above: According to the EPA, traditional wood-burning fireplaces emit 28 pounds of particulants per MMBTU (one million BTUs) of heat output as opposed to natural gas, which produces up to 99 percent less (about 0.28 pounds per MMBTU).
Why are gas fireplaces better than wood?
Gas fireplaces are (debatably) far more convenient than their traditional wood counterparts. The primary reason for their superior ease of use and functionality is that gas fireplaces do not require wood to burn.
What type of fire is cheapest to run?
Infrared Heaters – the lowest wattage per heat provided makes these the cheapest to run.
Is it expensive to run a gas fireplace?
A standard 20,000 BTU gas fireplace will use about 20 cubic feet of natural gas per hour. Given that price of natural gas is about $1.09 per 100 cubic feet, running a standard-sized gas fireplace will cost about $0.22/hour at 100% heating output. In short: Gas fireplaces are quite inexpensive to run.
Is it worth having a wood burning fireplace?
Wood-burners are highly efficient and use up less energy to produce the same heat as your radiator. They also have a lower carbon output; much less energy is needed to harvest wood in comparison to mining deep for fossil fuels like coal, which powers roughly a third of the UK electricity supply.
Do gas fireplaces really heat a room?
Overall, gas fireplaces are highly efficient when it comes to heating a room. Once a fire has been burning for some time, it's likely to heat a room rather quickly. The type of gas fireplace you have is likely to affect the fireplace's ability to heat a room efficiently.
Should I convert my fireplace to gas?
Converting from a wood fireplace to gas will have a noticeable effect on improving your home's atmosphere and cleanliness. For starters, gas inserts mean no more after-fire maintenance. Ash left behind from combusted wood needs to be cleaned out between uses, after it completely cools.
Do gas fireplaces save money?
Gas fireplaces can also help you save on heating costs by providing warmth during unpredictable or “in-between” weather when it's not cold enough for the central heat, but you still need some warmth. 3. New gas fireplaces are incredibly efficient.
Is a fireplace more efficient with the doors open or closed?
In both cases, closing your fireplace glass doors can increase efficiency by minimizing the amount of air lost out of your home and up the chimney. They greatly reduce cold drafts and save you money!
Is gas or electric fireplace more efficient?
A gas fireplace is more efficient than an electric fireplace. Gas produces much more heat than an electric fireplace heating up in the same amount of time. An electric fireplace is not as effective as a gas fireplace at heating a space quickly.
What makes an efficient fireplace?
1:543:313 Tips for Improving the Fireplace Efficiency in your Home - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThere are a variety of different fireplace heaters even those that you can use with gas logs. YouMoreThere are a variety of different fireplace heaters even those that you can use with gas logs. You could also add a blower to your fireplace as they increase the fireplaces heat output significantly.
What is the highest efficiency gas fireplace?
Ventless gas fireplaces are typically the most efficient from of gas fireplace. Ventless gas fireplaces don't have any form of external ventilation and so the fuel must be burnt cleanly enough in order to be able to safely put waste air back into the room.
What is the difference between a gas fireplace and a wood burning fireplace?
In comparison, a gas fireplace does have the dancing flames, quiet glow, and appearance of a real fire.
Which is better, a gas fireplace or a direct vent fireplace?
A one-pipe vent fireplace provides a 50% efficiency rating while the two-pipe vent model has efficiency ratings of around 70%. However, if a direct-vent gas fireplace is installed, it can produce a 90% efficiency rating.
Why is it so hard to install a wood burning fireplace?
Of the two, the wood burning fireplace is more challenging to install because it requires a chimney as opposed to installing only a vent pipe for a gas fireplace. Professional installation is required for either type of fireplace.
What is a firebox in a fireplace?
2 Firebox: The chamber in a fireplace that contains the fire. It is usually lined with firebrick so it can withstand the extreme heat that it is exposed to. Manufactured fireplaces have fireboxes made of sheet metal
Why do people choose wood over gas?
Wood fireplaces provide a natural experience because of the smell and the noise of the logs crackling. For many people, this is their favorite feature and the reason why they choose wood over gas. A gas fireplace gives the ambiance of glowing logs and dancing flames, but there is no sound unless artificially added.
How much does a brick fireplace cost?
Costs. There is a difference in cost between wood-burning and gas fireplaces. A brick wood-burning fireplace can range from $5,500 to $11,000 for labor and materials without installation. Installation can range from $2,500 to $10,000 depending upon whether if there is a chimney in place.
How much does it cost to install a gas fireplace?
A pre-built gas burning fireplace can range from $1,500 to $3,000 for the materials and fireplace. A small gas exhaust pipe can range from $500 and $1,000 for cost and installation. For installation of the gas burning fireplace components, the cost can range from $1,500 to $3,000. The price of a gas line hookup installed on an existing line is between $150 and $300. If a new line needs to be run, then the cost will be from $300 to $800. The total cost is between $3,650 and $7,800.
What happens if you don't have gas lines in your house?
If your home has no gas lines in the street, you’d have to get a tank and pay for all the installation. That greatly increases your setup costs, and invites a new set of issues you have to deal with. If your street has gas lines, but your home isn’t set up with a gas fireplace, your cost of installation will go up substantially.
Is it fun to make a fire?
Arranging logs and getting it to light can be a fun accomplishment and something to teach your kids. Pushing them around as it burns down and adding more wood to the fire is fun too.
Is a gas fireplace more efficient than a wood fireplace?
Gas fireplaces are more energy efficient than wood. There’s no comparison here. To get the same amount of heat from a wood fireplace costs much more than for gas (unless you have a free wood supply), and you lose a lot of heat up the chimney too.
Is it cheaper to use a gas fireplace or wood?
In general, a gas fireplace will be about three times cheaper to use than a wood one. Paying for the amount of gas it takes to heat your home with a fireplace is much less than the cost of paying for wood. It goes back to the efficiency question, as well as the simple cost of these resources.
Do you need a chimney for gas fireplace?
And little to no cleaning – in your home or in a chimney (and you don’t even need a chimney for gas, just a vent – more on that in a bit). So if your life is very busy and you just want the warmth or beauty of a fireplace without the hassle, gas is a no-brainer.
Does wood burning smell good?
This is a rare and unlikely problem that can be fixed. But, wood burning smells great (as long as you use the damper properly). If you like having the campfire effect in your home, then wood fireplaces are the way to go.
Do you have to clean a gas fireplace after every fire?
And every so often, the chimney itself, or your risk of a chimney fire from creosote increases with each passing year. You do have to clean a gas fireplace too, but not after every fire.
Why do gas fireplaces have fewer cleaning responsibilities than wood burning fireplaces?
Gas fireplaces come with significantly fewer cleaning responsibilities than wood-burning, mainly due to the different combustion byproducts that accumulate in the gas chimney and wood chimney. Burning wood produces creosote, which builds-up on the walls of the chimney, along with ash and soot, which gather on the hearth.
Why are gas fireplaces so convenient?
The primary reason for their superior ease of use and functionality is that gas fireplaces do not require wood to burn.
What is the sound of a wood burning fireplace?
When most people imagine a cozy night by the fire with loved ones, one particular scene comes to mind: The sound of wood quietly crackling in the firebox, accompanied by the gentle glow of a tame fire.
How much does a gas fireplace cost?
Gas fireplace: The price for having a gas unit installed in your home will normally range from $2,300 – $4,000.
How much does it cost to install a gas fireplace?
The installation cost will vary depending on the type of fireplace you’ve chosen: Gas fireplace: The price for having a gas unit installed in your home will normally range from $2,300 – $4,000.
How much does a cord of wood cost?
This can be cheaper, depending on your use. The average cord of mixed hardwood can be anywhere between $50-100, depending on demand and locale.
What is single sided wood burning?
Single-sided: A classic addition to most households, these wood-burning units are designed to be viewed from one side and can have single or double doors. They include innovative air movement technology and use only outdoor air for combustion to prevent stuffiness in the home.
Gas or Wood: Which is More Expensive?
The answer to whether a wood-burning or gas fireplace is more expense isn’t completely clear.
Save Money with a Clean Chimney
Regardless of whether you get your wood for free or not, you can boost heat efficiency and save money by keeping your chimney clean and well-maintained. A dirty chimney is a pricey chimney.
Which type of fireplace has the most energy?
Gas fireplaces have the most efficient heat output. Wood stoves can be quite efficient, but wood fireplaces can release most energy into the chimney. In contrast, gas fireplaces can efficiently heat air in a room.
What is the most common type of fireplace?
The most common fireplaces on the market are wood, gas, or electricity. Each comes with widely different operations and maintenance schedules. Depending on how space is used, each type can meet unique demands.
What Is the Environmental Rating of Each?
All combustion will release unwanted gasses into the environment. Even electric fireplaces will produce greenhouse gases unless wholly sourced from renewables. Of these types of fireplaces, though, the most efficient ones will be highest-rated for the environment.
How much does it cost to install a fireplace?
A new wood fireplace costs approximately $3,000 to install. Chimney installation can add on thousands, though, and will be the most expensive element of this project. Chimney costs vary drastically with a home’s unique features. A proper flue, liner, and ventilation need to be installed. Further customization of the indoor feature can raise the cost. If your home already has a chimney, but it needs repairs to allow you to burn wood, you can expect to spend less.
Why is gas used in fires?
Because gas burns so efficiently, less of it is needed to heat a space. This provides the most tremendous heat potential for the least amount of pollutants. Wood fires are less efficient and consume more natural resources to keep going at length.
How does natural gas work in a fireplace?
Gas has been being used in fireplaces, too, for quite some time. They work by igniting a steady stream of natural gas as it exits a pipe in your fireplace. For a home already hooked up to natural gas, installation can be easy.
What is the most reliable way to heat a house?
Wood is also the most reliable way to heat a space. Those who live off-grid rely on wood-burning stoves and fireplaces to keep their homes warm. So, as long as you can whip up a fire, you can heat the house.
Why is it important to service a fireplace?
Regular service also is important to allow your fireplace to run safely, because chimney fires are one of the most common types of fires in the home.
How to stop draft from fireplace?
If your fireplace is equipped with glass doors, use them to decrease the draft flowing into the fireplace. If there is a damper, keep it closed any time you’re not using the fireplace. Inflatable blockers known as “chimney balloons” can be purchased to fit above the damper and form a very secure air seal during longer periods when the fireplace isn’t in use.
How to build a fire with twigs?
When preparing to build a fire, start with some dry clumps of wood shavings or twigs to serve as tinder. Then use a metal log grate, on which dry logs should be stacked with plenty of open space in between. This arrangement will allow for the most efficient – and hottest – burn with considerably less smoke.
Do gas fireplaces need to be maintained?
Gas fireplaces or inserts don’t require as much maintenance as wood fireplaces, but they still need to be checked regularly by someone trained in fireplace service.
Why are gas fireplaces so efficient?
More modern gas fireplaces are often much more efficient compared to older models as a result of the use of intermittent pilot ignition systems rather than the conventional standing pilot ignitions.
How efficient is a natural gas fireplace?
Natural vent gas fireplaces in the form of inserts can typically be found to have efficiency ratings of around 50-60%, while gas logs sets may be lower than this. Direct vent gas fireplaces can typically average between 60-80% efficiency and ventless gas fireplaces can be around 99% efficient.
What is the efficiency rating of a direct vent fireplace?
Expect to find direct vent gas fireplaces with efficiency ratings of 70% on average but can be as high as 80% or low as 60% depending on the model.
What ignition does a gas fireplace use?
Our gas fireplace uses the older standing pilot ignition and we leave this pilot flame on throughout winter.
What is the purpose of a gas fireplace?
Gas fireplaces use gas as the source of fuel in order to produce heat for a home and ‘ efficiency ’ refers to the ability for a fireplace appliance such as gas to convert that fuel into usable heat.
Where to find efficiency rating on gas fireplace?
Gas fireplaces are typically found with a rating plate found somewhere on the unit that details information about that specific fireplace.
What to do if you don't have a manual for a gas fireplace?
If you don’t have the manual then you can use the information displayed on the rating plate to find an electronic copy of the right manual for your gas fireplace.
Why is my gas fireplace rating lower than my furnace?
The standard AFUE score for gas fireplaces sits around 70%. The main reason they have a lower rating than furnaces is that the fireplace must produce a larger flame. This means that the unit releases more energy as light instead of heat within the fuel during combustion.
What Type of Furnace is the Most Efficient?
When you’re comparing the efficiency of a gas fireplace to a furnace, it’s important to understand that there are four main types of fuel for furnaces: gas, oil, electricity, and propane. While that may sound like there are a lot of options to choose from, only two of these fuel types are competitive in terms of cost efficiency: electricity and gas. Propane and oil are typically used when your home doesn’t have access to natural gas, or you need a furnace that will function during an outage.
How many BTUs does a gas fireplace use?
The typical gas fireplace may produce around 30,000 BTUs and a furnace could create more than double that amount. Though, you may only require 30,000 BTUs to heat the space your fireplace is in. While you might assume that the lower the consumption rating, the more efficient the appliance. However, there is more to consider.
How much AFUE does a furnace have?
Fortunately, furnaces have a lot going for them in terms of AFUE – depending on the specific model. Most standard units will yield about 80% AFUE, meaning 80% of the fuel used is translated directly into usable heat. Though, there are a number of high-efficiency models that are considerably more superior, with some reaching 98.2% AFUE.
How long does a furnace last?
Operating a fireplace is as simple as burning fuel to generate heat. On the other hand, a properly maintained furnace can last you many years, especially with routine professional tune-ups.
How is heating power measured?
Heating power is measured in terms of British Thermal Units, or BTUs. One unit equals the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of a pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. As a homeowner, BTU ratings are an excellent resource for finding out how powerful your furnace or fireplace is.
Where to find BTU on a furnace?
You can typically find the BTU rating in the appliance manual or on the appliance’s label.
Convenience
Customization
- Whether you have a gas or wood fireplace, you can customize your unit – but to varying extents. The types of customization options available to you will depend on where you want your fireplace installed and your main use for the unit (i.e., is it meant for personal, individual use, or for entertaining large groups?). Two examples of Acucraft’s custom wood-burning fireplace custom…
Fireplace Efficiency
- So, how efficient is a wood-burning fireplace versus a gas unit, really? The two vary quite dramatically in their efficiency. This is not surprising when considering that they rely on completely different materials to operate. For starters, both wood-burning and gas fireplaces help to reduce general energy consumption since neither requires electricity (unlike an electric firepla…
Cost of Operation
- In terms of financial commitments, which is better; gas or wood-burning fireplaces? Each fireplace comes with a different operation cost, for one, which may influence your decision on which style is best for you. The following factors represent some of the primary distinctions in the average financial commitment to a gas vs. wood fireplace.
Installation and Maintenance
- It’s essential to know what to expect when you’re ready to introduce your brand-new gas or wood unit into your home. The installation costwill vary depending on the type of fireplace you’ve chosen: 1. Gas fireplace: The price for having a gas unit installed in your home will normally range from $2,300 – $4,000. 1. Wood fireplace: These tend to be significantly cheaper to install than th…
Safety
- The safer option between gas and wood-burning fireplaces varies based on a number of factors but leans in favor of gas units. Wood units might be considered more hazardous for those not keen on physical maintenance. Ashes and soot can also accumulate without regular cleaning, which can lead to out-of-control fires. Additionally, a gas fireplace can be left running without co…
Cleaning
- There are some drastic differences in cleaning requirements for gas fireplaces in comparison to wood-burning units. Gas fireplaces come with significantly fewer cleaning responsibilities than wood-burning,mainly due to the different combustion byproducts that accumulate in the gas chimney and wood chimney. Burning wood produces creosote, which builds-up on the walls of t…
Sensory Experience
- Most people will agree that a wood-burning fireplace is a standardfor the sensory experience derived by settling down by a gentle flame on a chilly day. The sound of the logs crackling and popping, the smell of the smoldering cedar, fir, or other firewood, and the soft radiance all are uniquely characteristic of a real wood fire. Yet, if warmth is your primary concern, and you are no…
Resale Value
- One of the most notable benefits of installing a fireplace in your home, whether wood or gas, is that the unit will almost certainlyincrease your house’s market value by up to 12%. This potential applies to both styles; no matter what kind of fireplace it is, these features create a focal point and gathering space for friends, family, and guests. There are no specific realty standards that deter…
Environmental Impact
- As the world continues to experience the detrimental effects of human activity, there is a growing concern for their environmental footprints. Your choice of a gas or wood-burning fireplace can influence the impact you have on the earth due to the following factors: 1. When it comes to emissions,75% more CO₂ is emitted in woodvs. natural gas units. 2. Acquiring natural gas for fire…