Choosing Between Gas and Wood Burning Fireplaces 

A fireplace adds ambiance and value to your home. When homebuyers imagine their dream house, the home typically includes a comfy home that keeps you and your family warm in the winter, either with a smoothly running heater or gathering around a cozy fire. 

It’s hard to resist the temptation of of a crackling fire, but how do you choose between a gas or wood burning fireplace? There are many points to consider when deciding how to heat your home. 

Aesthetics and Efficiency  

  • Wood: A wood burning fireplace typically wins in the sensation category. You get the crackle. You get the pop. You get the opportunity to roast marshmallows indoors. Something you don’t get is a powerful heating source. Wood fires normally receive up to a 15% efficiency rating, considerably lower than a furnace that has consistent service performed. They do get very hot, but most of that heat is released up the chimney. Wood burning fireplaces not only lose the heat coming from the fire, but it also pulls warm air from other parts of the house up and out the chimney. 
  • Gas: There have been many artistic advances in gas fireplaces. The flames have become more realistic and many designs offer diverse adjustments in height. The types of logs used in gas fireplaces now more closely resemble the real thing and come complete with glowing embers, which don’t force you to wait while they simmer out. You can simply switch your gas fireplace on and off, providing you more control over the temperature of you home and frees you from having to look after your fire. The lack of fire stealing oxygen gives gas fireplaces a 75% to 99% efficiency rating. Just imagine the level of comfort you could get when you combine that with a fully maintained furnace.  

Air Quality and Maintenance 

  • Wood: Air quality is crucial to homeowners and homebuyers. Burning wood creates air pollution in and outside your home and the smoky wood smell that a wood burning fireplace gives off could be hazardous to your health. Wood also creates a byproduct called creosote that lines the coating of the chimney and must be removed by an expert. Much like furnaces that should have furnace service completed annually, gas fireplaces also require recurrent cleanings of embers and spent logs. 
  • Gas: Gas fireplaces only require some dusting every now and then and are just about maintenance free. It is suggested that you get your gas fireplace cleaned and adjusted yearly by an expert to keep it working both safely and smoothly. 

If you want to convert your wood burning fireplace into a gas fireplace or you need to schedule annual furnace service, please call us at at 614-334-3192 or schedule an appointment online. Our experts will have you snuggled up and comfortably warm in no time. 

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