What Is Better Gas Or Wood Fireplace
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- 07-07-2022
What is better gas or wood fireplace? We look at the difference between gas stoves or wood burners. Find out about the pros and cons of each option.
Brick fireplaces come in a wide range of forms and structures, many of which have unique advantages and disadvantages. New technology and our climate-conscious agendas have allowed electricians and engineers to advance our fireplace appliances and ensure they are heat-efficient, cost-effective, and not as harmful to the environment as before
There's plenty of debate surrounding which is superior: gas vs wood fireplaces. Firstly, with natural gas fireplaces, you won't experience the same mess as a wood burner; for example, you don't have to cut, gather or store your own wood logs and when burning, no dust, soot, or ash must be cleared when you're done.
All it takes is the push of a button, and you'll instantly have excellent, glowing flames. It's a must cheaper heat source and is specifically designed to burn efficiently, providing you with 90% of heat ventilated through a PVC pipe throughout the walls, many of which contain fans allowing the heat to be accurately directed and circulate in your room.
Wood-burning fireplaces are often chosen to add a nostalgic, cosy feeling that is more traditional and authentic than other appliances.
They offer beautiful, real dancing flames and genuine coal that offers a toasty warm air. All this is partnered with the scent of burning wood and the atmospheric crackling sounds that will provide comfortable background noise for the nights you want to watch the TV or nestle in your chair with an excellent book.
It doesn't provide as much heat efficiency when comparing gas or electric fires and stoves and needs a great deal more maintenance, yet its ambience is like no other.
Both options are excellent for your home; however, it depends on your values, budget and the look you want your home to have.
Gas Stoves or Wood Burners
If you're in search of a cosy fireplace, it's best to ensure that you do plenty of research as to which would best suit your home, desired energy efficiency, budget and aesthetics. Wood burners and gas stoves are pretty different, present different challenges, and have unique benefits. These include the following:
One of the most significant reasons people opt for a fireplace inside their living room or household is to create a sense of ambience and have a centrepiece.
The flickering glow of a fireplace can add life and cosy touch to any room to be enjoyed throughout the year, especially in the winter months when the cold outside cannot compare to the toasty warmth you'll experience by the fireplace.
Plenty of developments over the years have made it so that gas stoves can have the glowing flicker of flames at a more authentic level to ensure they look like the real thing. Its ceramic logs offer a sense of realism to the entire appliance without having to go out and purchase them or scavenge a nearby woodland for the driest logs to throw on a burner.
Wood burners curate a great deal of smoke, water vapour, and dirt whilst they operate that emits from the firewood, which will need frequent or at least annual cleaning. Doing so will ensure no soot or particulate emissions can be inhaled, causing respiratory issues over long periods of neglect.
A build-up of chemicals or soot inside the burner can present significant real fire hazards, so you must keep on top of your chimney fires/wood burner maintenance. However, many gas stoves over the years have been designed to ensure they are as low maintenance as possible, so there's no need to fuss over regular cleaning for residual ash or smoke that could be harmful.
It offers an authentic flame effect; however, it doesn't burn like a wood burner, so there is no ash or smoke. We highly recommend investing in annual servicing from a registered professional for your gas fires to maintain efficiency and safety.
It's vital to focus on the amount of energy we utilise daily, especially in this climate-conscious era. Many in the UK and worldwide are searching for all the best ways that they can cut down on environmentally harmful products, implement green credentials and save money on energy bills.
Wood-burning fires have a stunning traditional aesthetic that is tremendously cosy and homely; however, compared to gas stoves and electric fireplaces, they can be pretty poor performers regarding how energy efficient they are. Wood-burning takes ample time to heat up to its full extent, and its chimney or flue is another reason there's more heat loss than projected into your room.
Gas is one of the cheapest energy forms, making it strangely cost-effective when searching for a high-efficiency fire, successfully heating your living room at a quick pace. It will reduce running costs and reduce the cost of your heating bills. It is an incredibly favourable energy supply compared to burning wood, as gas is approximately 90% cheaper.
Safety is paramount when considering any new appliance for your home, especially if those appliances can be detrimental if not handled with the right amount of care.
Unlike a wood burner, a gas stove does not release pollutants, including harmful particles and fumes, into your atmosphere, making it much safer overall for your household and more environmentally friendly.
Wood burners tend to release sparks and ash due to the very real flame they produce, yet gas stoves achieve this heat in a more controlled environment, which is especially significant for those with pets or young children who need to be shielded from such dangers.
Over the years, there has been plenty of advancements made to the technology of gas stoves to improve the fireplace efficiency and heat levels, ensuring a more controllable and energy-saving source with the use of remote controls or at the push of a button.
Alternatively, a wood burner will take a great deal longer to produce the correct temperature, and it is far more challenging to regulate the heat output you require without ridding the heat altogether.
Gas stoves and wood burners are incredibly convenient ways that allow you to heat your home instantly at cost-effective, affordable prices. Many freestanding appliances of this kind will include a high-quality flue system, enabling gases to exit through the external wall or up your chimney freely, should your home have one.
Depending on your requirements, you can have professionals install them almost anywhere. The running and installation costs associated with all gas stove appliances make them such a prevalent choice for a variety of homeowners and property owners. It's an incredibly affordable and efficient heat source.
Unlike a wood burner, the gas stove allows you to manually adjust the heat by pushing a button, so you never have to pay for energy you don't need. However, all fire appliances have advantages and disadvantages, so we encourage you to assess your options closely and compare prices.
Gas fires pros & cons
pros
Gas fires are also far less hassle than what it may take to purchase and store logs inside your home, especially if you don't live by any woodland areas that would make it easy to go out and store fresh, dry wood.
They are also 90% efficient, with their exact output varying between different models.
We encourage you to thoroughly check the efficiency rating before purchasing, as you find some are more efficient than others.
You can now buy what's known as a 'balanced flue.' The balanced flue is vented via an external wall, or you can purchase a flueless model gas fire.
When comparing the prices of these models, the aesthetics are also an aspect to consider.
Most gas fires tend to offer a more authentic-looking flame than electric fires. Whether the fire you've purchased is vented or ventless, gas fireplaces will always produce real flames, much like a wood-burning fire or stove.
cons
One of the most significant reasons to opt for something other than a gas fire in your home or property is the environmental impact on the atmosphere with fewer polluting emissions. With gas fire, you actively burn fossil fuels, which means you ultimately contribute to climate change and global warming by putting more harmful gas in the airflow. In burning gas, you release nitrogen dioxide into the air, which is considered in-home air pollution. Air pollution is incredibly damaging to those in big cities where there is already extensive air pollution and to those with COPD and asthma.
Another pitfall is that the costs of a professional installation are incredibly costly. Every gas fire must be installed by a Gas Safe registered engineer and therefore serviced annually every 6-12 months to ensure its safe for use.
It's paramount that those with a gas fire must have carbon monoxide detectors to protect them against the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from leaks. For those outside of England, for example, in Scotland, you should have had one legally installed into your home from February 2022; if not, contact your local electricians and request that they fit one for you.
The maintenance of your gas fires and chimneys is crucial to promote adequate ventilation throughout your household. Ensure your gas fire is inspected by registered professionals when necessary and that your chimneys are thoroughly cleaned at least once or twice a year. If your gas fire is a flueless appliance, then this needn't be something you worry about.
Unlike other models, many gas fires must be placed against an outside wall, beneath, or within the chimney breast. In doing so, they can be correctly vented.
Electric fires pros & cons
pros
One of the most significant pros is concerning the cost. Plenty of basic model electric models starts at relatively reasonable prices, such as £100, whereas you may be expected to pay around £200-£400 for a gas or wood-burning fire.
You can place your purchased electric fires anywhere about your home or front room, as long as there is a plug point.
If you wish to make it far more authentic-looking, you can set your electric fire inside the chimney breast of your household to give a more cost atmosphere and fill out the space if necessary.
Depending on the model you've gone for, you can put it just about anywhere in your home, which will ultimately mean you never have to pay for an expensive professional installation.
Compared to various other models on the scene, electric fires are far lower maintenance, as they don't produce ashes that require clearing away the way that gas and wood-burning fire do, and they also don't have a chimney that needs cleaning frequently.
Another excellent pro, arguably one of the more vital ones, is that most electric fires are incredibly efficient.
100% of the electrical energy generated in the appliance is ultimately converted into heat; however, only 90% of gas is converted into heat energy, which is still impressive and economical, but not as much as the electrical fires.
The generated heat from electrical fires will go into your room without getting lost up in a flue or chimney.
Its convenience is another fantastic factor. You can successfully operate electric fire models with the help of devices such as remote controls, making them inclusive for those that go about daily with limited mobility.
You don't even need to put the heating to create that cosy atmosphere in your household or front living room
A whole host of electric models allow you to select a setting that displays the flickering flame effect without needing the heating so that you can provide a homely environment even in the hottest evenings.
cons
The first con you may have is that they have higher running costs than gas fires. The biggest drawback of many household electric appliances is the expensive running costs. Electricity is far more expensive to fuel than wood or gas.
With electric fires, you must expect lower heat outputs at many fires, and stoves tend to have a limit of around 2kW or less, which is usually far lower than what you would achieve with wood-burning and gas appliances.
It will not offer the aesthetic appeal of a realistic-looking flame, unlike gas or wood-burning fire appliances, unless you're keen to spend extensive money on a particularly high-end model.
Do you have a period fireplace which needs repair or restoration? If you live in the Hastings and East Sussex area, our expert antique fireplace restoration services can help.