FIREPLACES

About Fireplaces

A fireplace or wood stove offers comfort and peace of mind. They typically do not require electricity and in the event of a winter-weather emergency or disaster they can be a valuable source of heat and light. Depending on the fireplace or traditional wood stove, you may even be able to cook food with them!

The addition of options for propane, electric and natural gas fireplaces has expanded the number of options. Some form of fireplace is a realistic option for nearly every home, and with the advent of modern insulation it is easier than ever to maintain a comfortable temperature without using massive amounts of fuel, whether wood, gas, or electricity.

Considerations

There are many considerations when purchasing a fireplace or wood stove. You may be most concerned with the ‘feel’ of your wood stove or the ambiance provided by a fireplace. However, you maybe be more concerned with the self-sufficiency that is provided by a particular fuel and whether or not you can continue to heat your home with the fuel stored on hand in the event of an electrical outage. 

All of these things will play a role in your purchase and installation. The following is a simplified listing of many of the relevant advantages and disadvantages of each fuel and fireplace or stove type.

If you can’t decide, an A-1 Team expert can help you make the right choice and install your selection with reliability and excellent service! 

Wood Fireplaces

The classic aesthetic of a real fire- with all the beautiful smells, cracking sounds, and dancing flame. With firewood readily available in many areas (with or without the work of wood chopping), fireplaces are easy to use as supplemental heat sources

Wood Fireplaces provide an economical fuel source that is renewable and gives you some self-sufficiency in emergencies and can provide much needed autonomy for those who live outside of cities and towns.

However, it requites frequently cleaning and ash hauling and a chimney/flue for ventilation. Inexperienced usage may cause odors and smoke. IT also has a less uniform heat output than other options.

Gas Fireplaces

Gas Fireplaces provide a cleaner burn than a wooden fireplace and are much easier to start with more flexibly installation options. They also provide a more uniform heat output and an easier to control flame.

Despite this easier usage, they still work as an excellent supplemental heat source and don’t require you to interact with fire as much.

However, they are not as sustainable in a long term power outage and are not as environmentally friendly due to their reliance on fossil fuels. They also don’t provide the same satisfying scents and sounds that come with a real fire.

Pellet Stoves

Pellet Stoves provide clean burning fire with long burn times and are very easy to store. They are the most economical where pellets are available and the fuel is renewable, environmentally friendly, and domestically grown.

Usually they are more expensive than wood or fireplaces and require more electricity to operate and may require more service and maintenance than a gas or electric fireplace.

Electric

Far and away the easiest type of fireplace to install- just plug it in. Unfortunately, they are dependent on an electrical grid to function.

Electric Fireplaces are portable and convenient,  but do not provide any ambiance or aesthetics. They are low output and expensive, but can provide decent heating in a small space such as an apartment or hotel room.

Ready to talk?

We can help you figure out what the best option is for your home if you need help.

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