Choosing Between Gas and Wood Burning Fireplaces 

A fireplace adds personality and value to your home. When someone imagines their perfect house, the house typically includes a cozy home that keeps you and your family warm in the winter, either with a smoothly running furnace or getting comfy around a cozy fire. 

It’s hard to resist the allure of of a crackling fire, but how do you pick between a gas or wood burning fireplace? There are many points to consider when deciding how to make sure your home stays warm through those cold, winter months. 

Aesthetics and Efficiency  

  • Wood: A wood burning fireplace typically wins in the experience category. You get the crackle. You get the pop. You get the ability to roast marshmallows indoors. Something you don’t get is a powerful heating source. Wood fires typically receive up to a 15% efficiency rating, much lower than a furnace that has routine service performed. They do reach high temperatures, but most of that heat disappears 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 home up the chimney. 
  • Gas: There have been many style advances in gas fireplaces. The flames have become more realistic and some versions offer various heights. 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 go out. You can easily switch your gas fireplace on and off which provides you more control over room temperature 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. Imagine the level of comfort you could have when you combine that with a fully maintained furnace.  

Air Quality and Maintenance 

  • Wood: Air quality is crucial to every homeowner. Burning wood creates air pollution in and outside your home and the smoky wood aroma that a wood burning fireplace gives off could be hazardous to your family’s. Wood also creates a byproduct called creosote that lines the coating of the chimney and must be removed by a chimney sweep. Much like furnaces that should have furnace service completed consistantly, gas fireplaces also require regular cleanings of cinders and spent logs. 
  • Gas: Gas fireplaces require a little bit of dusting every now and then and are practically maintenance free. It is recommended that you get your gas fireplace cleaned and adjusted once a year by a specialist to keep it functioning both safely and efficiently. 

If you are interested in finding out more information about converting your wood burning fireplace into a gas fireplace or you simply need to schedule your routine furnace service, please call us at at 205-267-0023 or schedule an appointment online. Our experts will have you cuddled up and comfortably warm in no time.