What Are the Benefits of a Gas Fireplace?
If you’ve thought of installing a fireplace in your home for the natural aesthetics, you may wonder if a traditional wood-burning fireplace or a gas fireplace is the right choice. While wood fireplaces were once the most common, more and more people have discovered the benefits of gas fireplaces. If you want to learn more, keep reading.
You Have No Need for Wood
A gas fireplace uses natural gas to create the flame, unlike wood-burning fireplaces, which use wood. Wood is an affordable fuel option but has many complications. First, you need to find a place to store the firewood.
You have to keep the wood away from your home to reduce the risk of infestation from pests hiding in the wood. Even then, however, pests may take a ride on the firewood to get inside your home. Wood will also leave behind messy ashes that need regular cleaning, but a gas fireplace leaves no residue.
In addition to being cleaner to use, gas fireplaces are easier to use because they don’t need wood. With a wood fireplace, you need to be able to build a fire or buy a special burning log. A gas fireplace turns on and off with the flip of a switch.
You Have Less Risk of Fire
Another problem with wood is creosote. Even properly treated wood contains some traces of tar. When the wood burns, traces of the tar gets into the smoke and travels up the chimney. Over time, this leaves a coating on the inside of the chimney. At first, this may pose little to no danger, but as the creosote builds, it turns into a major fire risk.
Creosote is highly flammable, so even one spark could ignite your entire chimney. Not only does this damage your fireplace and increase the risk of fire spreading inside the home, but it may also release dangerous smoke, carbon monoxide, or chemicals into your living space. You often have no way to prevent creosote from forming if you use the fireplace, so you’ll have to continue to maintain the fireplace and chimney as time passes.
Gas fireplaces can also give off dangerous fumes or toxins if broken, but as long as they are in good condition, you shouldn’t need to worry about much maintenance. Plus, gas doesn’t create creosote, reducing the risk of a fire.
You Receive Consistent Heat
If your main goal is to heat your entire home or most of your home, a gas stove may be the better choice. However, gas fireplaces do a decent job of providing consistent heat to single rooms, such as the living room. The main reason for this is the steady supply of fuel. Once you turn on the gas fireplace, it burns at the same intensity until you turn it down, up, or off.
A wood fireplace, however, is less consistent because the wood burns away. As a result, you either watch the fire slowly fade or you’ll need to add more wood. Even if you add more wood, you can’t always keep the temperature at a consistent temperature. With a gas fireplace, you simply set the temp and let it go.
On average, a typical wood-burning fireplace is only 10 percent effective at heating a room. Because of the design, most of the heat leaves with the smoke and hazardous chemicals out the chimney. A gas fireplace, however, is anywhere between 50 and 90 percent efficient, depending on how many pipes and the location of the vent.
A gas fireplace can be the perfect addition you need for your home. Not only does it add style and beauty, but it can also offer affordable heat. If you would like to know more or if you’re ready for a quote, contact us at Alpine Fireplaces today.
