Gas Fireplaces vs. Wood Fireplaces: Which is best for you?

There’s a lot of debate among homeowners as to which type of fireplace is best: gas or wood. The truth is, both are good choices. Though there are many reasons a homeowner might choose a gas fireplace over a wood-burning fireplace and vice versa, one key area of the debate centers around lifestyle.

Put another way, some people are into CLEAN, and that means the area surrounding the fireplace and the fireplace itself. Other people are into nature and everything natural and thus are hard-pressed to imagine running fires fueled by anything but real wood.

For those who seek convenience, ease of operation and cleanliness, gas fireplaces make excellent choices. With a gas fireplace, there’s no going out and buying firewood, lugging it home, stacking it so that it’ll stay dry and toting armloads of logs into the house to build a fire. There’s also no constant cleanup of the hearth area.

Other folks rather enjoy the process of acquiring fire wood and going through the process to get a fire going. To them, it’s almost like being an artisan in building the perfect fire.

Gas fireplace fans don’t think “artisan”; rather, they think “how can I get this fireplace working as fast and easy as possible?” With a gas fireplace, flip a switch and the incoming gas is ignited by a pilot light. That’s about all there is to making a fire in a gas fireplace.

People who prefer wood-burning fireplaces enjoy the aura and mystique of a roaring fire and crackling logs. For an ambiance-setter, it’s hard to beat a wood fireplace. And don’t forget the pleasant aromas given off by burning wood. All of this adds to a perfect experience for those who are partial to using wood for their fireplace fuel.

But gas fireplaces provide some sense of a real wood fire. Modern gas log sets are designed to very closely resemble wooden logs in both size, color and texture. In many cases, you might even initially mistake a gas fire for wood fire.

From a cost perspective, a wood-burning fireplace will usually be more economical, overall. Increasing the efficiency of either type of appliance can be accomplished by adding a fireplace insert, making sure the chimney or vent pipe is clean and in good repair and scheduling regular inspection and maintenance of the entire unit, from firebox to the top of the chimney.

Unlike with our ancestors, people today use their fireplaces for more than just heating a room. Both gas and wood fireplaces are excellent compliments to the décor and style of most any home. They’re attractive conversation pieces and bring about a sense of calmness and security when blazing a playful fire on cold winter evenings.

Once you’ve decided on the type of fireplace that best fits your needs and lifestyle, count on Northeastern Chimney of Connecticut to keep it and your chimney clean and safe with annual inspection and maintenance services. Get more information by calling (860) 233-5770.

Northeastern Chimney, Inc.
37 Cody Street, West Hartford, CT 06110
Phone: 860-233-5770

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