So you want to install a fireplace, but you’re not sure whether wood fireplaces are the way to go. Maybe you love the ambiance of crackling wood but wonder if you’d be missing out on the convenience of a gas or electric fireplace. Or maybe you’re wondering whether replacing your gas fireplace is worth it.
To help you decide whether a wood fireplace is right for your home, we’ve put together a list of pros and cons so you can choose a fireplace you truly love.
What Are the Advantages of Installing Wood Fireplaces?
1. You Can Enjoy the Ambiance of Crackling Wood
There is no other type of fireplace that offers the comforting, classic winter atmosphere of real crackling logs and flames. While gas fireplaces have gotten better with time, many homeowners think they still do not match a traditional wood-burning fireplace complete with the scent of burning wood.
2. Wood Fireplaces Will Work During a Power Outage
One of the nice things about a wood fireplace is that it can be your backup heat source. While an electric fireplace is useless during a power outage, your wood-burning fireplace will work just fine as long as you have been maintaining it properly and have wood readily available.
3. You Don’t Have to Install a Gas Line
If you want a gas fireplace, you need a gas line. A supposedly inexpensive fireplace can quickly run up much higher costs than you thought if you end up needing to install a new gas line. Wood fireplace installation, on the other hand, can involve much less fuss.
What Are the Disadvantages of Wood Fireplaces?
1. Wood Fireplaces Have More Maintenance Responsibilities
Wood fireplaces need all the same maintenance that a gas fireplace does and then some. They need to be regularly swept out and cleaned to avoid dangerous creosote buildup.
You will also need to stay on top of buying or chopping firewood and storing it well in advance of when you use it. If your wood was recently cut, you will need to season it for six months or more before it’s ready to use as fuel.
2. The Fire Needs to be Monitored
Real fires should never be left unattended. Sparks could fly out and catch on something in your home. Any unmaintenanced fireplace unit, regardless of fuel type, can become a fire hazard.
3. You Will Spend More On Heat
While you can make the heat from your wood-burning fireplace go farther with an insert, a wood fireplace will never be the most efficient heating mechanism. Dampers often do not close sufficiently and cause drafts in and out of the chimney year-round. Electric fireplaces are the most efficient fireplace style, followed by gas.
Wood, Gas, and Electric Fireplace Installation in the Greater Seattle Area
Regardless of which style you choose, the fireplace installation process will be much easier if you can work with a single contractor throughout the process. Reach out to Four Day Fireplace for complete assistance with your fireplace project. We install all types of fireplaces throughout the Puget Sound region, including gas, electric, and wood-burning fireplaces.
