Did you know that adding a fireplace to your home could increase its value by 12 percent? Fireplaces also add a heat source to lower your energy bills. There are a lot of great reasons to add a fireplace, and gas and electric fireplaces are the most energy-efficient and eco-friendly. But which do you choose? Here are some guidelines.
All About the Heat
Both gas and electric fireplaces will heat several square feet of space. Gas fireplaces will put out more heat than electric. However, if you have small children or pets, an electric fireplace will be the better way to go because its surfaces do not get hot to the touch. Gas fireplaces, because they put out more heat, are more of a hazard for burns for these small people and pets.
Installation
A gas fireplace can be expensive to install. If you don’t have an existing gas line running to the area of the fireplace, you will have to have one put in. This can mean tearing up floors or getting into walls to run the gas line into place, which can be time consuming and costly. An electric fireplace is much easier to install, even if you need an electrical outlet put in place for it to work.
A gas fireplace also has to have ventilation, whereas an electric fireplace you essentially just plug it in. A gas fireplace needs to have a chimney, which can also be costly to install. However, if you have a wood fireplace that you are converting into gas, the installation might go a bit more smoothly.
If you are unsure whether a gas or electric fireplace is right for you, contact us today for more information.
