The choice between two alternatives is as with every buying decision what you want. For one or more of the following reasons, most people purchase a fireplace – gas or electricity:
- Extra warmth in a cold room
- Heat backup in the event of a furnace failure or power loss
- A fire’s esthetic appeal
Gas fireplaces have traditionally been the most popular, but there is increasing appeal among modern electronic ones with more authentic ‘flames.’ Still, it’s all about your particular priorities. Thus there are both advantages and disadvantages.
Gas Vs Electric Fireplace Pros And Cons (Detailed Comparison)
So what are the gas vs electric fireplace pros and cons? Let’s discover it in this article.
Overview Of Gas Fireplaces
Pros
- Better heat: Gas flames, more than their electric equivalent, also throw substantially more heat. The heat produced on a gas chimney may be up to three times the heat produced on an electric chimney!
- Little care is needed: a gas fireplace requires very little maintenance, save an annual inspection.
- Can be ventilated through an existing chimney: A suitable liner may be considered necessary for the correct depletion of all gasses.
- Usage capacity during a power failure: The ability to use a gas fireplace during a power failure because electricity doesn’t work is another advantage.
Cons
- It can grow heated: it’s hot; therefore, it’s unsuitable for households with small children or unwary animals. The presence of fire raises the danger; however, with appropriate installation, maintenance, and use, this may be minimized.
- Permanently installed: One clear disadvantage of gas fireplaces is that they are put on permanently. The position is constrained by an outer wall and maybe access to a fireplace. Once installed, they cannot be transported to another section of the house because they depend on a gas line or propane tank.
- Need a gas line: An existing gas line is necessary, as indicated before, or a rechargeable propane tank has to be installed.
Overview Of Electric Fireplace
Pros
- Simple to install. Many electric fires only have to be connected to one of your normal home power stations and function directly from the box.
- Facility to utilize. There are no set-up procedures or downtimes when electric fireplaces are operated. Just push a few switches, and both flames and heat may be appreciated in no time.
- Low purchasing cost. Electric fireplaces may be relatively cheap compared to other types of fireplaces. Our electric stove, for example, costs $100, our wood stoves cost $1000.
- Installation costs are low. You will not break the bank to install an electric fireplace, even on a wall or in an existing open-air fireplace.
- It can appear highly realistic. Flammative technology on electric fireplaces in recent years has gone a long way toward achieving realistic flaming effects in many models.
- Maintenance needed very little. The only maintenance characteristic of electric fires is to clean it regularly to ensure the ventilation is not clogged and that a bulb is changed.
- There are no dangerous emissions. The only thing releasing is heat. No genuine fire or dangerous by-products are produced, such as smoke and carbon monoxide, which must be expelled from your house.
- Fire is not hot. Flames are not hot. While the fireplaces using actual fire are incredibly hot, the flames on an electric fireplace are not too heaty to touch, making them suitable for small children and/or livestock.
Cons
- It may be noisy with the heaters. Electric chimneys using traditional fan heaters employ a blower to bring warm air into the room. According to the fireplace model, these blisters might be loud.
- An entire home can’t heat up. In some instances, different kinds of fireplaces may heat the entire house, but electric fireplaces cannot.
- When the electricity is out, it can’t be utilized. Unlike other kinds of fireplaces, when there is currently no electricity supply, you cannot use an electric fireplace.
- Life span is shorter. The lifetime of the electric fireplace can be considerably less than other types of fireplaces. This difficulty compounds the fact that many parts cannot be replaced or serviced.
- It doesn’t sound like a genuine fire. There are no actual fire noises because both flames and heat are created artificially with an electric fireplace.
FAQs
How much will my energy cost increase with an electric fireplace?
The fireplace requires over 1500 watts of power on average. The cost may range from $0.003 to $0.03 per hour if you use it simply for the environment. However, if you also use a heater, the expenditures for a medium and $0.18 per hour maximum setup are around $0.09 per hour.
Can the gas fireplace be left overnight?
No, do not leave your gas fireplace overnight since it risks poisoning carbon monoxide. It is not advised; however it is safe to leave your gas fireplace properly maintained and built to burn continually.
Do fireplaces actually heat a room?
Electric fireplaces operate much like heating spaces, but can an electric fireplace actually heat a room? Using a fireplace is an excellent method to heat a room. The electric fireplace may raise the temperature within a room within 4 hours by 13.5 °F (7.5°C).
Conclusion
An electric fireplace is safe, easy to use, and very energy efficient. Yet, a gas fireplace does have genuine flames, is cheaper in the long run, and generates hotter in total.
A gas fireplace is excellent when your gas line is already established or is ready to be built and maintained on a sustainable basis. If your home’s fireplace is the main heat source, a gas fireplace is a perfect choice. However, the ideal alternative is to use an electric fireplace, which is attractive and designed to provide heat in your home.
