Which Type of Heating Appliance Is Right for Me: Wood or Gas?
Wood or Gas? That is the question! Learn more about the differences then call us to learn how we can help!
When shopping for a new appliance to heat your home in the winter, not only do you have a choice between fireplaces, inserts, and stoves, but you can also select which type of fuel type is best for you and your home. At Chim Cheree Chimney Specialists, we carry both wood-burning and gas-fueled fireplaces, inserts, and stoves, and our staff can help you decide which of these heating appliances is right for you, your home, and your family. We would like to tell you about the benefits and disadvantages to both of these fuel types.
WOOD-BURNING
Advantages
• The cost of firewood is cheaper than natural gas or propane. Even better, if you cut and season your own wood, your fuel cost is free.. Although natural gas and propane are inexpensive fuels, wood is more economical.
•Nothing can substitute for the experience of a wood-burning fire. The sounds, smells, and sights of a wood-burning fire are extremely hard to recreate with gas logs and gas fireplaces, inserts, and stoves. Although gas flames can appear to be very realistic, they will never truly compare to a wood-burning fire.
Disadvantages
• The maintenance of a wood-burning fireplace, insert, or stove can be intensive. When you have a wood-burning heating appliance, you must either cut the wood yourself or buy it, store the firewood properly, and bring the wood in from the outside every time you want to build a fire. Not only is that task labor-intensive, you must also clean up ash and soot residue after every fire. Additionally, burning wood creates creosote, a highly combustible compound that sticks to your chimney walls. If the creosote deposits become large enough, you have a risk of it igniting a dangerous chimney fire.
• A wood-burning fireplace, insert, or stove is not convenient to use. As mentioned above, you have to bring inside your firewood before you can even start a fire, and starting that fire can be difficult and time-consuming. Plus, you must maintain a wood-burning fire by adding firewood every few hours to keep the fire going.
GAS
Advantages
• A gas fireplace, stove, or insert provides superior convenience. To start your fire, all you must do is push a button, and your fire automatically starts. Some models of gas-fueled heating appliances even come equipped with a remote control, so you can adjust the flame’s temperature as well as turn on and off the fire from your couch with the remote control. A much less labor-intensive process to start a fire, a gas heating appliance gives you instant fire gratification.
•Gas fireplaces, inserts, and stoves are relatively maintenance-free. With no ash or soot residue to sweep up or remove, your gas heating appliance is much easier to maintain. You do not have to worry about creosote deposits; however, the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) still recommends you schedule an annual sweeping and inspection of your gas fireplace chimney to keep you and your family safe from dangers such as carbon monoxide leaks.
Disadvantages
• You do not have the sensory experiences you get with a wood-burning fireplace. Although technology has improved the look of gas flames and gas logs, it is still not the same to many who value the entire atmosphere given by a wood-burning fire.
•The costs of natural gas and propane can fluctuate from week to week. While natural gas and propane are not expensive fuel sources, it can be hard to budget your winter heating costs because the price of gas goes up and down, which makes it hard to predict.
If you would like more information about wood-burning and gas heating appliances, contact Chim Cheree Chimney Specialists today. Our staff’s experience with these two fuel types have made us experts on knowing which type will be best for you.