Just in case you don't want to read each fireplace style thoroughly although you should , here are the links to the main fireplace options:. A wood fireplace doesn't require electricity and is the most authentic and traditional form for enjoying fire. Much of the air that they warm—as much as 90 percent, in fact—simply hightails it up the chimney via convection along with the combustion gas and smoke. A wood fireplace is often only about 15 percent efficient, which is pretty darn paltry.
There are other potential drawbacks to a wood fire besides the general inefficiency. Sparks leaping out from an open fireplace can injure you or catch fire, for one thing. A wood fireplace is also unquestionably messy, generating large quantities of ash and soot—unburned carbon leftovers from the combustion process—which necessitate regular cleaning of both the firebox and chimney.
Heavy coatings of soot and creosote, a tarry byproduct of incomplete combustion, can hamper airflow in the fireplace and chimney, diminishing draft and making it hard to keep a fire going; in a vicious cycle, this can lead to more draft-constricting deposits, in addition to excess smokiness. Creosote buildup inside the flue can also ignite to cause chimney fires: a major hazard, needless to say. Though, it must be said, some folks enjoy this manual labor. As the old saying goes, a wood fire warms you twice: Before you even get to the burning of it, you warm up prepping and piling the firewood.
Besides burning the right kind of wood in the right condition i. There are small upgrades you can make: using andirons, for example, which provide a raised, airflow-improving platform for burning wood as well as a means for it to eventually fall to the coal- and ash-bed below for more complete combustion. You can also use a tubular grate in the firebox, meant to improve circulation and direct fire-heated air into the room, as well as tight-sealing glass doors to cut down on the loss of warm room air up the flue draft and on cold-air intrusions from the chimney.
Speaking of, making sure your damper is properly sealing—and perhaps rigging another damper to the top of your chimney—is an important basic way to reduce inflows of cold air. You can also place a cast-iron or steel fireback on your hearth or inside the firebox, which captures more of the heat generated by the wood fire by absorbing it and then radiates it into the room. But the most comprehensive way to make your standard masonry fireplace more efficient is to install a fireplace insert.
This is a metal firebox that essentially functions as a modified wood stove within your fireplace, heating air that circulates between the firebox and its shell and then warms the room rather than escaping.
These inserts exhaust gases and smoke via a stainless-steel flue liner mounted within the masonry chimney. Such a fireplace insert can boost the heat output of your masonry fireplace several times over.
For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The addition of a fireplace can ignite the spark in any room.
Certain folks want their fireplaces to keep them warm and cozy, while others like the aesthetic appeal without wanting to break out in a sweat.
The area of your space and your desired heat output will determine the right kind of fireplace for you. In general, wood stove fireplaces produce the most heat, followed by gas fireplaces, and then electric. There are 3 types of fireplaces you can add to your home: Gas , electric , and wood stove fireplaces. Gas fireplaces use natural gas or propane to keep a consistent flame, which burns around artificial logs to create the look and feel of a traditional wood stove fireplace.
This means no chimney cleanings or worrying about whether or not the flue is open. Just turn on your fireplace and relax. Compared to electric and wood stove fireplaces, gas fireplaces are easy to ventilate, require low levels of maintenance, create a higher flame, and produce more heat similar to that of a wood stove fireplace. Gas fireplaces are quite easy to install and only require a hookup to a gas line. We recommend consulting a master plumber or gas line installation specialist who will be able to safely and correctly make that connection for you.
While it is your decision on where to place your electric fireplace, we generally find they make popular additions to media consoles, allowing you to watch your favorite shows or movies with a nice, relaxing fire going directly underneath or next to your screen.
The crackle of flames and smell of wood bring back fond memories, while the radiant heat warms your bones. Gas is abundant in many parts of the country.
It burns cleanly, offers push-button convenience and eliminates the mess and hassle of wood. If you already run gas appliances, just have a pro extend a line to your fireplace.
Or, you can use liquid propane LP gas from a tank outside your home. It improves the percent efficiency of a wood-burning fireplace to as high as 70 percent. Touch a button, start a fire and even set your desired temp. Further relax with accent lighting, a glowing LED ember bed and the ability to tweak the flame up or down from your favorite chair. In a gas fireplace, you get the warmth and comfort of live fire with push-button convenience.
Heirloom model with Ozark mantel shown. Electricity offers you the ultimate ease and convenience. You can enjoy ample heat, great looks and instant ambiance in a fireplace that needs no venting and that you can easily install on your wall. Just plug it into an outlet and flip a switch or touch a button.
An electric fireplace makes any room more comfortable and inviting. An outdoor fireplace anchors your space to use it year-round, extend the season or simply stay out later when temps cool down.
The popularity of outdoor living is soaring — shown by the recent growth of outdoor room building. Courtyard gas fireplace model shown. Traditional — If you had a fireplace growing up, you remember all the memories made around it. You want to give your family that same experience. Get the nostalgia of a traditional oak log fire with dancing flames that wrap around rustic split logs in an authentic masonry look.
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