Nothing is more comforting than the heat and crackling of a fireplace when the cold sets in. Although wood fireplaces are fun to enjoy at home, they still come with their share of drawbacks such as transporting the cords of wood, cutting the wood, scraps, soot, ashes, etc. Several other options are available as well: gas, pellet, electric and ethanol fireplaces. Each has its upsides and downsides; which to choose?
Pellet fireplace
Pellet fireplaces are powered by pellets from wood residue, hence the name. Use the desired amount for an autonomy up to 45 hours. They can be controlled remotely with a thermostat or an electronic ignition, which allows you to adjust the amount of heat produced.
Pellet fireplaces have the advantage that their fuel is sold in bags, which uses less space and produces less residue than wood does. On the other hand, they require regular maintenance and cannot be used during power outages as they run on electricity only.
Ethanol fireplace
Ethanol fireplaces are the most recent of the 4 types proposed. They work like fondue burners. Simply fill the fuel tank and turn it on with a flame. They can burn up to 6 hours. They don’t produce smoke or toxic substances, only water vapor and a small amount of CO2.
Their upsides are that they can be placed anywhere, you can turn them off at any time and they don’t give off smoke or toxic fumes. Their downside is that they produce less heat than other fireplaces, although they are more powerful than electric fireplaces. Moreover, not all ethanol fireplaces are covered by insurance companies.
Propane fireplace
Gas or propane fireplaces are easy to use. Open the valve of the gas tank and turn on the fireplace with a light or using an electronic ignition. They produce an effect very similar to that of classic wood fireplaces.
One upside of gas fireplaces is that they can be controlled using a thermostat or a remote. They can be set to reach or keep a specific temperature and can be turned off by cutting the power. Their downsides are that they require maintenance and the price of gas is higher than that of wood.
Electric fireplace
As for the benefits of purchasing an electric fireplace, they don’t require any maintenance, are easy to install, can be moved anywhere you like and are cheaper than other fireplaces. On the other hand, they run on electricity only and give off less heat than their competitors.
Although electric fireplaces can actually recreate the image of a flame with lights and mirrors, they still work with electricity only. Their temperature can be controlled easily and they require no special maintenance.
In conclusion, any reason is a good reason for enjoying the comforting warmth of a fireplace. All you need to do is find the one that best suits your needs, and enjoy it with a heavy blanket and a hot beverage. There is nothing better to get you through the cold season!