Electric Fireplace vs Gas fireplace
Electric fireplace vs Gas fireplace… Which is better and why?
Who doesn’t love a wood-burning ambiance inside their homes? Especially during winters, most of the people want to have a method of keeping their homes and environment warm.
This can be achieved when you have fireplaces installed in your homes. The smell of burning wood and heat creates an environment where you can most relax at any time of the day. Fireplaces are considered in-demand especially those who are in the cold places.
However, not everyone wants the costly purchase of cut chunks of wood as fuel to be used in the traditional burning fireplace.
That is why many homeowners who want to experience the comfort and woody environment of their homes switch to purchasing gas fireplaces or electric fireplaces.
With the help of technology, fireplaces have emerged from a traditional burning to a portable one. Aside from the heat it gives, some fireplaces are being used as decorative items that make home more sophisticated and elegant.
These types of fireplaces can be maintained easily compared to the typical wood fireplaces which are expensive and takes so money to have.
If you want to have either an electric fireplace or gas fireplace, it is important first to look into the benefits of both types of fireplaces so you can be familiarized with each unit and make a good decision on which is suited best for your home.
Electric Fireplaces
Electric fireplaces are the most popular ones preferred by homeowners with small areas such as apartments or condominiums, which do not have a bigger space for woodchucks and wood-burning stove.
Electric fireplaces are easy to set up and can be installed and mounted anytime, even in a small room. Here are some of the benefits of an electric fireplace:
- It gives comforting ambiance at your homes.
- It has low up-front costs and less maintenance needed.
- You do not have to install a chimney or gas line for it to work.
- It has an adjustable thermostat that can be manually change depending on your warmth needs.
- It has an excellent heat-conducting fan.
- It is portable.
- It can be easily installed or plugged in.
- It has hidden controls that provides a realistic look of a natural fireplace as possible.
You can also check how much an electric fireplace can raise your electric bill each month if you’re interested.
Gas Fireplaces
Gas fireplaces also have the same benefits with the electric ones but they do have some unique features and advantages that electric fireplaces cannot provide.
Here are some of the benefits you can have if you buy and install a gas fireplace:
- It provides a realistic ambiance and environment.
- It is convenient and can be easily operated.
- It does not require a chimney.
- It does not require too much maintenance, unlike the traditional wood burning fireplace.
- Its fuel source can be extracted from home products already own.
Benefits of Gas or Electric Fireplaces
Low cost
Electric fireplaces are very cheap and some models can be bought for as low as 99$ only compared to the usual wood burning fireplace which would cost you more since you will buy wood, gas, and operate its cleaning and maintenance.
Gas fireplaces are not that cheaper like the electric fireplace since there is installation cost for this type.
However, when you compute the expenses for both of them, the gas fireplace is a much desirable choice when speaking financially and long-term results.
Comfort & Ambiance
Both gas fireplace and electric fireplace provide a natural and realistic look at logs same as of the natural ones like the real wood-burning.
If you like to have a burning fireplace especially on the chilly evening, you can achieve this on both electric and gas fireplaces.
Vent free gas fireplaces use gas-fueled fire that creates real flames while electric fireplaces produce heat without creating flames and only uses electricity and visual flames.
It is important to note, however, that the flames on a gas fireplace look more realistic than in some electric fireplaces.
No Need for Chimney Installation
If you decide to buy an electric fireplace, you don’t have to install a chimney or gas line. Which means, there is lesser cost to be incurred.
A gas fireplace, however, needs to be attached to a gas line, but its installation cost is not too expensive since most of the modern houses today being owned have a pre-installed gas line.
Convenience
One of the most amazing features of both gas and electric fireplaces is being convenient. Homeowners today go home very tired and rush.
And burning wood to a real burning fireplace would make them more stressful and exhausted. But thanks to these gas and electric fireplaces, they do not have to do the manual burning of wood.
Gas and electric fireplace can be immediately operated and can provide you warmth as fast as a push of a button.
In addition, electric fireplaces are plug-in fireplaces and can be easily mounted on walls. It somehow provides a sleek and modern design on homes like condiments, and apartments.
An electric fireplace can be used anytime in any season. It varies from different designs and colors.
Limited Maintenance Required
Homeowners who have a natural wood burning fireplace have to clean chimneys on a regular basis to check that there would be no build-up of dangerous elements and flames.
But with electric and gas fireplace, there is only little maintenance that is required and needed to continue keeping up the heat in your homes.
Conclusion
All types of fireplaces add value to any one’s home whether it is a gas fireplace, electric, or the traditional wood burning type. They are often chosen because of their low cost, high-efficiency and much practicality.
At the end of the day, what’s important is the benefits you can get on whatever type of will prefer.
Before buying any go these, always check the pros and cons of each type to determine what is suitable for you and your home. There are plenty of product reviews on the internet that you might find helpful.
