A Helpful Guide to Purchasing the Right Fireplace
A fireplace brings warmth, ambiance and a general sense of comfort to the home. Just what kind of fireplace is best for your home is dependent upon many factors. A variety of EPA-certified wood burning fireplaces, clean and efficient gas models and simple electric models make the selection wide and the shopping fun. All fireplaces add character, but some also add value to your home. Choose carefully and consider all needs and style preferences before buying and you will end with a purchase that will bring joy to your home for years to come.
An Intro to the Modern Fireplace
Most fireplaces purchased by consumers are designed and built by manufacturers long before the consumer sees them as opposed to being built on site with brick and mortar. Although they might not have that same authentic charm, pre-built fireplaces come in a wide selection and can be easily upgraded. Pre-built fireplaces must be professionally installed and conform to all safety requirements. Factory-built fireplaces usually consist of a firebox within a steel cabinet. Quality units are customizable, featuring mantels or surrounds, glass doors and a variety of finishes.
Your key decision will be whether to buy a wood burning, gas, or electric fireplace. You'll also need to choose the size and style that best suit your needs. Consider the following information to guide you.
Fireplace Fuel Options
While a wood burning fireplace is unmatched in its traditional beauty and ability to provide the most realistic crackling flame, old style open wood burning fireplaces are pollutants and are banned in some areas as a result. Buying a new fireplace will be less of an environmental battle and more of a testament to your knowledge if you choose a technologically advanced, EPA certified style wood burning option. This will still provide ambiance but add heating efficiency and environmental responsibility.
Installation
Building and safety permits are required for any fireplace construction, so professional installation is highly recommended. For a wood burning fireplace to function safely and efficiently, proper installation is absolutely imperative.
Maintenance
Wood burning fireplaces are significantly more labor intensive than other options. Consider the cost and labor involved in purchasing, splitting and stacking wood. Stocking the fire and clearing ashes are essential maintenance tasks. Harder woods will usually burn longer and help prevent creosote build-up in your flue. Other maintenance requirements include yearly inspection and cleaning by a certified professional.
Gas fireplaces are popular options because they light with the flip of a switch, making them far more convenient and labor-friendly than wood burning units. Many gas fireplaces come equipped with remote controls and wall thermostats and all are by nature clean burning and efficient. Choosing between liquid propane and natural gas is entirely preferential.
Gas fireplaces come with either no venting system or a direct vent. Direct vent fireplaces use zero-clearance technology, so they don't require the presence of a chimney or foundations, as very little space is needed between the unit and combustible materials. Venting is usually though a wall or roof, allowing more placement options and easier installation than wood fireplaces. Direct vents allow combustible gases to leave the home quickly and with little fuss.
Unvented fireplaces are not recommended, because they allow dangerous byproducts and odors to accumulate in the home and are usually not up to state and local regulations. In addition, moisture build-up can cause mold in unvented units.
Installation
A gas fireplace can be installed wherever a gas line is available, in the center of the room or along a wall. HVAC contractors and licensed plumbers are permitted to run gas lines and it is important to have a licensed professional complete installation so that all safety codes are met.
Maintenance
The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA) suggests annual professional inspections of the burner, venting, fan, pilot light and thermostat of a gas stove.
Like a gas fireplace, an electric fireplace will provide ambience and heating with the flip of a switch. It also costs very little to install. Additionally, venting is not required, so an electric fireplace can be installed almost anywhere an electric outlet is available. Many models allow users to turn on the lights without cranking the heat, a great feature for summer use. Other optional features include thermostats, remote controls and adjustable flames.
Installation
No installation is required as long as an outlet is available. This fact makes an electric fireplace a great choice for any room, including a bathroom.
Maintenance
Virtually no maintenance is required for electric models.
Wood burning or gas inserts fit into old fireplaces and use an existing flue, sometimes only after small modifications.
Inserts are generally used to update polluting and inefficient open wood burning fireplaces, transforming them into efficient, environmentally sound heat providers.
Installation
Insert installation depends on style and specifications, but will require less cost than installing an entirely new unit. Professional installation is still recommended, since local and state regulations can apply.
Maintenance
Refer to the wood or gas burning section of this guide for your respective insert type.
Weighting Your Options on Fireplace Designs and Style
Convenience
When it comes to convenience, wood fireplaces fall far behind and electric models. Flipping a switch or pressing a button will crank up your gas or electric heat source with little effort, but a wood-burning fireplace requires dry wood supplies, lighting and stocking.
Decor v. Heat
In older models, it may have been necessary to choose between these two main goals. Today, EPA-certified wood burning fireplaces and other fuel options provide both efficient heat sources and subtle atmospheric enhancements. Choosing a fireplace large or small enough to meet your style and heating needs can be difficult. If they come into conflict, prioritize: choose heat if that's your main objective.
Style and Appearance
Regardless of whether a fireplace is wood or gas burning or electric, style varies greatly. The material and style of the mantel or surround and the glass doors will greatly affect the fireplace's overall appearance and relationship to the room. The mantel and surround may be purchased separately from the unit itself. The unit's interior will also influence its appearance. Consider your aesthetic goals: Are you trying to create a clean, sophisticated look, or a rustic, comfortable feel?
Size and openings
Reputable manufacturers will inform you of the necessary size fireplace to heat your space efficiently and experienced contractors may help you choose the right size, especially if you are replacing an existing unit. High ceilings, number of windows, insulation and total square footage play a large part in heating efficiency. A basic rule is that a larger room requires a larger fireplace for heating.
Fireplaces have varied numbers and locations of openings. Traditionally, they are open only on one side, (the front) but common choices now include two sides (see through), three sides (peninsula),or four sides (oasis).
Quality
A high quality fireplace will be solidly constructed from materials like stone, brick and marble. Overall strength, heavy-duty faces and an EPA certification are important for durability and safety. Flame quality in gas and electric units can be an indication of sound workmanship. Top of the line fireplaces may include ceramic glass doors in brass frames, stainless steel construction or heavy-duty steel grates. Features included for efficiency, like heavy-duty doors and blowing fans, are common in high quality fireplaces.
Blowing Smoke and Burning Cash
Fireplace costs vary greatly based on fuel choice, performance, material quality and size. Similarly, installation costs range from very low (as with electric fireplaces, which negate any installation costs, and inserts, which require simple installation), to high (for gas or wood burning fireplaces).
The costs of operating a fireplace can be difficult to quantify since they are relative to energy costs in your area, the availability of wood and your home's insulation. If wood is readily and cheaply available, wood burning fireplaces can be the least expensive to operate.
The Bottom Line
Purchasing a new fireplace is a large undertaking. First, and most importantly, read our guide on EPA regulations and check your local standards. If you choose to go the traditional route, you'll be sitting happily by an authentic, crackling wood fire. If you choose a more modern electric model, you can turn on the ambience but ditch the heat in the summer. Whatever your final decision might turn out to be, ensure it's the right one by carefully assessing factors like style, size, cost, convenience and of course, safety.