Wood vs. Gas Fireplaces: Getting to the Hearth of the Matter

With winter swiftly heading our way, there are few things as comforting as snuggling up in front of a roaring fire. It’s important to find a fireplace that fits your home, whether it’s the traditional or contemporary look. Of course there’s more to choosing a fireplace than just aesthetics. These days fireplaces, no matter what their fuel, come in a range of designs to suit your style.

You have to choose the right fireplace for you, and one of the first choices you make is whether to opt for the classic fireplace that burns wood, or one running on gas. Depending on your needs, there are definite advantages to each. Here’s our run-down of the pros and cons of wood versus gas.

Ease of Use

If you’re looking for an easy-to-maintain fireplace, gas fireplaces are a great option. Unlike wood-burning fireplaces, they’re quick to get going, there’s no smoke or ash to clean up, and you don’t need to spend all night stoking the fire to keep it going. Gas fires, then, are great for a convenient heat source. If you prefer to put the work in though, you may find burning wood is more in keeping with your ideal fireplace.

Cost and Energy Usage

With rising gas prices, you might consider wood as a viable alternative. It’s cheaper by far to buy up bundles of logs than it is adding to your gas bill. On the flip-side, fireplaces burning wood are more likely to send much of that precious heat right up the chimney, instead of into your home. In terms of environmental impact, burning gas emits around 40% less CO2 than wood, and if you haven’t properly dried out the wood, and it’s still moist, it will smoke a whole lot more. Having said that, more efficient wood-burning fireplaces have been developed; although that also means more efficient gas fires are also available.

Style

Just because you want a traditional-looking fireplace, that doesn’t mean you have to choose wood over gas. Likewise, not all of those sleek minimalist fires you’ve seen burn only on gas. Whether you’re looking for a genuine heat source or creating a decorative talking-point to brighten your room, choosing the fireplace that fits your style is a cinch. There’s a whole host of designs, modern and classic, out there waiting for you. Don’t worry either that gas-based flames might create an unnatural appearance in your home. Gas fires offer gorgeous, natural-looking flames indistinguishable from their wood-burning cousins.

Location

Your choice of fireplace may well be determined by your location. If you’re living in a house with a chimney attached, you might not want to waste such a gorgeous feature. If that’s the case, don’t forget to arrange a chimney sweep to thoroughly sweep out your chimney, especially if it hasn’t been in use for some time, and have it certified safe for a new fireplace installation. However, in places without a chimney – or if you don’t want one installed – then gas is the way forward, especially as flueless fireplaces are available.

To the victor, the spoils

So which is better, wood-burning or gas fires? Ultimately it all comes down to personal preference. If your lifestyle won’t accommodate the amount of work required for a wood-burning fireplace, then gas is the option for you. If you’re more traditional in your tastes, a wood fire may suit you better.

Let’s not forget, too, that there are choices outside of wood and gas. Whether you desire electrical, EcoSmart, wood-burning or gas fires in London, here at Real Flame, we understand the romantic character a grand fireplace brings to your home. Contact us today and let us find you your perfect fireplace.