Gas |
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Pros:
- Cleaner than wood
- Easier than wood - simply flip a switch
- More flexibility in installation
- More control over heat output and flame height
- Can be used to supplement the furnace to heat home, reduce
heating bills
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Cons:
- Doesn't create the same smell and sound as a wood fireplace
- Can't tend to the fire
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Gas Direct Vent |
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Pros:
- Can be installed virtually anywhere in the house
- Air-tight construction eliminates air quality concerns
in home
- Maintains indoor air quality
- Many direct vent products are efficient enough to be listed
as furnaces
- Eliminates the need for a chimney and chase - less expensive
installation
- More flexibility in installation such as under windows
or as a room divider
Instant ambiance with the touch of a button
- More authentic look due to sealed combustion chamber,
allows for flame-out-of-logs
- 100% of combustion air comes from outside the home and
100% of the exhaust is expelled outside the home - direct
vents do not interfere with indoor air quality - doesn't
use already heated room air for combustion air
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Cons:
- No "direct" access to the flames due to sealed
combustion fireplace
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Gas B-Vent / Top Vent |
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Pros:
- Ease and convenience of gas fireplaces
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Cons:
- Potential backdraft of combustion gases depending on home's
indoor air pressure
- Uses already heated room air as combustion air
- Less efficient than direct vent units
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Gas Unvented / Room-Vented |
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Pros:
- Less involved installation
- Potential to be installed in many places, BUT must follow
room sizing requirements (typical unvented fireplace requires
96' x 20' room)
- Very efficient in burning of gas, but uses heated room
air for combustion
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Cons:
- Air quality issues/health concerns.
- Typical sizing guidelines for an average fireplace size
(30,000 BTU's) require a 96' x 20' room size - or 1,920
sq. ft. to safely accommodate unvented products
- Illegal in many states and municipalities
- A typical (unvented) natural gas stove or fireplace releases
a gallon of water vapor every 2 to 3 hours of operation
- potentially causing mildew issues
- May require more service to ensure dust, pet hair, and
other chemicals are not interfering with the unit
- For safety reasons cannot be run for extended periods
of time
- Requires permanent fixed opening to the outside for proper
room ventilation
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Gas Log Sets |
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Pros:
- Instant ambience
- Utilizes existing masonry fireplace
Ideal for warmer climates where extra heat is unnecessary
- Current technology allows better logs and flames than
in past
- Burns clean
- Easy to use
- No ashes to clean
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Cons:
- Less efficient use of fuel vs. fireplace
- Little or no heating capability
- Opportunity for products of combustion to enter home in
negative pressure situation
- Relatively expensive to operate vs. gas fireplace or insert
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Wood |
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Pros:
- Aesthetics of the fire - smell, crackling sound, glow
- The experience of chopping wood and actually building
a fire
- Firewood is more readily available in some areas
- Can be used to supplement the furnace to heat home, reduce
heating bills
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Cons:
- Cleaning the fireplace, hauling ashes, sooting
- Cost of wood is greater than gas in most areas and is
rising
- Requires a chimney, chase, footings, etc.
- May cause odors and particulates in the air
- Requires continuous maintenance to keep fire burning
- Peaks and valleys in heat output
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Pellets |
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Pros:
- Clean burning
- Allows extended burn times
- Can be mixed 50/50 with corn
- Easy to store
- Pellets are readily available, found in most hardware
stores
- Some pellet appliances are self-lighting and run off a
room thermostat
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Cons:
- Pellet appliances are usually more expensive than wood
- Consumers can't get "free" pellets like they
can wood
- Pellet appliances require electricity to operate
- Pellet appliances historically require the most service
and maintenance
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Electric |
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Pros:
- Easiest fireplace product to install - just plug it in
- Portable
- Convenient
- Can be "installed" by anyone, no training required
- Ideal for apartments, condominiums, lobbies, etc.
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Cons:
- Not as realistic looking
- Lower heat output
- Depending on local rates can be expensive to operate
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