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Choosing a Fireplace to Heat Your Home
By Tracy
A major concern for homeowners today is the high cost of heating their home during the cold winter months. With costs for propane, electricity, and natural gas on the rise, what can a homeowner do to keep their heating costs within budget? Well, more and more people are turning to a fireplace to lower those costs and to benefit from the ambience a fireplace can create in their home.
There are many considerations to make in the decision regarding what type of fireplace to put in your home. The first choice to be made will be where to place the stove in your home. For optimal benefit the unit should be located in the home where the occupants spend the most time; such as a living room, family room, or den. Interior doors to adjacent rooms should be left open to allow the heat to circulate throughout the home. Once you decide where in your home to place the stove then you will need to decide which type best suits your needs.
Fireplace units themselves have changed a lot over the years. Models range in variety from the classic wood burning type to gas or electric models. I will take a moment to describe each type briefly along with that particular models pros and cons.
Electric fireplace units are very convenient for today's modern man. This no mess no fuss unit plugs into an electrical outlet and can be turned on or off with a simple push of the button. Many of these units have the look and feel of a "real" fireplace, though some consider them glorified space heaters. The biggest drawback to an electric model is its very ease. Electricity can be expensive in some areas and when the power is off due to weather, your heat is as well.
A gas-based fireplace is very similar to an electric unit, but not dependent on electricity. This is very handy if you live in area prone to power outages, but beware not all units are totally free of electricity. Some have blowers and electric starters, which tie the unit to the power. Another drawback is the odor of gas. Some individuals are very sensitive to the smell and no matter how clean running the unit it will bother these people.
The conventional wood-burning stove is not dependent on electricity or gas, but it is nowhere as convenient to use. No more simple pushing a button to warm your home, a fire will need lit whenever you want to warm your home. The plus side to this type is you will always have heat as long as you have wood. Of course this involves carrying wood into your home and taking ashes out. To some this can be a messy undertaking they would rather not have. To others freedom from being "off the grid" makes it all worthwhile.
One of the more popular fireplace units in the market is the pellet stove. These units run on pellets made of wood, corn, or biomass waste. These models are more cost effective in the long run compared to gas or electric, and produce a real flame like conventional wood burning stoves, without the mess. Many of them use electric based blowers and auto feeders so it has some electricity needs. Many changes and innovations are still going on in pellet stoves and the pellet itself to make them a "greener" choice.
Your family will love having a fireplace in the their home no matter which type you decide to install. The heat of a fire on a cold winter day will add a new level of comfort to your home. Your family will all gather for the inviting warmth and cherish their time together in front of the fireplace.
Fireplace-Direct - copyright 2006
About the Author
Fireplace-Direct offers quality fireplaces and accessories at some of the most competitive prices on the net. This website features products by quality manufacturers such as DESA, Empire and American Hearth.
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