Fireplace Options: Which is Best?

There's more to fireplaces than chopping wood. Actually, there are several different ways to heat a fireplace. In addition to a wood-burning fireplace and gas inserts, you can keep your tootsies warm with a fire fueled by corn pellets or even ethanol. Which is the best option? Let's see.

1. Wood-burning
Pro: There's nothing like the sizzle and pop of a wood fire.
Con: Who needs to be out chopping wood through the winter months? Hello, Java Logs!
Behind the flame:
Wood burning fireplaces have been around since, well, the beginning of history! Fire was used to cook, and later, the fireplace became just a cozy place to snuggle up and read. Nowadays, fireplaces are considered a common luxury. Traditional wood-burning fireplaces rely on real wood or you can get inserts, if you don't feel like stockpiling wood each year. There is quite a bit of upkeep you must perform on your fireplace as well, such as checking the chimney, removing soot or grease and also capping your chimney so that you don't get any uninvited guests coming in for a visit (and I'm not talking about Santa!)!






2. Gas
Pro: You light a fire with the push of a button.
Con: It drives up gas and electric bills, which sort of defeats the point of being green. Plus, these options are expensive.
Behind the flame:
There are three types of gas fireplaces: direct vented, which can be vented through the wall or roof, top vented which needs a chimney or vent, and ventless which expels exhaust into your home (this last one sounds kind of scary and we don't recommend it). Ventless gas fireplaces have been deemed safe because they include an oxygen-depletion sensor that turns gas off before carbon monoxide reaches dangerous levels in the room.


3. Electric
Pro: You could buy one tomorrow and install it anywhere.
Con: Design hasn't really caught up with ease of use. And since you plug them in, they just don't seem real. Where's the crackle and pop of the flame?
Behind the flame:
Electric fireplaces do not produce any flame and don't require venting. Therefore, they can be easily installed anywhere (including apartments and condos), even next to wood. All you have to do is plug them in to get your fireplace going. However, they can run up your electric bill pretty quickly.


4. Pellets
Pro: Corn pellets are very eco-friendly; you can heat the house with heat given off from a corn pellet stove.
Con: $$$
Behind the flame:
This option is an increasingly popular option for fireplaces. The pellets are made of compressed wood and produce virtually no smoke as well as less odor than other wood-burning appliances. Pellets may be hard to locate in some areas, and pellet stoves use internal fans, which require about 100 KWH of electricity each month, so cost might be a consideration. There are pellet stoves that you can purchase that are EPA-certified. For more information see the EPA's website. Corn pellets may also be an option for these types of fireplaces, which is a more eco-friendly option.


5. Ethanol
Pro: With ethanol being talked about as a possible gas of the future, you could be ahead of the curve.
Con: $$$
Behind the flame:
Ethanol is an alcohol made from plants, mostly corn in North America, which is used as a burning fuel. It is also referred to as "ethyl alcohol" or "grain alcohol." It is flammable, but tasteless and colorless. Burning ethanol does not release any new carbon dioxide or other toxic chemicals into the air and there is no need for venting. There are a number of manufacturers that make ethanol-friendly fireplaces, such as EcoSmartFire, Real Flame and Pureflame. Although these are great choices for the environment and your safety, they can be costly.

For more eco-friendly options and a list of EPA-certified appliances, please visit the EPA's Burn Wise website.