Installing a fireplace adds more warmth and coziness to your room. It makes your winter mornings magical and allows you to curl up next to a crackling fire in the evening while reading or spending time with your family. In addition to that, a fireplace can accentuate your home décor and make your room feel more comfortable and welcoming.
A fireplace can also increase your home’s resale value by thousands of dollars. This makes it a valuable and timely investment.
If you have decided to install a fireplace, there are certain things worth considering to ensure you have chosen the right fireplace for your home:
- Type and design of a fireplace
- Installation costs
- Safety
Types of Fireplaces
Fireplaces, fire pits, and kitchens all come in different types and styles. What can help you decide on the fireplace type is how you would like to fuel your fire. You can choose between gas, wood-burning, and electric fireplace.
Gas Fireplaces
Gas fireplaces allow you to start enjoying the cozy atmosphere with just one click of a remote. If you are looking to avoid wood loading and cleaning your fireplace once the fire is out—a gas fireplace is the best choice for you. There are three types of gas fireplaces to choose from:
- Direct vent gas fireplaces
- Vent-free gas fireplaces
- B-vent gas fireplaces
Direct Vent Gas Fireplaces
Direct vent gas fireplaces have sealed glass fronts and a two-wall vent system—the inner and the outer vent wall. The inner vent wall ejects the exhaust, while the outer vent wall draws in the air for the burning. This helps preserve the warm air inside a home and allows for the heat to circulate.
Vent-Free Gas Fireplaces
Vent Free gas fireplaces offer the highest heating efficiency since they are not vented, and all the heat stays inside the home. However, this leads to moisture production, so the size of a vent-free gas fireplace must fit the room.
B-Vent Gas Fireplaces
B-vent gas fireplaces are predominantly chosen for aesthetic reasons. They provide the appeal of a conventional open-front fireplace in combination with modern gas controls. You can use the outside air kit and glass fronts to decrease the amount of air leaving the heated area.
Wood-Burning Fireplaces
Wood fires are efficient and quite easy to maintain given that you use the right type of wood. A wood-burning fireplace is an economical way of heating your home. They come in three different types:
- Traditional open masonry fireplaces
- Fireplace inserts
- Freestanding stoves
Traditional Open Masonry Fireplaces
These are the most common type of wood-burning fireplaces, which are made of bricks, stones, or blocks and built into the home’s structure. They have a large opening and no glass doors or inserts, which means they provide excellent ambiance but are not very efficient in heating the room.
Fireplace Inserts
Fireplace inserts are pre-manufactured units that are designed to be installed inside an existing masonry fireplace. They typically have a glass door that can be closed when the fireplace is in use, which makes them more efficient at heating the room and reducing energy costs.
Freestanding Stoves
These are standalone units that can be placed anywhere in the home and do not require a masonry structure. They come in a variety of styles, from traditional to contemporary, and can be made of cast iron, steel, or other materials. They are typically more efficient at heating the room than traditional open masonry fireplaces and can use a variety of fuels, including wood, pellets, or gas.
Electric Fireplaces
The main advantage of electric fireplaces is that they don’t require any special venting or a chimney. Therefore, they don’t lose any heat. They make it easy to control the level of heat by increasing and decreasing it via fireplace controls. They mainly come in five different types:
- Stove
- Suite
- Insert
- Wall-Mounted
- Basket
Stoves
Electric stove-type fireplaces give out the traditional feel of wood-burning stoves. They are detached, which means you can easily move them from one room to another. Stoves usually have sealed fronts, but more luxurious models have doors you can open.
Suites
Suites are very simple to install as many of them only require unpacking, placement against the wall or into a wall cavity for a slimmer appearance, and plugging in. They consist of an electric firebox and a surround or mantelpiece. If you are looking for a practical and low-maintenance option, a suite is what you need.
Inserts
Another option for a less dominant fireplace is an insert. You can place it into a wall cavity or a space previously used for a traditional fireplace.
Wall-Mounted Fireplaces
Wall-mounted fireplaces are quite practical as they don’t take up too much space. They are easy to install and are just as aesthetically pleasing as traditional fireplaces.
Baskets
If you want that rustic look and feel of a traditional open fireplace along with safety and efficiency, an electric fire basket or a fire grate is a perfect choice. Some electric fire basket fireplaces even come with a reproduction of an ash bed to make them look more authentic.
Fireplace Installation Costs
The price of fireplace installation varies based on the type of fireplace you want to be installed. Some are installed more simply than others, so this may affect your decision in choosing a fireplace.
Gas Fireplaces
Gas fireplaces require the installation of a gas line that will supply the fireplace. A gas insert installation may cost between $1,000–2,000 plus the fireplace cost.
Wood-Burning Fireplaces
Due to the smoke wood-burning fireplaces produce, you will need to have a chimney liner or a flue installed. This may cost up to $30,000. However, the cost ultimately depends on the size of the project.
Electric Fireplaces
Electric fireplaces are the most affordable as they do not use wood or gas, nor do they require complex installation. The cost of an electric fireplace installation may cost up to $230 as no venting is needed. The costs of using an electric fireplace will entirely depend on the cost of electricity in your community.
Fireplace Safety and Maintenance Tips
Although no one can argue the aesthetic appeal of a fireplace, its installation does come with more or less of a risk. If you don’t want to bother with maintenance or worry about safety issues, go for the safest option requiring the least maintenance possible—an electric fireplace.
However, if you want to install a wood-burning or gas fireplace, to maintain safety with a fireplace in your home, keep in mind the following consideration.
Indoor Air Quality
Burning wood releases various chemicals and poisonous by-products you and your family may inhale. If you opt for a wood-burning fireplace, make sure you keep a window cracked open to keep the air clear. Also, you can replace firewood with less harmful wood pellets. The rest will be taken care of by the chimney or a different type of venting system. However, you will have to clean the ash bed after each use.
Outdoor Air Pollution
The smoke coming from your fireplace can influence the quality of the air in your neighborhood. That is why you should make sure that what you burn is legal. You also want to learn about and follow any local restrictions related to the times when it might be illegal to use wood fires.
Regular Inspection
If you are using a wood-burning fireplace, inspect it regularly. Pay special attention to smoke ducts, protective linings, and the chimney. They all need to be clean and in good condition to provide efficient heating and venting.
Children and Pets
Always keep your children and pets away from the fire. It may be useful to use fences or gates around the fireplace in the presence of small children and establish ground rules with them. Never leave children and pets unattended around the fire.
Conclusion
Installing a fireplace adds a touch of elegance and coziness to your home ambiance, as well as supplemental heating. On top of that, a fireplace may also increase your home resale value making it an excellent long-term investment.
However, before installing a fireplace, make sure you choose the one that fits your needs and your home, and whose installation and maintenance you will be able to afford.
