Fuel Choice

The choice between fuels is the first choice you are going to have to make when deciding what type of fireplace you want to put in your home. The choice is sometimes made for you based on other factors such as clearance and venting possibilities. Below you will find some of the pros and con of the different fuels choices.

Pellet:

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

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

*Units to consider are: The Harman P68, Quadra-Fire Castille, or the Eco-Choice PS35

Wood:

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

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

*Unit to consider: Quadra-Fire 7100, Harman Oakleaf, or Eco Choic WS22

Gas Direct Vent:

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

Cons

  • No "direct" access to the flames due to sealed combustion fireplace

*Units to consider: Heat & Glo 6000CLX, Heatilator NovusNXT, Heat & Glo SL-550