March 25th, 2021
Gas vs Electric Fireplaces
This is a conversation we have quite often with our customers. There are many benefits to both gas and electric fireplaces but answering some simple questions can help identify which may be best for you and your home.
Is your fireplace purchase based upon the need for extra heat, or is it a design choice? If you are looking for more heat, gas fireplaces tend to perform better than electrics. Even a small gas fireplace will produce as much heat as the most powerful electrics. You can think of an electric fireplace as an extra forced-air space heater in your home contributing to heat for a few hundred square feet. Remember though that with electric you can opt to turn the heat off if you just want to look at the flame. When a gas unit is on, it is always producing heat.
How much do I want to spend? Gas fireplaces tend to carry an overall higher cost as part of a project than electrics. This is because they require more planning, venting components, gas lines and permits, and take more time to install. If an installation must go up through a roof it further adds to the cost. Electric units usually only require a power line and can then be hung on a wall or inserted into an existing fireplace or frame. On average it is safe to budget twice as much for a gas fireplace than electric.
How much room do I have? Electric fireplaces have become quite popular in recent years because they have advanced in their visualize appearance, but also carry the benefit of fitting into tighter spaces. You only need 6-8 inches of wall depth for an average electric fireplace whereas a similar footprint in gas will take 16-20 inches of depth. Some electric models can also be “wall mounted” or hung up with a bracket system which requires no further construction or framing.
Which do I prefer? Often the decision simply comes down to which you like better once all other factors have been considered. Both may fit in your space, work with your budget, and be well suited to your home. There are a variety of great resources like our website to compare models virtually, but we also offer free site visits and showroom consultations to walk you through the options.
<3 Hearthside
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