Gas Fireplaces vs. Wood Burning Fireplaces

Fall is such a beautiful time of year. The leaves are falling, the warmer fall wardrobe has come into effect and and the air is cool and brisk. It’s amazing how quickly the weather has changed from our lovely summer temperatures to our cooler fall breezes. This is the time of year when people begin to think about turning their furnaces on.

However, some people rely primarily on wood burning fireplaces as their primary source of heat. They are making sure they have a sufficient wood supply pile that will last them most, if not all, winter. But do they think about their alternatives? How their lives could be easier with a propane gas fireplace instead? Here are 5 reasons why it is better to have a propane gas fireplace opposed to a wood burning fireplace.

1. Quick and easy to use

In order to turn on a gas fireplace all you need to do is flick a switch. Immediately flames will begin to roar and your room with start to feel significantly warmer. It’s as easy as that! With a wood burning fireplace, however, there is a process to endure before you are able to enjoy the warmth. First you must make sure there is wood cut, if not then you need to cut enough wood, at least for that sitting. Once the wood is cut you have to set it up in the fireplace and begin your fire. Sometimes it takes a while for the fire to begin blazing because the wood is wet, the logs are too large, etc. A gas fireplace is definitely more efficient and will be able to provide you warmth faster and longer.

2. Low maintenance

There is little to no pre-use maintenance on a gas fireplace. They should be inspected regularly and cleaned if needed, but that should take place once every couple years at the most. A wood burning fireplace is high maintenance as the ash and soot needs to be cleaned out after each use, as well as the chimney should be inspected and cleaned if needed in order to prevent any fire hazards due to clogging.

3. Safer to use

There is no open flame in a gas fireplace and there is a glass protection to prevent people from sticking their hands in the fireplace. There is no risk of falling into the gas fireplace like there is with a wood burning fireplace. You also don’t need to be around and monitor a gas fireplace like a wood burning one, which allows you more freedom. This is especially important if you have young children or grandchildren visiting your home.

4. Ventilation is more advanced

 Ventilation is a very important thing to consider when deciding which fireplace is best for you. You want to ensure that the air that you’re breathing is clean and safe. Gas fireplaces can be ventless or have chimney flues that are versatile compared to wood burning fireplace chimney’s. Gas fireplace chimney flues have the ability to ventilate horizontally where regular wood burning ones only ventilate vertically which can cause health problems. Wood burning fires can create soot and ash buildup in the chimney which can potentially block smoke and emissions from escaping through the top of the chimney.

5. No exposure to wood smoke

With that being said, gas fireplaces don’t create smoke and the emissions that come with it. Smoke from any fire is very unhealthy to breath in and could cause harmful health problems. Propane is a clean burning fuel that will ventilate properly through the ventilation system set up in your home. If, by chance, there were a gas leak in your home your carbon monoxide detector will alert you immediately that there is a problem that needs to be checked and resolved. If you hear the detector, or smell a gas leak, immediately turn off your gas and call your provider. Companies, like Budget Propane, will be out to your residence as soon as possible with their 24-hour emergency service to fix any issue that may have occurred.

 For more information about our Automatic Deliver Program or if you have any questions about our other delivery services or products call Budget Propane Ontario at 1 888 405.7777 . We offer affordable propane solutions for home, business, and industrial use and Smart Tank remote-monitoring technology to save you time and money.