A fireplace instantly creates a focal point in any room and adds warmth and comfort. The hearth was a gathering place in ancient times, because the fire was the primary means of heating the home. Since modern homes have heating and cooling systems, today fireplaces are used mostly to add ambiance to a room.

There are many different varieties of fireplace and virtually every one of them can be fitted for traditional fuel or gas. Many homeowners are unsure of which type of fireplace to use, because both options have advantages and disadvantages. Homeowners should weigh these carefully before installing a new fireplace.

Parts of a Fireplace

Fireplaces are usually installed into a house when it is built, but in some cases they are added later. Every unit must have a chimney that funnels the smoke up and out of the home. The opening through which smoke passes is called a flue. The flue is designed to keep moisture out of the home while allowing enough ventilation to draw the smoke out.

The hearth and firebox are the parts of the fireplace visible inside of the house. The hearth is the fire retardant (usually stone) area in front of the fire. The firebox is where the fire is contained. There is usually a stand for wood to sit on to allow proper ventilation. Sometimes an ash pit has been installed below the firebox. It is simply a trap that ashes can be swept into for easy removal. A mantel is a surround that further sets off the fireplace aesthetically.

About Traditional Fireplaces

Throughout the fireplace’s history as a source of heat and place to cook food, many materials have been used to make a fire. In the United States, wood was most often used as fuel with few exceptions. However, coal and peat moss were also used around the world to heat homes. Today, modern homeowners have little access to such materials, but there is an abundance of wood one can take from their own property.

This material is ideal to use in the winter because it can be harvested, split, and chopped and be stored in large piles. Wood is not difficult to obtain for free for those who have land with trees they need to fell, but today this is a unique situation. Many independent companies will now deliver piles of wood to a home. Composite logs that are cleaner burning can even be found in supermarkets. One should never burn treated wood in a fireplace. Only use freshly cut seasoned firewood or commercial firewood. The chemicals in treated wood can be emitted into the air.

Burning wood creates a dancing, crackling fire that is hard to replicate. It also fills the room the fragrance of trees. As pleasant as the result is, there are a few things to consider about a wood-burning fireplace. The crackling sound emitted from a wood fire is the result of air and moisture pockets in the wood popping. Sometimes these pockets shoot sparks out into the house. The fire should be burned with a grate in front of it to catch them. Also, once the wood is placed on the fire, the homeowner usually has to wait until the log burns down the quench the fire. Until the fire is burned out, someone needs to be paying attention to the fireplace.

About Gas Fireplaces

Fireplaces can be retrofitted or installed to use a gas fuel instead of wood. Usually, these systems use a natural gas line ran into the fireplace in order to generate a fire, but propane can also be used. Though this is not the case with older gas fireplaces, new ones can emulate the look of a wood fire. Faux logs can even be placed inside the firebox. The smell and sound of the wood is still absent, but other fragrances can be added to some models.

The gas can be shut on and off at any time, and some even have a remote control. One of the biggest disadvantages of a gas fireplace is the cost of natural gas. The line must be run and the fuel cost varies drastically from year to year.

Cleaning a Fireplace

Gas fireplaces have to be cleaned far less than their counterparts because they burn much cleaner. The smoke from wood contains creosote that builds up in the flue. A dirty fireplace can force carbon monoxide and smoke back into the home or even catch fire. Both types of fireplaces should be cleaned as regularly as is recommended.

Making a Choice

Many people find a traditional fireplace to be much more appealing aesthetically, but gas fireplaces are much safer. Only the homeowner can choose what combination of factors is most important to them.

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About Author: Brian Jenkins is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to safety and alternative heat sources such as Wood Pellet Stoves