25 Aug 2020 Gas stove vs. wood burners
When choosing the right fireplace for your home, it is important to consider all factors, from the safety, to the maintenance and appearance. A common question we find among customers of our own is “Do we go with a gas stove or a wood burner?” Let us offer you some assistance and set out the differences for you, allowing you to make your decision confidently.
Ambience
One of the top reasons that people invest in a fireplace for their home is for the authentic feel and ambience. The mood set by a gas stove and wood burner alter slightly, and this can be beneficial for both in different ways. For the more realistic ambience, we would recommend a wood burner, but it is important to select the option which would suit your home and family best.
Gas stove: The ambiance of a gas stove perfectly mirrors that of a wood burner, but with additional safety due to no heat from real flames. The lifelike flickering and glowing of the flames stand with a realistic crackling sound, allowing you to feel as though you are watching a genuine wood burner blaze, even though you will be missing the feeling or warmth and scent of a burning fire.
Wood burner: The overall ambiance of a wood burner injects the wholesome feel of a crackling campfire into your own home. With the genuine crackling sounds, flickering flames and scent, it is easy to feel instantly snug once it has been lit. It would be a good idea to purchase the addition of a fireguard to keep any wandering children or pets from getting too close to the open flames, allowing you to relax in the comfort of your fireplace.
Costs
A key influence in the decision-making process is often the cost. It is important to consider the running costs also, rather than only the purchase price. Much like every other point, the costs involved with running a gas stove and a wood burner vary.
Gas stove: To power your gas stove, you will need to connect to your electricity (after having it installed by a Gas Safe engineer) and switch it on. Although this isn’t an extravagant cost, it still tops the cost of running a wood burner. It is also worth considering that, during cold winter power outages, you may risk losing the heat of your fireplace for a short while so may wish to have some backup heaters at the ready.
Wood burner: To run a wood burner, you will require no electrical connections or power. By simply lighting the logs with a matchstick and letting them burn, the wood will do all of the work needed. Granted, it may take your wood burner longer to heat up than a gas stove, but once maximum heat has been reached, you are more likely to save money on your heating bills due to the warmth of the genuine flames warming up your home.
Maintenance
Having to look after your fireplace may be a job which you had never considered doing. Again, the maintenance between a gas stove and a wood burner differ in some ways but are also similar in others.
Gas stove: To have your gas stove installed, you must use a Gas Safe Registered engineer to ensure that everything is powered and connected safely and correctly. You must also ensure that you have your fireplace serviced annually as any errors with your electrics could cause a catastrophic error within your fireplace and your home. However, as the flames and logs or coal are synthetic, there will be no cleaning needed within your fireplace.
Wood burner: Although wood burners are simpler to install and don’t require connection to your electrics, it will be beneficial also for you to arrange for an annual service to ensure that you are lighting a safe fire each winter. With open flames, you will need to be sure that your fireplace is cleaned regularly of soot and ash and that you are using the correct flames for burning within the walls of your home.
If you would like to find out more about the positives and benefits of any type of fireplace for your home, don’t hesitate to get in contact with us here at Fiveways Fires and Stoves where we will be delighted to offer a helping hand. Call us on 020 8127 4747 or email us at .