4 Types of Fireplaces and the Pros and Cons of Each

Once you decide to add a fireplace to your home or upgrade an existing fireplace, the plethora of choices might surprise you. Also, the number of decisions you must make regarding fuel options, the amount of light and warmth, and the aesthetics of this new primary feature or focal point all factor into your decision. Therefore, weighing the pros and cons of the different fireplaces before installing a new one is essential to the project’s success.

Fireplaces are the heart of the home and tend to be one of the key places people gather, so making sure yours is a welcoming spot is important. You also want it to ensure it’s safe and hazard-free, of course.

Wood-Burning Fireplaces

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These are the most traditional types of fireplaces and have remained popular for a good reason. There is nothing like the crackle of a wood-burning fireplace, but this type of fireplace requires more upkeep than other options. 

Some types of wood-burning fireplaces are:

• Open hearth: A classic, open fireplace. These use air from the room and although aesthetic, can pollute and are not very efficient. 

• Closed hearth: These fireplaces are focused solely on heating and can heat up to 10 times more than an open hearth while consuming less wood. A closed structure prevents heat escape. 

• Fireplace inserts: These are placed inside the fireplace to improve efficiency and safety. They can also increase heat efficiency. 

• Prefabricated: Similar to open hearth fireplaces but built offsite. These can usually be converted to gas. 

Pros of a Wood-Burning Fireplace

The appearance, scent, and sound of a wood-burning fireplace are a classic combination. When you’re dreaming of fireplaces, you probably think of everyone gathered around the hearth in the winter while wood crackles and smoke rises from the chimney outside—there’s a definite “Hygge” or comfort and conviviality aspect to the draw of a wood-burning fireplace. Wood-burning fireplaces have several benefits to consider.

• Many consider wood-burning fireplaces the most pleasing to look at. 

• The smell and sound of real burning wood is calming. 

• If you own timbered land, you have a source of free heat. 

• Often, fireplaces increase a home’s value. 

Cons of a Wood-Burning Fireplace

Wood-burning fireplaces require chimneys and the associated upkeep and the constant supply of fresh firewood and wood storage. The open design allows warmth to escape the chimney; the heat a wood-burning fireplace provides tends to be minimal without adding elements to the flue to keep the warm air inside (meaning it’s less energy-efficient than other fireplace options). And, if you don’t have one in place already, it can be extremely expensive to retrofit your house with a chimney. 

• Require screens to keep ash and embers from entering the living space. 

• Can be a more dangerous fireplace option.

• Require regular cleaning and maintenance. 

• Not very energy efficient. 

• Can be expensive to install.

How Much Do Wood-Burning Fireplaces Cost?

Wood-burning fireplaces are unsurprisingly expensive. The average cost of purchasing materials and installation will run the average person between $700 and $6,500. This is assuming your house already has a chimney and fireplace foundation. If not, you could be looking at paying upwards of $30,000. 

Gas Fireplaces

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Gas fireplaces burn natural gas and are a popular alternative to wood-burning ones. It is relatively easy to convert wood fireplaces to gas if you already have a gas starter in place by adding gas logs. There are two primary types of gas fireplaces: vented gas fireplaces and ventless or direct vent gas fireplaces. 

Vented gas fireplaces function much like wood-burning or traditional fireplaces with a firebox vented through a chimney. With these fireplaces, you can use faux logs made of ceramic or other materials that mimic the appearance of natural wood or more modern options like glass beads. 

Ventless gas fireplaces have no venting, so they can sit directly against internal walls as long as they remain connected to a gas line. Since gas burns very cleanly and doesn’t produce carbon monoxide, ventless gas fireplaces can combust interior air, keeping all the heat they emit inside the home. Direct vent fireplaces work similarly, but they draw in air from the outside to combust.

Pros of a Gas Fireplace

One of the main reasons people prefer gas fireplaces is their clean, natural heat and relative ease of use; sometimes, you can light gas fireplaces with the touch of a button and have an always-burning pilot light. They are also easy to fuel since gas fireplaces usually connect to the house’s natural gas line, and ventless gas or direct vent fireplaces do not require a chimney or flue.

• More energy-efficient than wood-burning fireplaces. 

• Gas burns without smoke or embers and is therefore much cleaner than wood. 

• You can adjust the flame and heat levels with a single dial. 

• The flames are more realistic than electric fireplaces. 

Cons of a Gas Fireplace

They lack wood fireplaces’ romantic appeal and may make a home overly warm since all the heat from a gas fireplace stays inside. Also, some types of gas fireplaces may produce an unpleasant burning gas odor.

Some other cons to consider include:

• If there is a gas outage or disruption, your fire will go out. 

• The initial cost is higher than some of the other options here. 

• Most gas fireplaces require ventilation systems to vent harmful gases. 

• While rare, gas leaks are exceptionally dangerous. 

How Much Do Gas Fireplaces Cost?

Those looking to build a gas fireplace need to first ask themselves if they are buying one outright, or converting one from an existing wood-burning fireplace. A new gas build will run you between $2,500 and $10,000 depending on type and required installation. Good news if you have an existing wood-burning fireplace, as the average conversion sits right around $3,000. 

Electric Fireplaces

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There’s something to be said for the ease of having a roaring fire at the flick of a switch, and electric fireplaces are an increasingly affordable way to add ambiance to your home. There are a few different types of electric fireplaces which allow for a large range of styling and aesthetics:

• Wall mount electric fireplaces are mounted on or in a wall, much like a TV. 

• Stove-style electrics are portable and usually look like old wood-burning units.

• Basket style mimics the look of the old, crown-shaped wood-burning fireplaces. 

• Inset electric fireplaces look modern and are usually placed into gaps in walls.

• TV-stand electric fireplaces are just that—TV stands.  

Pros of an Electric Fireplace

You can generally install electric fireplaces in condos, apartments, or other dwellings where chimneys and vents are impossible to install. They’re simple to keep clean, easy to incorporate into your place, and a cinch to power since all you have to do is plug your electric fireplace into the wall outlet. 

Electric fireplaces come in a range of styles and price points, so there is sure to be something that fits your style and budget.

• Easy installation due to lack of chimney, vent, or fuel lines. 

• Extremely energy efficient. There is no heat loss through a chimney since there is none.

• Highly adjustable, low maintenance, and safe. 

Cons of an Electric Fireplace

Electric fireplaces are more of an aesthetic choice than a practical one in many regards. 

• They don’t offer the crackle or pleasant aroma of a wood-burning fireplace.

• They don’t produce the same level of heat as gas or wood-burning options. 

• If your power goes out, so does your heat source. This is important if it’s your only source of heat. 

• The flames imitate wood-burning flames but don’t look as aesthetic. 

How Much Do Electric Fireplaces Cost?

Electric fireplaces don’t burn fuel, so they are much less expensive to purchase and install because exhaust is not a concern. The average price of an electric fireplace is around $700. There is an array of electric fireplaces available, with prices falling anywhere from $200 to more than $10,000. 

Ethanol Fireplaces

These modern, clean-burning fireplaces are relatively new on the market but are quickly becoming a modern option for homeowners.

Pros of an Ethanol Fireplace

Ethanol fireplaces don’t require any kind of venting; you can place them almost anywhere in a house. They usually have a bold blue flame and come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, so there is likely an ethanol fireplace that will work with any interior design style. 

Ethanol fireplaces provide less heat than most gas-powered options. Still, they can produce around 13,000 BTUs, which is generally enough to provide a little toastiness to most spaces, particularly if they are fairly small and cozy already.

• There is no need for a chimney or other vent.

• Bioethanol fireplaces allow for more creative designs. 

• They require very little maintenance. 

Cons of an Ethanol Fireplace

Ethanol fireplaces require routine top-offs—and ethanol is highly flammable. So, while these fireplaces are perfectly safe, you must exercise caution when refilling an ethanol fireplace.

• Ethanol fireplaces lack powerful heating. 

• The fuel for bioethanol fireplaces is more expensive than natural gas or wood. 

• There are limited flame control options.

• They are less safe than gas or electric fireplaces. 

How Much Do Ethanol Fireplaces Cost?

Ethanol fireplaces carry an average installation price tag between $700 and $1,400. This is on the lower end of the price spectrum and while looking less expensive than other options, can be costly in the long run as you burn fuel.

Jacqueline Zenn contributed to this piece.