Read this before you buy a new Stove or Fireplace

There are many factors to consider when purchasing a hearth product. Below are the types of products with different factors and requirements that need to be considered when choosing the right unit for you.

 

Wood Stove

• Lowest cost to heat with
• Must have chimney to operate
• Clearances must be met on the hearth and to combustible materials
• Some maintenance is required and someone has to stack and carry the wood!
• Great back up heat, no electricity required

Wood Fireplace Zero Clearance

• Traditional wood fireplaces are decorative, you lose 80% of the heat up the chimney
• New high efficiency units are cleaner burning and heat more like a wood stove
• Requires a chimney and usually involves their own unique pipe
• Some maintenance is required

Gas Stoves & Fireplaces

• Very efficient heaters but are tied to fluctuating gas prices
• Can vent out the wall, thru the roof or in a chimney
• Very low clearances on the floor and to combustibles
• Requires No Maintenance
• Great back up heat, no electricity required

Pellet Stoves & Inserts

• Low cost heating
• Can vent out the wall, thru the roof or in a chimney
• Low clearances on the hearth and to combustibles
• Requires regular maintenance
• Not reliable back up heat - requires electricity to run!
• Most can run off a generator

Inserts Wood & Gas

• Must be installed in up to code wood fireplaces only!
• Usually require a liner system up the chimney to vent
• Heats much better than a fireplace which was losing 80% of the heat
• Clearances are modest to combustible mantels & trim
• Great back up heat, no electricity required

Gas Logs

• Installed into masonry or zero clearance wood fireplaces only!
• Not effective heaters – designed as a decorative product
• No Maintenance