Save Money with a Gas Fireplace

If you’re trying to decide between a gas and a wood fireplace, then that are a number of factors that you should take into account. These include issues such as energy efficiency, maintenance, and an authentic feeling for your fire—but one of the most important things to consider is the cost. Although the upfront costs of gas fireplaces can be slightly higher than wood ones, they often save you more money in the long run.

Generally speaking, a wood stove can be several hundred dollars less expensive than a gas one, when you only consider the sticker cost. They require less technology to install and are a much more traditional choice. However, it depends on the model that you choose, since costs will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

However, it is also important to take long-term costs into account. Both type of fireplace require fuel, but wood is very different from natural gas. Finding wood can be cheap and easy if you live out in the wilderness, but in populated areas finding fuel can be much more difficult. You’ll have to find some place to buy wood commercially, and the price can vary quite a bit depending on where you shop. On the other hand, natural gas is one of the least expensive ways to heat your home—it’s even cheaper than electricity. Generally running a gas fireplace will not add too much of a burden to your monthly utility bill.

It’s also important to consider the peripheral costs. If you are going to choose a wood fireplace, then you’ll have to find a place to store your wood. This might mean building a shed or other structure, as well as equipment such as axes or saws to cut the wood with. Also, if you feel that time is money, you should take into account how much time you’ll spend getting wood ready for your fire. While some people are willing to make the effort to enjoy a wonderful wood fire, others are not.

Finally, determine how much will be added to the value of your home. In general, gas fireplaces are much more in demand, and can add thousands of dollars to the resale value of your home. While wood fireplaces can also increase your house’s value, they often do not have as large of an impact.

Gas and wood fireplaces each have their own pros and cons when it comes to cost. If you’d like to learn more about a gas fireplace in San Diego, check out this website.

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Why Visiting a Showroom Is the Best Way to Shop for a Fireplace

There are too many options to choose from when shopping for a fireplace. This makes visiting a showroom the best way when you are in the market for one. The features are not the only aspect of the fireplace. The type of fireplace is important as well. The types for fireplaces include:

• Wood
• Gas
• Electric

Location of Fireplace

You also need to determine where the fireplace is going to be located in your home. The room you spend the most time, typically the family room, is the obvious choice but people do select other choices. For instance, you may have always wanted to have one in your bedroom.

Showroomsusually have fireplaces set up in rooms modeled in a similar fashion to the room you are looking to have your fireplaceinstalled.

Efficiency of Unit

More and more people are choosing fireplace units that are ecologically friendly. The traditional model found in most older homes tend to be inefficient and pollutes the environment. There are many towns that do not allow certain types of models to be used because of this reason.

Get a Professional Assessment

As you can see there are a vast number of variables to consider when choosing a fireplace unit. Getting a professional assessment from a showroom expert is the best way to find the right model for you. The expert will answer any questions you have as well as determine which is the model that will match the room and the type of unit you are looking to install. Click here to find a fireplace showroom in San Diego.

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Major Benefits of a Fireplace

A fireplace is a wonderful addition to any room. It offers several benefits including:

• A comfortable environment
• Aesthetically pleasing
• Romantic surrounding
• Warmth during emergencies
• Ability to cook if the stove breaks down
• Heating the house
• Reduce heating bills

Using a Fireplace in Multiple Rooms

People who love fireplaces often find themselves having more than one installed. Although most houses have the standard family room installation, you will also find them in dining rooms, patios and bedrooms. They do this for all kinds of reasons but the main reason is to reduce the cost of their heating bills.

Modern Efficient Models

More money can be saved when fireplaces burn fuel efficiently. They require less fuel and are more ecologically friendly in most cases. Newer fireplaces will often be more efficient than models that are installed in older homes. But even among newer models some will be more efficient than others. It’s important to do some research to make sure you are getting the most efficient model possible.

Speak to a Qualified Representative

The right model for you will depend on what you are going to use the fireplace for as well as your budget. That’s why it is important to speak to a qualified representative who can guide you to the selections that align with your criteria. Click here for more information on a gas or electric fireplace in La Mesa.

Fire Up Your Living Room

Relax in a sleek space that combines the warmth of a rustic fire with the charm of a modern living room. Bring your fires out from the wall and into the center of your living space.

3 Precautions to be Taken Before a Fireplace Chimney Installation

1. Installation Cost

In choosing what type of fireplace and chimney you want for your home, keep your budget in mind and make realistic choices. A wood burning fireplace will require a professional mason. Such a project will cost nearly $10,000. If your budget is a little tighter, you may want to opt for a gas-burning or electric fireplace. These systems mimic the look and sound of a real fire, but are much more cost effective. These projects run from $400 to $2,500.

2. Ongoing Cost

When installing a fireplace and chimney, do not forget the continual cost of upkeep. You will need to have your chimney inspected and cleaned once a year. If you have a gas-burning fireplace, you will also need to pay for a gas line or propane tank to fuel your fire.

3. Safety

Of course, your primary responsibility as the owner of a fireplace is to be safe. You must educate yourself on how to properly use your fireplace in order to protect your home and the people inside it. In the installation process, make sure you connect a thermometer to the flue to check the temperature of the chimney. A fire that has gotten too big and too hot can create chimney fires from built up soot and creosote deposits in the flue. Never burn anything other than dried wood or gas logs in your fireplace, since foreign materials can produce dangerous fumes.

Gaining knowledge about the precautions to be taken before a fireplace chimney installation can keep you and your home warm and safe all year long. Visit this website to learn more about fireplaces, chimneys and pellet inserts in La Mesa.

Exposed Brick Fireplaces

Sit back in an old-fashioned rocking chair and enjoy an evening beside a rustic fireplace that features gorgeous exposed brick and a polished hardwood mantle.

How to Make a Fireplace More Efficient

Fireplaces can be a lovely feature in any home – and they can also be a great source of heat. Some homeowners do not rely on this feature of their home as often as they would like because they find that theirs does not supply the amount of warmth it should; burning logs without getting to enjoy a good percentage of the potential energy inside can seem wasteful. Issues can be experienced even when gas is the fuel source. While the efficiency of any fireplace greatly depends on how well it was designed, built, and installed, there are a few measures that can be taken in order to ensure reaping the maximum benefit from any unit.

A dust old fireplace covered with cobwebs and soot can not only be unsightly, but the dirt can have a negative impact on its efficiency. Fire needs plenty of oxygen in order to burn at its hottest. Leftover ash, soot, and dust can hinder the fire’s ability to access the required oxygen to burn well, causing any heat to be produced too slowly and fail to produce the desired warmth. It should also be noted that a dirty fireplace can be hazardous to the entire building and all who are there. As a rule of thumb, consider having your fireplace and chimney cleaned thoroughly before every cold season – cleaning should be done more frequently on units that are used more often.

Breakdowns such as cracks and other damage in the surround and chimney can have a negative impact on the efficiency of your fireplace. Especially in older units, you want to have a professional perform routine inspections in order to ensure that all parts of the fireplace are in good condition. Even if any damage found does not pose a safety risk, it can still serve as a main contributor to inefficiency. There are some products on the market of which it is claimed that they can improve the performance of any unit, but many buyers find them ineffective – a problem with the unit’s condition is usually the real fault.

Some older fireplaces are simply inefficient by design; not only do they fail to provide sufficient heat, but they can draw warmth out of the home when not in use. Special attention has been paid in the design of newer models in order to help ensure they provide peak performance. If you have tried every method of making your fireplace function better and found no effective solution, then a complete replacement may prove to be the best approach you can take. Visit this website to find a fireplace showroom in San Diego.