Electric Vs Gas Fireplace

Choosing between adding a gas or electric fireplace inside your home is exciting, yet difficult at the same time. Factors, such as costs, maintenance and appearance need to be considered before making a final purchase. If you are searching for “electric vs gas fireplace,” then this post can serve as your guide throughout the shopping process.

Cost Of Gas And Electric Fireplaces

Gas fireplaces are an enticing and energy-efficient way of heating up a room in your home. Gas fireplaces are installed easier than other alternatives and usually cost less to run, which makes them great retrofit for homeowners who desire a fireplace in a room that doesn’t have one existing.

According to FixR, “The average costs associated with installing a gas fireplace include $600 for the firebox installation, $750 for the vent pipe, $2,750 for the full installation and finishing work, and between $150 and $800 for the gas line, depending on how far it needs to run.”

Overall, a gas fireplace is typically much more expensive than its counterpart. Total gas fireplace costs can run from $2,750-$7,300, while electric models costs between $700-$2,250, on average. Installation costs are nearly identical for the two models.

Fireplace Appearance

It’s nearly impossible to mistake either a gas or electric fireplace for any sort of traditional wood-burning unit, but there is a wide range of designs that both models can come in. If you are looking for the closest look to an authentic fireplace, you can’t beat a gas model. A gas fireplace will actually produce the flame and come as close as possible to replicating a wood-burning fireplace.

Electric versions may not produce flames, but they will certainly generate heat. Electric fireplaces will project imagery of burning logs; and this image can be enhanced to your liking depending on which model you choose. LED lighting or even videos can accompany your electric unit. Wall mounting is another popular option when you choose electric over gas for your home.

Energy-Efficient

Energy efficiency may be the biggest difference one can find between gas and electric versus wood-burning fireplaces. Depending on the size and model, the energy efficiency can vary widely. Most gas fireplaces come in around 70-90% in terms of converting energy to heat. The typical operating cost of a gas model is $60, per year.

Costing only about $25 per year to run, electric fireplaces offer another option for homeowners looking for extra warmth during the cooler seasons. A gas fireplace may warm the entire surrounding area more efficiently, but electric models do convert their entire energy into heat. Whether you are looking for energy efficiency or just trying to warm up the home, either of these units will prove invaluable.

Required Maintenance

We know the typical costs of the unit and the expense of installation, but what about general maintenance? Well, the good news is you will likely save money when opting for a gas fireplace over the traditional offerings. Gas fireplaces require considerably less general maintenance for homeowners. Check valves from time to time, just to make sure they are running properly. Electric fireplaces require no regular maintenance at all.