Nothing beats sitting in front of a roaring fire or a gas fire pit on a chilly winter evening. Most people will agree that the ambiance created by a real fire is far superior to any electric heater or fireplace. The real question is whether to fuel that fire with wood or natural gas.
When choosing between wood and gas fireplaces, there are several factors to consider.
Most companies that supply fireplaces offer a variety of options not only for fuel type but also in terms of design and appearance. They may offer built-in or freestanding models, whether they are gas or wood-fueled.
Other Factors to Consider
- The intensity of heat the fireplace will produce
- The emissions generated by the fuel
Freestanding Fireplaces
Freestanding fireplaces are typically manufactured as stoves. Popular manufacturers include Pacific Energy, HearthStone, and Jøtul.
Pacific Energy (www.pacificenergy.net) is a Canadian company offering both gas and wood options. Their flagship products include traditional-style, glass-fronted wood stoves made from enameled porcelain fused to steel. They also produce Alderlea cast iron stoves, True North wood stoves (which have a more basic, straightforward design), and Warmland pellet stoves.
HearthStone (www.hearthstonestoves.com) is a North American company providing both gas and wood models. Their freestanding designs range from traditional stoves with shaped feet to clean-lined, contemporary models. They also manufacture pellet-burning stoves made from sawdust, chips, and bark—by-products of the milling process—as well as the modern EuroCollection range.
Jøtul (jotul.com) has been crafting cast iron fireplaces since the mid-19th century. The Norwegian company offers both traditional and contemporary designs. Jøtul products are available in Canada through Northwest Stoves (www.northweststoves.ca), the exclusive distributor for Jøtul, HearthStone, Pacific Energy, RSF Energy, Kingsman, and Scan (a Danish manufacturer) in British Columbia, Alberta, and the Yukon.
RSF Energy (https://www.icc-rsf.com/en/) manufactures open hearth fireplaces that use 21st-century “clean burning technology.” The company also produces innovative venting products, including ICC chimneys, for both gas and wood-burning fireplaces. These chimneys are tight-fitting and easy to assemble.
Built-In Fireplaces
Many companies that produce freestanding stoves also manufacture inserts that can be built into a wall or chimney base. These inserts can be powered by either wood or gas.
Pacific Energy, for example, specializes in wood-burning inserts, while both HearthStone and Jøtul offer fireplaces that use either gas or wood.
If you live in an older home with a blocked-up fireplace, you may even consider unblocking it and installing an energy-efficient insert that burns wood or gas.
One advantage of a built-in fireplace is that it becomes an architectural feature rather than just a heating appliance—especially if you incorporate a mantelpiece.
Maintenance and Fuel Costs
There are other important factors to consider when comparing wood and gas fireplaces.
If maintenance and cleaning are concerns, you may prefer a gas fireplace or stove over one fueled by wood. Gas is undoubtedly cleaner, but it tends to be more expensive than wood.
Another advantage of natural gas is that it doesn’t require storage space, whereas wood can take up a significant amount of room.
Heat Intensity
The heat output of a fireplace, stove, or furnace is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs).
Wood has a higher BTU capacity than gas, making it a good choice for heating. However, gas fireplaces and stoves are often thermostatically controlled, allowing you to adjust the heat intensity. Some gas units even come with remote controls, so you can adjust the temperature without moving.
The Eco Factor
Some fireplaces are more environmentally friendly than others. Factors to consider include how economical and clean-burning the fireplace is, as well as its efficiency rating.
According to the Wood Heat Policy Institute (WHPI), a group funded by North American wood stove manufacturers, “firewood is a renewable energy source like wind, solar, and hydroelectric power.”
As long as you use wood from renewable forests, firewood is considered a green energy resource. When you burn wood, it doesn’t have the same environmental impact as fossil fuels—oil, gas, and coal. Fossil fuels release carbon that was buried millions of years ago, which, when oxidized, forms CO₂ (carbon dioxide), a significant greenhouse gas. Although burning wood also releases carbon, the environmental impact is much less significant because trees absorb CO₂ as they grow. In fact, when trees die and decompose, they release the same amount of carbon they would if burned.
The process of decomposition results in slow oxidation, while combustion in a wood-burning stove results in fast oxidation, with heat as the main by-product.
“Trees can be thought of as big batteries,” says WHPI director John Gulland. “They take energy from the sun and store it in the wood. Burning wood converts that stored energy into heat.”
The Institute’s argument centers on modern wood stoves and fireplaces that are airtight, unlike older models that wasted wood and created excess smoke and pollution. Stoves manufactured by companies like Pacific Energy, for example, generate only about 10% of the smoke pollution and use less than a third of the wood compared to older models.
As HearthStone points out: “Environmental concerns and strict EPA regulations have helped wood stoves really come into their own.”
EPA-certified stoves must burn 72% to 82% more cleanly than older models to earn certification. As a result, the reputation of wood as a “dirty fuel” is no longer valid.
However, not everyone agrees. Recently, a new bylaw was introduced in Hampstead, a suburb of Montreal, Quebec, banning the installation of new wood stoves, fireplace inserts, and any appliances that burn wood or wood pellets. Existing units are safe for now but must be removed by November 3, 2015. The reasoning behind this ban is that wood stoves contribute to environmental pollution and smog. Other local authorities have not yet followed suit, as they believe the ban may be unenforceable or unreasonable. But if you live in Hampstead, you’ll need to opt for gas, regardless of the ongoing debate over wood versus gas fireplaces.
