| Whether you're looking for a way to heat
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| | Maintenance is minimal compared to all
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| your home, or just want a little romantic
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| | the work associated with wood-burning
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| ambience in the evenings, a fireplace can
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| | fires. Gas fireplaces are even good for
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| be a fun way to achieve both. Which is
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| | area heating-that's where you just heat
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| the best type of fireplace though?
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| | the room or living area where you're
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| Wood-burning? Gas? Electric? Something
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| | spending most of your time instead of
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| else?
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| | turning on the home's central heat and
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| Let's take a look at the pros and cons of
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| | wasting money heating the whole house.
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| the three we've mentioned.
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| | Gas fireplaces can also work when the
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| Wood-burning Fireplaces
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| | power goes out, so they are a nice backup
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| Wood-burning fireplaces come with many
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| | way to heat the home during a storm or
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| homes, and you may already have one. The
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| | other emergency that leaves you without
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| downside to wood fireplaces is that you
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| | electricity.
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| have to buy or cut your own wood, store
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| | Anyone who wants the warmth and ambience
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| it somewhere dry so it can season, lug it
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| | of flickering flames without the hassle
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| in the house whenever you want to build a
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| | of buying wood and cleaning ashes should
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| fire, and worry about stray sparks and
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| | consider a gas fireplace. Prices usually
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| other fire safety issues (such as not
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| | run about $2,000 for unit and
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| being able to leave the house while there
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| | installation, though you can find some
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| are still embers glowing).
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| | deals and get them cheaper from time to
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| For all these reasons, many people who
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| | time.
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| have traditional wood fireplaces don't
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| | Electric Fireplaces
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| use them that often. In addition, a wood
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| | Lastly, let's look at electric
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| fireplace isn't a very good way to heat a
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| | fireplaces. They are a cheaper
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| home. Much of the heat goes up the
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| | alternative to buying a gas insert or
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| chimney, and drafts will come down even
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| | self-contained gas fireplace, and they
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| when the fireplace is not in use.
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| | are much cheaper than having a whole
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| Fireplaces that burn wood are also messy,
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| | chimney and wood-burning fireplace
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| and you'll have to vacuum ashes often.
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| | installed. You do make quite a few
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| On the plus side, a crackling wood fire
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| | sacrifices for that lower cost though.
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| can be fun, especially in power outages.
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| | Electric fireplaces are known for looking
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| It's also nice to snuggle up to when you
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| | even "faker" than gas fires. There
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| want a romantic evening at home with your
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| | aren't any actual flames, just
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| significant other.
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| | digitalized versions that mimic fires.
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| So, who should consider a wood fireplace?
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| | Since electric fireplaces run on
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| If you don't plan on building fires very
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| | electricity, they won't work during a
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| often and aren't worried about heating
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| | power outage. They do put out some heat,
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| the house effectively, you can stick with
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| | but it is not the most efficient.
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| a wood-burning fireplace. Also, if
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| | They're about on par with space heaters.
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| you're in love with "real" fires-you
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| | Indeed many people have called them
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| know, the snap, crackle, and pop of
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| | glorified room heaters.
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| actual wood going up in smoke-then a
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| | On the plus side, electric fireplaces
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| substitute fuel just won't work.
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| | don't require any sort of installation.
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| Gas Fireplaces
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| | They just come with a plug that you stick
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| Gas fireplaces (which include gas
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| | in an outlet, and voila: your fireplace
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| inserts, gas log sets, and self-contained
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| | is working. They can be a nice choice
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| vent-free units that don't require
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| | for people in condos or apartments, where
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| chimneys) are growing in popularity.
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| | you can't make drastic changes to the
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| Though they lack the reality of a true
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| | walls (such as building a fireplace in
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| fire (sorry, no snap, crackle, and pop
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| | your living room). Also, their easy
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| here), they can put out a pretty
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| | portability means you can move them from
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| convincing flame. Their convenience also
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| | room to room.
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| makes them a winner for many.
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| | As you can see, gas, electric, and
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| With gas fireplaces, all you have to do
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| | wood-burning fireplaces all have their
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| is flick a switch to turn them on. Upper
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| | advantages and disadvantages. Hopefully
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| end models even come with remote controls
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| | this article has helped you decide which
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| so you don't have to get off the couch.
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| | is best for you.
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