Resources

Fuel Types

For Fireplaces and Stoves

There are many considerations when purchasing a fireplace or woodstove. You may be most concerned with the look of your woodstove or the ambience provided by a fireplace. You may be more concerned with the self-sufficiency that is provided by a particular fuel for your stove or fireplace and whether or not you can continue to heat your home with the fuel stored on hand or in the event of an electrical outage. All of these things will play a role in your purchase, but here is a simplified listing of many of the relevant advantages and disadvantages of each fuel and fireplace or stove type.

Wood Stove or Wood Burning Fireplace

PROS

  • Aesthetics of a real fire
  • Exercise of chopping wood and physically building a fire
  • Firewood is readily available in many areas
  • Can be used as supplemental heat source
  • Self-sufficiency in a disaster scenario
  • One of the most economical fuels
  • Renewable, environmentally friendly fuel

CONS

  • Cleaning the fireplace; emptying and hauling ashes
  • Requires a chimney/flue for ventilation
  • Inexpert use may cause odors and smoke
  • Fire is less autonomous than other options
  • No "on/off" switch
  • Less uniform heat output than other options
  • Wood storage can take significant space
  • Bad install can result in dirty, ashen smoke emitted from chimney

Gas Stove or Gas Fireplace

PROS

  • Cleaner burning than a wood stove or wood fireplace
  • Easier to start a fire than a wood stove or wood fireplace - simply flip a switch
  • Flexible installation options
  • More uniform heat output
  • More easily controlled flame height
  • Can be used as a supplemental heat source
  • Reduced requirement for human interaction with fire

CONS

  • Doesn't have the same ambience (smell, sound) of wood stove or fireplace
  • Reduced requirement for human interaction with fire
  • May be unusable in long power outage
  • Fossil fuels may not be environmentally friendly

Pellet / Corn Stove or Fireplace Insert

PROS

  • Clean-burning
  • Extended burn times
  • Easy to store
  • Usually the most economical where pellets or corn are available
  • Fuel is renewable, environmentally friendly, domestically grown

CONS

  • Usually more expensive than wood stoves or fireplaces
  • Requires electricity to operate
  • Can require more service and maintenance than gas stoves, wood stoves, gas fireplaces or wood burning fireplaces
  • Fuel supply may not always be available

Electric Stove or Fireplace

PROS

  • Easiest fireplace to install - just plug it in
  • Portable
  • Very convenient
  • Can be used in any room of the home
  • Ideal for apartments, condominiums, hotels, etc

CONS

  • Low ambience and aesthetics; not realistic looking
  • Low heat output
  • Very expensive heat
  • Dependent on electrical grid