There are many factors to consider when purchasing a hearth product. Below are the types of products with different factors and requirements that need to be considered when choosing the right unit for you.
Wood Stove
- Lowest cost to heat with
- Must have chimney to operate
- Clearances must be met on the hearth and to combustible materials
- Some maintenance is required and someone has to stack and carry the wood!
- Great back up heat, no electricity required
Wood Fireplace Zero Clearance
- Traditional wood fireplaces are decorative, you lose 80% of the heat up the chimney
- New high efficiency units are cleaner burning and heat more like a wood stove
- Requires a chimney and usually involves their own unique pipe
- Some maintenance is required
Gas Stoves & Fireplaces
- Very efficient heaters but are tied to fluctuating gas prices
- Can vent out the wall, thru the roof or in a chimney
- Very low clearances on the floor and to combustibles
- Requires No Maintenance
- Great back up heat, no electricity required
Pellet Stoves & Inserts
- Low cost heating
- Can vent out the wall, thru the roof or in a chimney
- Low clearances on the hearth and to combustibles
- Requires regular maintenance
- Not reliable back up heat – requires electricity to run!
- Most can run off a generator
Inserts Wood & Gas
- Must be installed in up to code wood fireplaces only!
- Usually require a liner system up the chimney to vent
- Heats much better than a fireplace which was losing 80% of the heat
- Clearances are modest to combustible mantels & trim
- Great back up heat, no electricity required
Gas Logs
- Installed into masonry or zero clearance wood fireplaces only!
- Not effective heaters – designed as a decorative product
- No Maintenance
