Understanding Modern Fireplaces: Which Fireplace is The Best for You?

For many of us, the warmth and smell of a traditional fireplace bring us nostalgic memories. The distinct smell of wood burning on a traditional fireplace brought you sweet memories. It reminded you of sweet childhood memories where you camped with your family while BBQ-ing or sat together circling the firepit while singing on a school trip. It shows that traditional fireplaces share a big connection with us.

But as technology advances, more efficient and sustainable fireplaces are invented, shifting buyers’ preferences towards more modern fireplaces that have high efficiency and emit lower pollutants.

1. Types of Modern Fireplaces

Electric fireplaces are mostly portable and safe to use in any home. It generates heat by converting electricity to heat. In contrast to traditional wood-burning fireplaces, electric fireplaces don’t generate fire and smoke. It has innovative technology like LED lights, sounds, and advanced control to mimic a real flame.

Pellet stove uses compressed wood waste as fuel. It has higher efficiency than traditional fireplaces. The fuel comes in an 18 kg or 40-pound bag of compressed wood, which is easier to store than normal wood.  

Gas fireplaces and propane fireplaces use gas as fuel. Gas fireplace uses Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) while propane fireplace uses Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). Both of them produce real fire and heat space well.

Bioethanol fireplace uses biomass fuel, made from renewable materials like sugarcane or corn. It is a green and clean source of heat that produces no toxic substance like gas or propane fireplace. It is effective in supplementing heat but takes longer to heat bigger space.

2. Health Impact of Modern Fireplaces

How does fireplace dust affect your health?

Pellet stoves emit fewer pollutants compared to traditional fireplaces. But it still emits fine specks of dust and particles that can be inhaled easily. It causes health risks in some people who have bronchitis, asthma, or lung disease.

How do fireplace fumes affect your health?

Gas fireplace or propane fireplace emits byproduct when it ignites. They produce fumes that are harmful to health, especially in certain high-risk groups of people like those with respiratory illness backgrounds.

The fumes, in some cases, may harm health like asthma or dizziness. In a serious case of faulty gas fireplace, carbon monoxide poisoning may occur. A high level of carbon monoxide poisoning may even cause people to be unconscious.

You shouldn’t be worried as the chance is slim and can be prevented. If you maintain it properly and have a safety precaution like a carbon monoxide sensor, then you will be safe.

Which one is the healthiest for you?

Bioethanol is one of the best choices for a healthy environment. It produces less fumes than a gas fireplace or propane fireplace. What makes it better is the fumes are not harmful to you.

But if your number one priority is health concern, then an electric fireplace is your friend. Electric fireplace produces no real flame which doesn’t produce any harmful smoke or fumes like gas fireplaces or propane fireplaces.

It uses electricity that turns electricity to heat making it the healthiest choice for you and your family.

3. Modern Fireplaces Safety

Are gas and propane fireplaces safe to use indoors?

Gas fireplace and propane fireplace, combined with the built-in safety system and gas detector sensor, will make them both safe fireplaces for your home. You just need to check the gas line for gas leaks regularly and set up a maintenance schedule to ensure your fireplace is in the best condition.

How safe is a bioethanol fireplace?

An alcohol or bioethanol fireplace is safe as long as you handle it with care and follow the manual. The risk of injury may come when refueling a bioethanol fireplace. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority said “Most accidents happen when topping up fuel because bio-ethanol is extremely flammable.” Make sure that the fireplace is off and let it cool down properly before refueling. Other safety measures you should apply are getting high-quality bioethanol fuel and following the refueling instructions.

How safe is a pellet stove?

Same as other alternatives, a pellet stove is safe to use when you follow the manual and have a proper maintenance schedule in place. Nowadays pellet stove is already equipped with multiple safety measures such as temperature sensors and pressure switches which help keep them safe. You want to do basic maintenance like cleaning the remaining ash and dust to prevent build-up from happening.

Which one is the safest for you?

Electricity fireplace is considered the safest since it doesn’t produce any real flame and fumes. As a rule of thumb, general cleaning like wiping off the dust accumulated on your electric fireplace shouldn’t be neglected. You will need to periodically check the wiring and repair the wringing when you detect defective wiring.

4. Cost to Run Modern Fireplaces

Natural gas fireplace costs comparison

Natural gas is more cost-efficient than propane gas which makes gas fireplaces more cost-efficient in heating a room. When compared to the eco-friendly fuel, natural gas is cheaper than bioethanol fuel. Additionally, Chimney Works analyzed the hourly cost of gas fireplaces and electricity fireplaces. In their analysis, they found that a gas fireplace costs about 3 times cheaper than an electric fireplace. Shows that gas is cheaper than other fuel sources. I find that the pellet stove has a similar operating cost to a natural gas fireplace. But a pellet stove is still cheaper than a natural gas stove.

Is a pellet stove cost-efficient?

If we are talking only about the operating cost, pellet stove has the cheapest operating cost among other alternatives like gas fireplaces, propane fireplaces, and electric fireplaces. But in some cases, natural gas fuel is considered the cheapest fuel for a fireplace. A finding by the expert in CVO Fire indicates that natural gas is cheaper up to 96% compared to other fuel sources like bioethanol, wood, or electricity.

Which one is the cheapest to run?

In my opinion, I would say that pellet stoves and gas fireplaces are both winners in the cost associated with running heat sources. The location where you live will hugely impact the operating cost of your heat source. My advice is if you prioritize the cost as the main priority, then you can narrow it down to a pellet stove or gas fireplace. Get the exact costs by calculating service costs, maintenance costs, and the initial price of setting it up in the first place.

5. Environmental Impact of Modern Fireplaces

Fireplace alternatives mentioned in this post have less impact on the environment and are more eco-friendly compared to traditional wood-burning fireplaces. They are a much better choice in terms of effectiveness and eco-friendliness. You already contribute to a better environment when you choose these alternatives.

Natural gas fireplace, is it sustainable?

The gas fireplace uses natural gas. Natural gas is made from decomposed animals and plants that can be found on earth layers deep underground. The amount of these materials is limited which makes gas fireplaces unsustainable in the long run.

How efficient and eco-friendly is an electric fireplace?

Electric fireplaces are very efficient and eco-friendly to use. There is almost no heat waste as it converts electricity to heat with up to 99% efficiency. It doesn’t burn so there is no smoke. I think it is one of the best fireplaces when it comes to sustainability and eco-friendliness.

Bioethanol, is it the green fuel for the future?

Alcohol or bioethanol fireplace uses bioethanol which is made from organic materials like sugarcane or corn. It produces clean biomass fuel and emits minimal emissions to the environment. Bioethanol fireplace may be the answer for the future of heating. Ekofuel, an expert in sustainable energy, said “By curbing emissions, promoting renewable energy and driving technological advancements, bioethanol can significantly contribute to achieving the ambitious net-zero 2050 objective.”

Propane fireplace vs natural gas fireplace

A propane fireplace is considered a green and sustainable source of heat. It emits low pollutants and produces high heat. Furthermore, it produces higher heat compared to a gas fireplace. A propane fireplace can generate more than two and a half times more heat than a gas fireplace.

Pellet stove vs Traditional Wood-Burning Stove

Pellet stove uses sustainable fuel made of recyclable materials like wood waste. It has high efficiency compared to traditional wood-burning fireplaces. A finding by Island Pellet Stoves indicates that a wood pellet stove can go up to 93% in efficiency compared to 60-70% in traditional wood-burning stove. However, it still emits low levels of pollutants like fine dust or ashes.

Bottom Line – Which Fireplace is The Best for You?

If there is a gas line available in your area, a gas fireplace is a great choice. It is convenient and easy to use. You don’t need to worry about your tank running out like in a propane fireplace. You just need to connect it to the gas line and you can start the fire anytime. If you are a fan of portability and like to do BBQ or outdoor activities, then a propane fireplace may suit you since it comes with a tank and is moveable.

When you have children who like to run around, safety concerns might be your number one priority. An electric fireplace should be a great choice as it doesn’t produce any real flame and emit any smoke. If cost-effectiveness and operating cost is your goal, a pellet stove may suit you. Keep in mind that a pellet stove is not cheap. It requires a higher initial investment to start with.

If you are looking for modern fireplaces, here are five most common fireplaces for you to learn more. Each of them is incorporating modern features with advanced fuels to create lower emissions, higher efficiency, and reduced costs.