A fireplace in your house may be just what you need to create that romantic and cosy feature you've been looking for. After all, who doesn't love to put on some comfy PJs and cuddle on the sofa or have a good glass of wine while looking at the burning flame and listening to the crackling sound of fire? It's the ideal setting for winter!

But before purchasing a fireplace, you should know which one matches your requirements. Will you go for a gas fireplace or a wood-burning fireplace? Have a read here to know the main differences between the two types of fireplaces, and also some pros and cons!

Cost

Wood-burning fireplaces and gas fireplaces differ in price. If you're choosing to have a traditional fireplace with all its primary features, a wood-burning fireplace is the right choice. But, it needs to have all the necessary material and foundations in place such as a chimney and logs for the fire. This means obviously more costs and also maintenance. On the other hand, a gas fireplace will cost you way less because all you need to do is prepare where you want it placed together with the necessary piping, and with a switch of a button you'll have a flame.

Efficiency

When it comes to efficiency, a gas fireplace will always win the battle against a wood-burning fireplace. Why? Because a gas fireplace will provide you with a much cleaner flame, leading to less polluting emissions. To give you a clearer idea, a gas fireplace produces up to 99% fewer emissions. Whereas a gas fireplace is very effective in heating the space in your house, a wood-burning fireplace won't provide you with such heat efficiency. Even though its flame is a natural one, most of its heat gets lost. 

The Flame

A visible difference between the two types of fireplaces is certainly the flame. If you love detail, only a wood-burning fireplace can give you a pure and real flame of fire burning naturally and making that unique crackling sound. It emits a much warmer feeling and provides you a truly relaxing experience just by looking at the open flame. With a gas fireplace, you can never really mimic what a wood-burning fireplace creates. Its flame is constantly the same trapped in a glass box which gets hot by time, can be adjusted in temperature and lacks all the natural flame elements of a wood-burning fireplace. 

Ambience

The ambience comes automatically next on the list of differences between a gas fireplace and a wood-burning one. Ironically, a gas fireplace creates a colder setting because its purpose is more related to aesthetics rather than heating. It comes in many various decorative styles to blend in with your home interior, but there's nothing more than this. A wood-burning fireplace appearance is more elegant, homey and warmer. With an added storage for the logs on its side, the ambience created becomes even more special and real.

It is really up to you to decide which fireplace to have installed in your house. Despite the differences and some obvious pros and cons both types provide, it's always important to seek professional advice.  

Get in touch with the experts at Hilite Hardware Store here to get further information about fireplaces.