Installing a fireplace at home in first-world countries is pretty common, and it plays a huge role in preserving the hotness of the house especially when the Winter season is starting. However, with its usability, is it worth it to give it a shot?
When it comes to having a fireplace at home, there are many things you have to know. It is not just about choosing the right fireplace for your room but also about understanding the features and how it will work for you.
In this article, we’ll lay out some facts you need to know if you ever consider installing a fireplace at home.
It Can Be Expensive
Sure, this stuff is cool, but installing it on the house can hurt our wallets hard. The actual installation of it will cost you a minimum of $20,000 because a factory-built propane or gas unit charges the owner more than $2,000 and do not forget that the materials used are only basic.
You also need to hire skilled tradespeople who can cut a hole in your exterior wall, build a chimney and install a fireplace.
Imagine the money that you will use in building a fireplace is almost the annual salary of ordinary workers today. That’s not all, the maintenance cost of it is pretty high.
Chimneys need to be cleaned regularly because if not, it can be the primary cause of having fire accidents. Usually, the cost of it starts at 100 to 300 bucks which still depends on the experience and how big it is.
Read Also:
You Need a Chimney Cap
Chimney caps are used to seal the opening at the top of your chimney. A cap is a metal covering that fits over the top of your chimney and seals it against the elements.
It’s important to have one when you have a fireplace because it protects your home from fire and smoke damage. There are several different types of chimney caps, but they all serve the same purpose: keeping out debris and debris-causing insects.
A Chimney cap can be made from a variety of materials, including steel, aluminum, or stainless steel.
They’re usually made in one piece and held in place with screws or bolts. You can buy them ready-made or make them yourself by purchasing an already-made mold from an online supplier like Amazon or eBay.
The Debate Over Energy Efficiency
With these shocking numbers, a well-placed fireplace can replace your home heating system, forever. Don’t forget that this stuff already exists since the 12th century, and it is still widely consumed by a lot of people. So, to answer the question,
Yes, it is energy efficient. It also cuts the heating load of residential homes by 25 percent. An education director named Ashley Eldridge also said that burning wood has zero carbon footprint, which makes it eco-friendly.
It’s A Romantic Space at Home
Remember movies like Harry Potter and Titanic? They have a scene that is in the middle of a fireplace.
A lot of people like having some sweet and small talk near it because the night is always cold, and that is why engaging in a conversation near a furnace is a better thing to do. Some people make it as a drinking ground, where they toast wine with their loved ones while having a good time.
For better results, it is best to put it near modern nightstand lamps to boost up the lighting of your home.
Maintenance is Essential
Aside from the regular cleanup of chimneys, the owner must also buy wood for the fireplace to burn. A cord of wood will cost you $225 that can last for two weeks which still depends on the climate and how much heat it produces.
It is also exhausting because you need to check the fireplace from time to time if there is still wood because if not, it can lead to some serious accidents that can
If you use an electric fireplace that creates fake fire, you will not have a problem with buying wood, but your bills might go high. Thus, it also defeats the main reason why it is invented.
Keeping Your Home Safe When You Have a Fireplace
With the winter season just around the corner, you might be thinking about how to get the most out of your fireplace. If you don’t have one or if it is time for a replacement, then here are some things that you need to know before you make a purchase.
The fireplace installation is not an easy task, especially when you want to make sure that it looks good and doesn’t cause any damage to your home.
There are many options available in terms of fireplaces, so it is important that you choose one that suits your needs. Here are some things that you have to know before installing any kind of fireplace:
- Make sure that the fireplace is equipped with all the necessary safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide detectors, and smoke detectors.
- Ensure that the fireplace has been inspected by an expert who knows how to maintain it properly so that it does not catch fire or cause any damage to your home.
- Check whether the chimney of your fireplace can handle large logs or logs with heavy moisture content because this could lead to fire accidents in your home if such accidents occur at night when everyone is asleep in their beds.
- Ensure that there are no cracks or holes in any part of the chimney because these can act as entry points for smoke and eventually lead to fires in your home if they are not attended to immediately after noticing them by professionals who specialize in this kind of work
The last thing that you need to know about having a fireplace is what type of fuel will work best for your needs. You may want to consider using propane gas as it has fewer harmful chemicals than other types such as natural gas or coal gas.
Conclusion
The actual cost of your electric bill is cut down, but the maintenance is quite high, isn’t it contradicting? Well, the good thing is you still conserve energy, helping to save the environment and produce natural heat.
