Which is safer gas or wood fireplace?

The Verdict: Gas Fireplaces Have Fewer Safety Risks While wood fireplaces, provide a pleasing aroma and other aesthetically pleasing characteristics for your home, they do pose significant safety risks. Gas fireplaces have surpassed their wood counterparts and make the better case for our safety.

Is a wood burning fireplace bad for your lungs?

Wood smoke is not good for any set of lungs, but it can be particularly harmful to those with vulnerable lungs, such as children and older adults. Additionally, those with lung diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer are also more affected by wood smoke.

Is a wood fireplace worth it?

Flexible placement and venting, exceptional heating capabilities and old-fashioned charm are only a few of the benefits a wood-burning stove has to offer. Plus, they’re inexpensive to operate and easy to maintain. Some models even double as stove tops, capable of heating a variety of foods or warming a kettle.

How much does it cost to add a wood-burning fireplace to a house?

The cost to install a gas fireplace is $2,300 to $4,000, a traditional wood-burning fireplace runs $1,900 to $3,300, and an electric fireplace costs $100 to $2,200. Building a masonry fireplace costs $3,500 to $5,600….Fireplace Cost.

Can wood-burning fireplace cause carbon monoxide?

Fireplaces and other fuel-burning appliances are the leading sources for exposure to carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is produced when fuels such as wood, gas, charcoal, kerosene, and oil are burned.

Is having a fireplace bad for you?

Although the image of a log fire is often associated with the holidays, romance and cozy nights inside shielded from plummeting temperatures, experts say wood-burning appliances are a threat to lung and heart health. They emit harmful air pollutants and fine particles that can enter the lungs and bloodstream.

Do you need a chimney for a wood-burning fireplace?

Yes, it is possible to add a wood burning stove or a fireplace without an existing chimney, but you do need to install a chimney in the process. All wood burning fireplaces have to have a way to allow smoke and dangerous gases to exit your home. But you also don’t have to build a large brick or rock fireplace.

Does a fireplace add value to a home?

Aside from the obvious benefits and drawbacks, wood or gas fireplaces add 50\% to 75\% of an increase in home value while an electric fireplace adds minimal value. It also seems that someone who is searching for a home prefers one type to another, often based on age value.

Are wood fires carcinogenic?

Some compounds found in wood smoke–benzo[a]pyrene and formaldehyde–are possible human carcinogens. Fine particulate matter has been associated with decreased pulmonary function in children and with increased chronic lung disease in Nepal, where exposure to very high amounts of wood smoke occurs in residences.

What is the best alternative to a wood burning fireplace?

6 Decorative Alternatives to the Traditional Fireplace Electric Fireplace. Most people who are seeking a fireplace alternative want to be able to replicate the look and the feeling of a real fire. Fake Fire Logs. There are also fake fire logs on the market that you can decide to make use of. LED Fireplace. Decorative Fireplace Mantel. Pellet-Burning Appliances.

What is the best wood to burn in a fireplace?

Oak is considered the best wood to burn in a fireplace, by far. Why? This type of wood produces a slow-burning fire that lasts longer and burns more evenly and hotter.

Are wood burning fireplaces bad for the environment?

Wood smoke is a sign of the incomplete combustion that occurs when wood burns. A number of natural substances in wood that are released by incomplete combustion are toxic to the environment and living creatures.

Can you burn real wood in a gas burning fireplace?

Yes, a gas fireplace is perfectly safe to burn normal wood in. And you don’t have to buy those Duraflame logs, just load in your wood and light the gas for five or so minutes and then turn it off and tend to your nice wood burning fireplace.