Dream Book Design

Electric VS Gas Fireplace

We are in a debate over here about going with an electric fireplace vs. a gas fireplace. To be 100% honest, either way I am excited. One of the things I so desperately wanted in our new home was a real wood burning fireplace, since you can no longer have those installed. When I realized that dream wasn’t going to happen, I just desperately wanted some type of fireplace. My friend told me to check out the fireplaces on modernethanolfireplaces.com and they look amazing!!

With the front room of our house being a big space, but kind of awkward, we knew that would be where one would go. We think this room is going to be more of a ‘formal’ living room, but being real, I don’t want any room in our house to be too formal. We have a vision for this room to have a beautiful fireplace, built in bookshelves, and a plush leather chesterfield. A room that the Christmas tree will go in, and books will be read by the fire. A room that is cozy and warm, while still being styled beautifully. Of course, we will be taking precautions to ensure that nothing in the room is close enough to the fireplace to cause a fire. We’ve heard that it can happen with furnaces that are not properly maintained. Annual maintenance and timely furnace repair could possibly help prevent this from happening. We hope that does not happen with fireplaces. In spite of the fact that these things rarely occur, they have nonetheless taken place in some instances. We’re looking into getting a fire extinguisher too from a trusted supplier. This should keep us safe, just in case.

Here is a sketch J drew to help put our vision on paper of the built ins and fireplace:

We even found a beautiful antique mantle that we are debating on getting off of Craigslist that would just add so much to the room. Here is our debate though, do we go with having a real gas fireplace installed so we can really have a fireplace, or do we stick with an electric one like in our old house.

There are definite pros and cons to both.

Electric:

  • Pros: Way cheaper, you can have the ‘fire look’ on without having the heating system turned on, no worry of danger with babies around
  • Cons: Not actually real, you lose some of the ‘feel’ of a fireplace
Gas:
  • Pros: A real fireplace!, gives you that warm and cozy feeling, what I always wanted
  • Cons: More expensive, heats up the room a lot {which can be nice, but also in AZ you don’t need the rooms to get too warm!}
What would you do? Do you think its worth it to make the investment of putting the gas one in because we will always love it? Or do you see the value we see of being able to have the look of the fireplace being on without having to get the room way too warm?

Comments

  1. Georgia and Jordan says

    Electric – I live in West Texas where it is warm as well. We only use our fireplace around 5 times a year if that when it gets below freezing. I would say that it is not worth the investment.

  2. Anonymous says

    Love the gas heat! It’s beautiful and takes the chill off, so maybe you wouldn’t have to run your heat at all…real over fake anytime:)

  4. amandajadkison says

    I vote electric, especially given the fact that you live in AZ. If you lived in a much cooler climate, I think the real one *might* be worth the investment… maybe. Also, I think many people who come into your house will enjoy the “look” of either fire place because of the beautiful mantle you’re going to put around it. So because of that, I would just enjoy real fireplaces at lodges and other places that are not your own, and save yourself the more significant expense and requirement to clean a real fireplace by installing the electric one. Either way you go though, I’m sure y’all will make it gorgeous!

  5. Anonymous says

    Gas seems like a no brainer in the new house. Electric works much more in a starter home, but I think you need to go with the real deal in a keeper home. To me that question is like putting in linoleum v marble tile, laminate v granite. One is significantly cheaper, but it just begs to be the real deal, at a cost savings that will be fairly obvious. Whatever you choose, you have such good taste, I’m sure you will make it work either way!

  6. mudrick says

    I vote for real flames. Have you considered an ethanol insert? Real flames without the expense of gas. It’s either a gel fuel or liquid.

  7. Sarah says

    Gas – I need a real fireplace for the warmth. I used to take naps in front of our gas fireplace, on the hard wood floor after long, rainy and cold days at school & after basketball practice. Still love a warm fire on a cold, winter, rainy day. My parents live in Tucson and have a gas fireplace and I have needed it when visiting in the winter.

  8. Melan @ Wildbirddirect says

    Great analysis, though the gas fireplace gives a real fireplace feeling according to the current economic situation it is not affordable. So electric fireplace is more preferable.

  12. Karen says

    We sell both gas and electric fireplaces. In AZ the electric would get more use because you can turn on the “flame only” setting without the heat and enjoy the ambiance of a fire any time of year. The trick to making electric fires look the most realistic is to put a real fireplace screen in front of them. The screen removes the glare from the glass.

    • chris rehkopf says

      I think way to many are downplaying the efficiency and heat output of the newer electric fireplaces. Remember whole homes ,even in cold climates , are heated by electric heat, some efficient some not just the same as gas. another benefit is electricity does not vary or fluctuate like the price of gas. gas also produces mass amounts of moisture and humidity.
      new electric fireplaces have realistic looking flames and produce good heat. just because you have a “flame” does not mean you have lots of heat. look at all the moisture 90 plus gas furnaces put out.