Which Type of Fireplace Should You Buy? Gas, Wood, Bioethanol or Electric?

When deciding on a new fireplace, one of the first and biggest decisions you must make is what fuel you want the fireplace to use. There are many choices out there for your fireplace but gas, wood, bioethanol and electric are the main ones. We have broken down each fuel type to help you decide which fuel type you should go for.

Gas Fires

This is the most common fuel for new fireplaces and gives you the convenience of a quick ‘fire on demand’ through either a turning push knob or remote control.

Gas Fire Pros 

There are 2 different options of gas with the simplest being natural or mains gas. If your house is connected to the mains gas system then this would always be the preferable way to fuel the fireplace as the gas is already there. If your property is off the grid, and you still want a gas fireplace you can use LPG or bottled gas. With LPG you need to factor in the storage of the large gas bottles into your fireplace design as they need to be stored outside. Most of our clients hide them in some storage unit. LPG gas and natural gas fires are manufactured slightly different so you to make this decision made early on in the process, especially for custom made or bespoke fireplaces.

With a gas fireplace, the basic requirements needed are a flue/chimney outlet for burnt gases and air supply for combustion. With many of the modern fireplaces, you also need an electrical point as they are all fully electronic. Gas fireplaces can be decorated in a number of different flame bed decorations, including very realistic looking ceramic logs and coals, white marble chippings, black diamond stones or lava stones.

Gas Fires Cons

• Gas fireplaces require a flue/chimney outlet for burnt gases and an air supply for combustion. Many modern models also need an electrical point due to being fully electronic.

• For LPG gas, large gas bottles need to be stored outside, requiring careful consideration in the fireplace design. This includes ensuring the bottles are safely housed in storage units and easily accessible for refilling.

 Open-Fronted vs. Glass-Enclosed Gas Fireplaces

If you have decided on a gas fireplace there are 2 types of gas fireplaces that you need to consider: open-fronted gas fire and a glass-enclosed fireplace. Let us take you through the pros and cons of both:

Open-fronted Gas Fire

Open-fronted Gas Fire Pros

• Visually nicer as there is no glass between you and the flames, more realistic
• Lower heat output – a lot of people don’t need extra heat due to underfloor heating or radiators and only want the fire as a cosy focal point, to add atmosphere and some background heat. You do however get some heat and can adjust the flame height to warm/cool down the room.
• Because the fire is open-fronted, it offers a lot of flexibility in design

Open-fronted Gas Fire Cons

• Technically more demanding than closed fronted fires
• Tend to be more expensive as they are made to order
• Often require the addition of a fan to ensure safe extraction
• Lower efficiency rating than closed fronted designs, though our fireplaces have been developed to significantly increase the fireplace efficiency

 

Glass-enclosed gas fireplace 

(Also known as a balanced flue fireplace)

Glass-enclosed Gas fireplace

• Easy installation
• Very high heat output and high efficiency
• These are standard units so less costly

Glass-enclosed Gas Fireplace Cons

• Glass gets very hot and stays hot after you turn the fire off so safety is an issue
• Heat output sometimes too high for many modern well-insulated properties
• No flexibility in design – units are CE approved and cannot be altered

 

Have you Considered a Wood-Burning Fireplace?

Wood fireplaces have the same basic requirements as a gas fireplace in that it needs a flue/chimney outlet for burnt gases and air supply for combustion, but the main difference is that it is a much less technical fireplace. One thing to be wary of with wood-burning fires is that there are now large areas of major cities that have been declared smokeless zones where you have to use expensive smokeless fuel only. Please check your area before choosing a wood fire.

Pros and Cons of a Wood Burning Fireplace

Wood Burning Fireplace Pros

• Where you can use normal wood, a wood fireplace is cheap to run and you have the flexibility of building the size fire that you require.
• Wood burning fireplaces do give out a lot of heat.
• You can also get a glass-enclosed wood fire which is accessible by sliding up the glass window at the front to build the fire. This is a highly efficient fireplace as once closed it is sealed, and it gives out an extraordinary amount of heat, which people may like or not.

 Wood Burning Fireplace Cons

• Wood burning fireplaces do give out a lot of heat, but of course, it is harder to control the heat output.
• Wood fires do require more maintenance and cleaning than a gas fire but if you are used to this maintenance already it won’t bother you.
• Unlike a gas fire where you can get shut off valves for the air duct and flue, wood fires need a permanent supply of air, so the overall efficiency is reduced.

Bioethanol Fires

This relatively new kid on the block has come a long way since its inception. Bioethanol fireplaces are a really good option for easy installation as there no need for flue/chimney, and these flueless fireplaces only need an electrical point to work. They use bioethanol liquid fuel which needs to be refilled on a semi-regular basis. With a bioethanol fireplace, you will see a ribbon of flame with no flame bed decorations so the look is very contemporary, sleek and modern. The bioethanol burners can be fitted into a variety of different designs making this an extremely flexible option.

The main downside of a bioethanol fireplace is that you have to refill the fuel tank as it runs out so it is less convenient. The more high end, fully electronic bioethanol burners will tell you when you are running low and will use an automatic refill pump to refill the machine.

Pros and Cons of Bioethanol Fireplaces

Some things to consider with a bioethanol fireplace:

 Bioethanol Fireplace Pros

• All the bioethanol burners that Modus Fireplaces use are fully electronic, have an automatic refill pump, and burn the vapours from the fuel when heated which is a much more efficient and cleaner-burning system.

 Bioethanol Fireplace Cons

• You have to make sure that you are getting the right-sized burner for your room – each one should come with the minimum room size and there may be a need for ventilation around the fireplace or elsewhere in the room.
• There may be a slight odour emitted when it burns that some people can smell and others can’t.
• There have been some safety concerns around the cheaper, manually operated bioethanol burners (the ones where you pour in the liquid fuel) so we would recommend only using the electronic burners that burn the vapour of the fuel rather than the fuel itself.

You can learn more about this type of fireplace within our Bioethanol Fireplaces Guide.

 

Are Electric Fireplaces a Good Option?

Electric  Fireplace Pros

• They are extremely easy to install and can be placed anywhere.
• They are great for places that cannot have a real fire but still want the effect of a fire.
• The electric fireplaces Modus Fireplaces sells use a mixture of LED lighting and water vapour to produce the illusion of flames.

Electric Fireplace Cons

• The electric fireplaces discussed are purely decorative as they give out no heat.
• Although you get a good representation of a fire, it by no means holds a candle to the real thing.

I hope this has given you some food for thought to help you make that vital decision on which type of fireplace you should go for. Browse our wide collection of fireplaces in a range of different contemporary designs including hanging fireplaces, double-sided fireplaces, wall fires, outdoor fireplaces and more.

Please contact us and find out how we can help you design your dream fireplace.