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Who can fully enjoy a chilly winter day without the cheery, flickering light from the living room fireplace! Not only do the gentle flames provide some much-needed heat to take the edge off the cold, but they also add a cozy ambiance to enjoy as you curl up with a good book or watch a movie with your family. When it comes to the fuel for your fire, some swear by the gentle crackling of wood-burning flames, while others fight for the ease of natural gas. Let's compare the two: Wood-Burning Advantages If you live in the country, the fuel cost for a wood-burning blaze can be non-existent. Just take a hike to a nearby forested area - perhaps even located on your property - and collect fallen logs, branches, and other debris. You can even find leaves and small twigs for kindling! Even in the suburbs, the cost of wood at your local hardware or grocery store is much less than that of natural gas. As mentioned above, the ambiance of a wood-burning fire gives it an immediate advantage over one that is fueled by natural gas. Without wood, the snap and crackle of the "traditional" flames are missing. And what about the smell that comes as it burns? As long as you don't have breathing problems, the earthy, smoky smell can be quite pleasant. Wood-Burning Disadvantages Getting wood to burn effectively can be a challenge. Unless of course you view stacking kindling, lighting a match, and maintaining the flames as an adventure! Either way, using wood as your only fuel requires effort. Let's face it: fireplace maintenance is much more intensive when wood-burning is involved. Soot and ashes aren't known for staying neatly in the grate as you scoop and sweep! And the creosote that builds up in your chimney requires the attention of a local chimney sweep at least once, if not twice, a year. Natural Gas Advantages Natural gas can be started with the flick of a switch. No collecting kindling, no lighting match after match to get that kindling going, and no throwing logs on the flames to keep up the blaze. Maintenance is also incredibly easy. There's no buildup of soot or ashes in either the fireplace itself or in the chimney. You will want to get your gas line checked every so often to make sure it's not leaking, but that doesn't require nearly as much time as clearing soot from the chimney! Natural Gas Disadvantages Fuel can get expensive, especially if you start a fire several times a week. Also, the experience just isn't the same. Sure, you can use those fake logs. Depending on how the flames are aimed, it may even look like the logs are burning. But, you won't have the authentic crackling and popping that comes with using the real thing. You also will not get to enjoy the authentic smell that comes with the alternative. The Final Verdict For an easy to light, easy to maintain fireplace, gas wins! But if you prefer the authentic sounds of crackle and pop along with the experience of building a cozy blaze, the wood-burning option is best. When considering a new fireplace, Chambersburg PA residents visit L. T. Rush Stone. Learn more about these products at http://ltrushstone.com/fire-places/.
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