When you think of your dream home, what items of style and comfort does it include? For many homeowners, one of their ideal features is a room with a crackling wood fire burning in a stylish fireplace. A wood-burning fireplace will add warmth to a home and create a natural focal point for yourself or guests when you enjoy each other’s company.
If a cozy wood-burning fireplace in an inviting space where you can feel fully relaxed has always been one of your fantasies, it could be the right time to consider it more seriously. Wood-burning fireplaces have long been a beautiful part of a living room’s aesthetics, increasing the warmth and cozy feeling across many homes. At LanChester Grill & Hearth, we help people bring comfort and joy into their homes with our numerous gorgeous fireplace options.
1. How Much Does It Cost to Install Wood-Burning Fireplace?
One of the first things to think about when considering a wood-burning fireplace is the installation cost. Before deciding which fireplace you would like, determining your budget can help narrow down your options. Wood fireplaces have a much more extensive installation, and expenses range from $19,000 to $23,000 versus the $11,000 to $12,000 you may spend on a gas fireplace. Prices vary depending on the model and what other construction you may need to do to your home to ensure you can safely use your fireplace.
2. How Often Will You Need to Clean Your Wood-Burning Fireplace?
A wood-burning fireplace is the most traditional choice for a fire feature, and with that choice comes the responsibility of keeping it clean. While fireplaces are made safer through modern technologies, the wood-burning fireplace is one of the options you will find remains rather traditional. It creates a lot of ash and dirt, unlike some gas fireplace inserts you might see on the market. It is crucial to keep your fireplace and chimney clean to enjoy your fireplace safely for many chilly seasons to come.
We recommend that you deep-clean your fireplace at least twice a year—once before the cold season arrives and you begin using it, and once again after you’ve stopped using it, in the springtime. Make it a good habit to address any mess and scoop out ash and dirt after using the fireplace, and it’s cooled down. It is also good to have a professional inspect and clean your fireplace and chimney once a year to keep it safe and productive for your family.
3. Where Do You Want Your Fireplace?
Many homeowners choose to have their fireplace installed in their living room, but they can be incorporated into different rooms safely with advances in fireplace technologies. Some people even enjoy a modern wood-burning fireplace insert in their dining room. As long as the fireplace has a chimney and flue system, you can install the fireplace in nearly any room in the home.
How Do I Store Wood Properly for My Wood-Burning Fireplace?
Even more important than deciding where to put your wood-burning fireplace is determining where you will store the wood you will burn. To properly keep your wood, you will want a designated space for storage. A real wood-burning fire requires the firewood to be dry to burn properly, and storing it in the house can cause it to retain more moisture, so it is best to keep it outside.
Form your stack somewhere near your home to get good air circulation and stay dry. If you are putting the wood near a structure, keep it away from doors and windows, and ensure it has at least a few inches between the wood and the wall it is stacked near, so the back of the stack gets good airflow.
Piles should be no higher than four feet tall and arranged in organized rows on your firewood rack. If you do not have a firewood rack, do your best to keep the firewood off the ground.
4. You Will Need a Flue System
Do you have a chimney, or will you need some construction on your home for a chimney and flue system? Proper ventilation is crucial when you are operating a wood-burning fireplace. For the fireplace to function safely, you need to allow the smoke and other gases to escape the home and the fresh air to circulate back in.
This circulation can only happen with a chimney and flue system. Without proper ventilation, you risk poor air quality in your home, carbon monoxide poisoning, or in some cases, even death.
What Are the Dangers of a Vent-Free Fireplace?
Ventless fireplaces may seem like a promising idea for a homeowner who wants a fireplace without the construction of a new wood-burning fireplace, but at LanChester Grill & Hearth, we do not sell vent-free fireplace options. There are some dangers associated with this type of appliance, including:
- Increased Risk of Fire—Fires caused by leaking gas or inefficient burners in a ventless gas fireplace can be fatal and cause enormous amounts of damage to your property.
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning—You risk exposing yourself to increased carbon monoxide when operating a vent-free fireplace. Side effects of this exposure can physically harm you or cause death.
- Water Vapors Causing Mold Growth—Water vapors are released during the burning process when you use ventless fireplaces. This moisture can encourage fungus or mold growth and damage your possessions by dampening them.
5. How to Match Your Fireplace to Your Home’s Décor?
Some of the other things mentioned above have been quite serious considerations, but this one is much more light-hearted. After you’ve budgeted, determined where you want your fireplace, found a storage solution for your wood, and ensured proper ventilation for burning fires in your home, choosing the perfect fire feature with the looks you want is the fun part!
A wood-burning fireplace creates a natural focal point, so you will want to consider how it looks with your décor. Many types of wood-burning fireplaces will help enhance the look of any room, and choosing the right one for the look of your home can be one of the most relaxing, enjoyable parts of the entire purchase and installation process. At LanChester Grill & Hearth, we have many customizable fireplace options for you to choose from to find the perfect one to match your home’s aesthetic.
Let LanChester Grill & Hearth Help You Choose the Right Wood-Burning Fireplace for Your Home
When you want a wood-burning fireplace as a heat source and the comfort it brings, coupled with the aesthetic value of a beautiful feature, we at LanChester Grill & Hearth can help. We specialize in high-quality, high-efficiency, functional fireplaces with visual appeal that can fit into any home. Please speak with one of our experts today, and let’s get started on the fireplace of your dreams!