When it’s cold outside, there’s nothing like gathering around a fireplace. The flicker of the flames creates a focal point for your living room and a cosy and inviting atmosphere. It evokes feelings of simplicity and contentment while potentially helping you save big on your power bills during the winter months.
A fireplace not only warms you in winter but also raises the value of your home and can provide peace of mind when storms roll in threatening blackouts. Burning wood has a rustic, down-to-earth aroma that makes your house feel like a home. A fireplace can even be good for your physical and mental health, lowering blood pressure and helping to relax the mind.
But everything comes with a cost. Installing a fireplace in your house usually requires some major changes, and there are considerations you may need to take into account. A fireplace’s monthly cost depends on a few different factors, and one of them is the kind of fuel you’ll be using to power your new addition.
Wood, electricity and gas are the three most common fireplace fuel sources. When you buy a fireplace in Australia, chances are it will run on one of these materials. With many households on tight budgets, it’s reasonable to wonder about the cost of running a gas fireplace or the cost of wood for a fireplace and the other kinds of expenses involved.
As Sydney’s leading fireplace retailer, Home Fires is good at identifying the right kind of fireplace for a household. Whether you’re trying to decide on the right fireplace for your living space or planning for your new fireplace’s monthly cost, we’re happy to help you.
The Different Types of Fuel For a Fireplace
Every type of fireplace fuel has its pros and cons. The three most common fuel types you’ll find on the market are
Wood
Wood is the most traditional fuel source. It has a unique crackling sound and an irreplaceable aroma that many consider the quintessential fireplace experience.
Wood is a renewable and cost-effective resource. Unlike an electric fireplace, you don’t have to worry about a power blackout affecting it, and you can make the heat from your wood last longer with some hacks, like burning good quality wood and building your fire in a log cabin style—putting two or three logs down as a foundation then stacking two or three more logs on top in a crisscross manner, allowing for more oxygen. Yet firewood requires storage space, and a traditional fireplace might need more cleaning and maintenance than you would like.
Gas
Gas fireplaces give you the atmosphere of real flames but with the convenience of gas power. Their sleek and stylish appearance fits right into a modern home, but they offer the authentic look, feel and charm of a real flame. Gas fireplaces are simple to start, burn cleaner than wood, and require less clean-up than wood. The downside? Natural gas or propane can be more expensive than logs, depending on where you live.
Electricity
Electrical fireplaces have been gaining popularity in recent years. The LED flame visuals have steadily grown more realistic and these units have become increasingly versatile and customisable, with more flame options and other cool features for added realism.
Electric fireplaces have many perks: they are exceptionally easy to install, come with no carbon emissions, are safer for children and pets, are energy-efficient and come with no maintenance to worry about. On the downside, they depend on electricity, which can be an issue if your power goes out. As realistic as their flame effects have gotten, some still find they don’t quite measure up to the flicker of a wood fire.
Considerations Before Buying a Fireplace
Like every major purchase, there are issues to consider before you go fireplace shopping, from a fireplace’s monthly cost to local regulations to your own household budget.
Availability of resources
The availability of fuel sources in your area will play a part in which choice of fireplace is the best option for you. You should also consider the convenience of finding fuel, your local laws and regulations and any impact on your local environment.
Storage space
How much space do you have for your fuel source? While you may love the look and feel of a traditional wood-burning fireplace, an electric fireplace may be a better option if you own a small house.
Expense of fuel type
Fuelling your fireplace is an ongoing expense, and you should definitely factor the cost of your fuel type into your budget. What’s the cost to run a gas fireplace? Depending on factors like the size of your room and the gas company you’re with, it can be anywhere between 50 cents an hour to $1.60 an hour.
Is a wood fireplace any cheaper? The cost of wood for a fireplace depends on many variables, too, including the quality of your firewood and where you buy it. You can expect to pay about $200 – $400 per tonne.
If you are beginning to feel confused about how to stay warm affordably this winter, Home Fires can help.
Stay Warm This Winter Affordably With Home Fires
Home Fires is Sydney’s leading and longest-running independent fireplace retailer and has been a trusted name for more than 40 years. We supply, install and service high-quality fireplaces, and when you come to see us, you can shop all the leading brands under one roof. No matter what kind of fuel source you prefer, we have something in store for you. We can even give you a rundown of your fireplace’s monthly cost and other factors like the cost of wood for a fireplace or the cost of running a gas fireplace.
Home Fires’ gas fireplaces are both inviting and efficient, combining rustic charm with the convenience of gas power. Our wood heaters and fireplaces embrace the homely allure of a classic-style fireplace. While the designs are traditional, big-name brands like Masport, Nectre, and Maxiheat ensure the standard is high and the performance is state-of-the-art. With our electric fireplaces, you can bring effortless ambience to your living space with the flick of a switch thanks to brands like Rinnai, Real Flame and Regency.
Contact the Home Fires team or pay us a visit at our Minto or Casula store locations.
