It might be spring, but the evenings are still quite pleasant and chilly, and what better way to relax after a long day, than on your backyard patio? Add to that a cozy fireplace and you will be in a state of bliss. Want to consult your patio builder to installing an outdoor fireplace? But which one is better? Wood-burning or gas? Here is a comparison.
Comparing Wood-Burning And Gas Outdoor Fireplaces
Installation
First things first, installation is the most important factor to consider when you’re comparing a wood-burning and gas outdoor fireplace. It needs to be easy, effortless, and not an impossible task.
Wood-Burning Outdoor Fireplaces
Wood-burning fireplaces are easier to install because you don’t need to lay down the pipe infrastructure beforehand. It’s the setting up of a place where the wood will burn and that is pretty much it. Wood-burning fireplaces are cheaper to install and they also take a lot less time. So, you can rest assured and not even break a sweat. Relaxing around a fireplace never sounded this good.
Gas Outdoor Fireplaces
As for gas outdoor fireplaces, they require a bit of work beforehand for easier installation. You need to lay down a network of pipes from which the gas will pass into the fireplace. You’re also going to need to dig up the ground for the pipe installation and that’s a lot of work for installing a fireplace if you think about it.
However, gas outdoor fireplaces are easy to operate once you do get past the huge hiccup of installing the assembly. Most people love the ease that comes with operating gas fireplaces and that’s a quality not every fireplace can beat.
Cost
The next important factor to consider when deciding between these two outdoor fireplaces is the cost. Firstly, you need a budget for it because that pretty much determines the fact of whether you can even afford a certain type of fireplace or not.
Wood-Burning Outdoor Fireplaces
Wood-burning fireplaces are generally a lot more reasonable to install. The price can vary, based on the size and features, but it will lie in between the range of $500 to $1500.
Gas Outdoor Fireplaces
Gas-operated fireplaces are more expensive to install since the cost also includes the pipes along with the fireplace materials. The general price range of a gas outdoor fireplace is anywhere between $600 to $3000, which is a lot higher than that of wood-burning fireplaces.
However, people still love the utility of gas-operated fireplaces and they will stretch their budgets to fit the installation cost in. Then again, not everyone might want to install a three-thousand-dollar fireplace on their patio or backyard.
Safety
Fireplaces are always the target of controversy due to safety concerns and it’s also another crucial thing that people must keep in mind. There’s not a single fireplace that fits the ideal safety criteria. There are some hits and misses with wood-burning and gas-operated outdoor fireplaces.
Wood-Burning Outdoor Fireplaces
Wood-burning fireplaces are safe because there is no possibility of leakages and everything can be done without being under threat of a possible fuel leak. However, wood burns and it can lead to uncontrollable fires that need to be at a safe distance from people surrounding the fireplace.
Wood-burning fireplaces aren’t the best to light up during windy days either because things can catch fire pretty easily.
Gas Outdoor Fireplaces
As for gas fireplaces, they are controllable in the sense that you can alter the intensity of the flames with a simple knob, but this doesn’t mean that you’re out of the woods. Gas, especially methane or propane, doesn’t have any color and it can leak without you knowing and that’s a huge hazard. Also, the structure of a gas-operated fireplace needs to be very sturdy to hold in the hot embers.
Maintenance
When getting a fireplace for backyard, you want to get something easier to maintain that won’t require too much care.
Wood-Burning Outdoor Fireplaces
Wood-burning fireplaces are generally harder to maintain as is the case with indoor fireplaces. Wood is a raw material that’s being burnt, so there’s going to be a lot of residue that you need to clean up, otherwise the efficiency of the fireplace will be affected. You will also need to keep seasoned wood for fireplace.
Gas Outdoor Fireplaces
Gas-operated fireplaces don’t need any maintenance at all, because there is no by-product formation like soot and creosote. Because gas is already refined, it doesn’t lead to a lot of mess and you don’t even need to clean the fireplace now and then, which is a huge plus and it gives gas fireplaces a good lead as compared to wood-burning fireplaces. Even if you do have to pay a bit extra for comfort, it’s going to be worth it in the end.
Value For Money
The fact that whether fireplaces add value to your house or not is also something that people are interested in. Normally, fireplaces are a hot addition to the house, in every sense of the word and they’re an attractive feature for potential buyers. People are not afraid to throw in a bit of extra money to seal the deal when they spot a fireplace.
Both wood-burning and gas-operated fireplaces are great when it comes to adding value to your house, the latter having a bit of an upper hand because those fireplaces are more eco-friendly and cleaner than the former, and that they’re generally easier to use. However, someone with classic taste won’t pass up on a wood-burning fireplace.
Environmental Aspect
This is also a very valid concern for a lot of people who want to choose between these two types of outdoor fireplaces.
Wood-Burning Outdoor Fireplaces
Wood-burning fireplaces are generally not as environmentally friendly, because trees are being cut to provide people with wood for burning and keeping themselves warm. Moreover, the smoke from wood-burning is another environmental concern. There’s nothing sustainable about a wood-burning fireplace.
Gas Outdoor Fireplaces
Similarly, gas-operated fireplaces are no better either. Gas, the main fuel for this fireplace, is made by the refining of crude oil and other fluids that are obtained by drilling large holes in the ground. This is a process that affects the environment daily because of the toxic gasses and fumes that are generated.
Durability
Which fireplace is more long-lasting? It’s a question that everyone has in the back of their minds. Fireplaces are a one-time investment and they need to be just as robust so that you’re not constantly replacing them.
Wood-Burning Outdoor Fireplaces
Wood-burning fireplaces are very durable as there aren’t a lot of moving parts. There is just the bed of the fireplace and that’s pretty much it. These fireplaces can last you anywhere between 15 to 20 years, which is amazing. However, it ultimately depends on the type of material you choose for building the fireplace.
Gas Outdoor Fireplaces
Gas-operated fireplaces are also great because their longevity also depends on the material like stone, bricks, or concrete. They last a pretty decent time as well.
However, you might need to regularly check up on the pipes and the burners of the gas fireplace because those can get clogged with use and if you leave them unnoticed for too long, the efficiency and performance of the fireplace can be affected. Other than that, there’s a huge chance that gas fireplaces last for decades on end if maintained properly.
Conclusion
Whether it’s a wood-burning or gas-powered outdoor fireplace, both have some merits and demerits. The decision is ultimately up to you. You can also get advice from outdoor fireplace builders Long Island on this.